NHL News: Mikael Granlund, Cody Ceci Traded to Stars from Sharks for Draft Picks
Even though the NHL trade deadline isn't until March 5, the Dallas Stars decided not to wait to upgrade their roster by acquiring Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks.
The Stars announced on Saturday that the team acquired Granlund and Ceci from the Sharks in exchange for a 2025 first-round draft pick and a conditional 2025 third-round pick.
The Stars advanced to the Western Conference Finals in each of the past two seasons by having one of the most balanced teams in the NHL. They were top eight in goals for and goals allowed in both seasons.
While the defense remains a strength in Dallas with the third-fewest goals allowed per game this season, the offense has been inconsistent. Head coach Peter DeBoer's team enters Saturday ranked 10th in goals per game.
The unit hasn't fallen so far that it would be hard to see the Stars competing with the top teams in the West in a playoff series, but it doesn't hurt to add more scoring power to the front line with Granlund.
It looks even better when you add Ceci into the equation since he can add much-needed depth to the Stars' ailing defenseman rotation. Miro Heiskanen is out of action with a knee injury suffered in Tuesday's overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights, but general manager Jim Nill told LeBrun they're "pretty optimistic" he will be back for the postseason.
Nill announced on Saturday that Nils Lundkvist had season-ending shoulder surgery. Tyler Seguin was also placed on long-term injured reserve due to a hip injury that required surgery in December with an estimated recovery time of four to six months. He could be back on the ice for the start of the playoffs in April if he's on the short end of the timeframe.
Granlund was leading the Sharks with 45 points in 52 games this season. Ceci has appeared in all 54 games so far this season. His average ice time per game of 21:46 is on pace to be his most since the 2018-19 campaign.
Both players are set to become free agents after this season and didn't seem to have a long-term future in San Jose with a rebuilding club, so they get the opportunity to join a Stanley Cup contender for the stretch run.
Dallas is currently in second place in the Central Division with 67 points, eight behind the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot. The Stars are also trying to fight off the Minnesota Wild (66 points) and Colorado Avalanche (62 points).
The Sharks did a good job of adding an extra first-round pick plus a mid-round selection as they continue to fill out their talent pool around 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini.
Jake Oettinger, Stars Agree to 8-Year, $66M Contract After Swayman, Ullmark Deals
The Dallas Stars have locked in starting goaltender Jake Oettinger for eight more seasons.
The Stars and Oettinger agreed on Thursday to an eight-year, $66 million extension that will keep him with the team through the 2032-33 season.
His $8.25 million AAV matches the contracts recently given to the Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman and Ottawa Senators' Linus Ullmark.
Oettinger was previously set to become a restricted free agent following the expiration of his current three-year, $12 million deal in 2025.
The netminder, who turns 26 in December, is in his fifth season with the Stars after being selected in the first round of the 2017 draft out of Boston University.
Oettinger became the Stars' first-string goaltender during the 2021-22 campaign. He has since marked 30 wins, and backstopped his team to the playoffs, in three straight seasons.
He made 54 appearances (53 starts) for the Stars in 2023-24, marking a .905 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average while helping Dallas finish the regular season at the top of the Central Division.
Oettinger capped off last season by helping the Stars to a second straight appearance in the Western Conference Finals. In the conference semifinals, he held the Colorado Avalanche to one goal in a 29-save double overtime Game 6 victory that sent the Stars on to the third round.
The goaltender inked his deal following a strong start to the 2024-25 season. He has so far marked a 3-0 record with a .948 save percentage and one blank sheet.
He heads into the new deal with an overall record of 116-48-23, including a career .914 save percentage and 11 career shutouts.
The contract is set to make Oettinger one of the five most highly-paid goaltenders in the NHL in terms of average annual value starting next season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy will earn a league-high AAV of $9.5 million AAV, while the Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck ranks second with an annual salary of $8.5 million. Oettinger will tie the former Bruins tandem of Saros and Ullmark and the New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin for third place on the list.
The deal will allow Stars to avoid any conflict over Oettinger's next deal after watching the Bruins lose Swayman for the preseason amid contentious contract negotiations in Boston.
Instead, Dallas will be able to focus on making it back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2020. The team entered the season as favorites for a deep playoff run, with Oettinger backstopping a strong roster staffed by young stars including Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston and led by veterans like Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
Joe Pavelski Plans to Retire from NHL After 18-Year Career With Stars, Sharks
Dallas Stars veteran Joe Pavelski says Sunday's Game 6 Western Conference Finals elimination loss will mark the last game of his 18-year NHL career.
"This is it for me," Pavelski said Tuesday, per NHL.com's Taylor Baird.
