Stars trade for memories

by jamestobrien on Nov 16, 2008 9:19 AM PST

In case you didn't hear the news already, the Dallas Stars traded oft-injured defenseman Phillippe Boucher for plays-like-he's-injured Daryl Sydor.

For the Penguins, they get a player who either is damaged goods or a short term boost to their power play. If nothing else, Boucher might be a helpful stop gap while Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney rehab their extensive injuries.

It's harder to see the benefit for the Stars. Sydor was a healthy scratch much of his time with the Penguins and he's making the same money ($2.5 million) as Boucher so it's not getting any cash off the books. Clearly, this is Brett Hull's version of Kevin Smith bringing back his buddies when they normally would just drift through the streets of New Jersey. Realistically speaking, it's a brush with nostalgia.

Then again, maybe it was more of a statement to the old and mid guard in Dallas: get your shit together or you'll get traded. Brad Richards and Brendan Morrow looked borderline weepy after that second straight loss to Los Angeles, so this move might simply be an attempt to light a fire under a listless Stars team.

Boucher wasn't doing much anyway, so it might just be a wash.

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Two former Kings players being traded for each other..

I thought Sydor was with the Stars already. When the hell did he go to Pittsburgh?

by Kevin Y on Nov 16, 2008 11:20 AM PST reply actions

Boucher wasn't doing much anyway, so it might just be a wash.

I can't imagine how Sydor could possibly have more upside than Boucher at this point, so I'd guess this move is made to avoid next summer's pay raise.

Still, you never know. With Sydor around, maybe Sergei Zubov becomes convinced it's the early 2000s again -- that's never a bad thing.

Does anybody have Ed Belfour's number? :)

by Earl Sleek on Nov 16, 2008 11:43 AM PST reply actions

This is a Burke-like trade.
Is this coming from Dave Taylor or Brett Hull?
Awful, awful decision.
Boucher, robbed from the Kings a few years back when they were on the verge of something, was arguably Dallas' best defender. I'd have welcomed him back to LA with open arms.
Prepare for more hair-brained trades and the end of Tippet's career in Dallas, in my opinion.
Boy the NHL brass sure does some stupid shit.
If this was a Taylor decision, he makes me feel foolish for supporting him. Rheinprecht and Jason Blake, Kaberle, O'Donnell, Huet. He tends to trade away quality at the wrong time.
How can Dallas want Sydor right now?
Couldn't they have had him for free?
Unbelievable.
Where was Lombardi when this was going down?

by cristobal on Nov 16, 2008 1:39 PM PST reply actions

This is a Burke-like trade.

Not necessarily. Burke either traded to improve his team or improve his salary position. This does neither, I think.

by Earl Sleek on Nov 16, 2008 1:46 PM PST reply actions

earl: I wasn't a fan of ridding the ducks of McDonald, Fedoryk, or Salei.
The McDonald trade really was crap. I didn't follow it all that closely, but to paint himself into that trade was ridiculous. McDonald was a huge part of that teams success.

by cristobal on Nov 16, 2008 3:24 PM PST reply actions

Isn't an individual named Armstrong Co-GM of the Stars...just saying

by tsaiguy on Nov 16, 2008 8:31 PM PST reply actions

earl: I wasn't a fan of ridding the ducks of McDonald, Fedoryk, or Salei.

Well, I will be defending the McDonald trade next week, but I won't be getting to the Fedoruk or Salei deals, except for these comments.

I loved Fedoruk, so yeah it hurt to see him go, but you have to remember, Fedoruk was a very broken individual when the Ducks dealt him; Boogaard had murdered him. With a broken player like that, I didn't mind the trade, though I'm a bit surprised to see Fedoruk producing again.

As for Salei, he was a UFA, so it's not like it was an active move by Burke. And dropping Salei enabled the acquisition of Pronger (not only freed up our cap room, but tied up the Panthers, who might have landed Pronger with a Bouwmeester deal). So losing Salei wasn't that tough to swallow, I guess. Pronger wins that battle pretty handily.

As for McDonald, you'll have to wait for the post.

by Earl Sleek on Nov 16, 2008 9:22 PM PST reply actions

Isn't an individual named Armstrong Co-GM of the Stars...just saying

I think it's Jackson & Hull now, though that could be the liquor talking.

For some unfathomable reason, I think Armstrong was let go, no?

by Earl Sleek on Nov 16, 2008 9:23 PM PST reply actions

Armstrong was fired a year ago. It's Jackson/Hull now.

by Matt in Dallas on Nov 17, 2008 7:46 AM PST reply actions

isn't Dave Taylor part of the General Management in Dallas? No?

by Anonymous on Nov 17, 2008 11:56 AM PST reply actions

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