Pavelski added that he has known for a long time that his "plan is to not play next season," per Baird.
Pavelski's announcement comes two days after the Stars' season ended with a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The conference finals trip capped off Pavelski's fifth year in Dallas after thirteen seasons with the San Jose Sharks.
He closes out his 18th NHL season having totaled 476 goals and 1,068 points in 1,332 regular-season games, the fifth-most among all active players.
Pavelski is an unrestricted free agent for the second straight summer after playing each of the past two seasons on one-year deals for the Stars.
Stars teammates shared emotional comments on Pavelski's impact on the team after their season-ending loss to the Oilers:
Pavelski, 39, was the second-oldest player to skate in the league this season as he appeared in every regular-season game for Dallas for the third straight year.
One of the most consistent scorers in the NHL throughout his career, Pavelski put up 27 goals for the Stars in 2023-24 to mark the 14th 20-goal campaign of his career.
He will now finish out his career as one of the most successful late-round NHL draft picks of all time. The Sharks' No. 205 selection of the 2003 draft went on to score 355 goals for the franchise, second only to Patrick Marleau for the most in San Jose history.
He served as captain for his last four seasons in San Jose, including during the Sharks' trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.
The veteran signed with the Stars in 2019. He once again served as a key producer during a trip to the Cup Final trip in 2020, then played a role in mentoring young Dallas stars like Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson during his next few years in Dallas.
Pavelski finished his career leading all U.S.-born skaters with 74 playoff goals as one of just 25 players to ever play in 200 postseason games. He is the only one of the group to reach the milestone without winning a Stanley Cup.
He also ranks 55th among all players in NHL history with 476 regular-season goals, and is one of just 18 players to accomplish the feat with two or fewer franchises.
Stars captain Jamie Benn said he could see Pavelski taking an NHL front office or coaching role in the future, per ESPN's Ryan S. Clark. Pavelski says he plans to focus on coaching his son in youth hockey for now, according to NHL.com.
Stars Win Game 3 vs. Oilers as Jason Robertson's Hat Trick Overwhelms NHL Fans
The Dallas Stars took Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 behind a hat trick from left-wing Jason Robertson.
The Oilers were in full control through the first period, taking an early 2-0 lead behind goals from Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid, but Dallas came storming back in the second period.
Robertson notched back-to-back goals to even things up and Wyatt Johnston gave the Stars a 3-2 lead. Edmonton managed to answer with a goal from Adam Henrique.
After a defensive battle for much of the third period, Robertson notched his third goal of the game in go-ahead fashion, giving the Stars a 4-3 lead. Dallas bolstered its lead in the final two minutes after Miro Heiskanen capitalized on the Oilers' empty net.
After the win, fans praised Robertson for his big performance that helped the Stars gain a 2-1 series lead.
Riding the high of Robertson's hat trick, the Stars will look to secure a 3-1 lead on Wednesday as they travel to Edmonton for Game 4. After losing Game 1 in double overtime, Dallas has responded with a pair of big wins and now has plenty of momentum heading into the second half of the series.
The Stars are now two wins away from their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 1999 when they beat the Buffalo Sabres to win their only Stanley Cup in franchise history. For the Oilers, they will look to bounce back from two straight losses to avoid facing a 3-1 deficit.
Jamie Benn, Stars Praised By NHL Fans for Tying WCF vs. Connor McDavid, Oilers in G2
The Dallas Stars weren't going to let the Edmonton Oilers steal two games at American Airlines Center
A Mason Marchment tally early in the third period helped pave the way to a 3-1 victory for the Stars and evened the Western Conference Finals at 1-1 before the teams head to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4.
Going down 2-0 to Edmonton would have been difficult for a Stars team that has already had to climb back from a two-game deficit earlier this postseason. With that thought looming over the team, it didn't take long for captain Jamie Benn to make his presence felt.
Benn faked a pass to Logan Stankoven and delivered a blistering wrist shot that beat Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner on the first shot of the game for Dallas.
That lead would not last for long, however, as Connor Brown evened the score minutes later after picking up his own rebound.
Neither team would manage to score for the remainder of the first period and the entirety of the second. However, Marchment's tip-in goal in the third is what would be the dagger.
Esa Lindell would score an empty netter towards the end of the period, giving the game it's final score.
Edmonton outshot Dallas 29-25 and even had more power play opportunities. However, Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was consistently up to the task and helped carry his team to the win:
The Stars will now look to steal one on the road in Edmonton, while the Oilers will hope returning to Rogers Place helps the team take a series lead.
The chance to take the series lead will come Monday at 8:30 P.M. ET.