Rumor: NHL insider reports Stars are open to trading 3rd overall

The Dallas Stars currently hold the 3rd overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, but Stars insider Scott Burnside says the team is giving serious consideration to trading the pick for more immediate help.

Despite missing the playoffs in 2016-17 the Stars have a strong roster and are expected to compete for a playoff spot once again in 2017-18. Up front, the team is led by superstars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin and supported by secondary stars like Jason Spezza and Patrick Sharp. In goal, newly acquired goaltender Ben Bishop should provide more consistent goaltending than Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen have supplied in recent seasons, but the team’s defense could still use some work.

And that’s where the 3rd overall pick factors into the equation. Burnside, when speaking with Vancouver’s TSN1040 sports radio, alleged that the Stars may be looking to flip the pick for an impact defenseman. So, who’s out there? Vancouver’s Chris Tanev? Colorado’s Tyson Barrie? All enticing names for the Stars, but maybe they stand pat with the pick and use it on a defender like Cale Makar or Miro Heiskanen? Whatever GM Jim Nil and the Stars decide to do with the pick, it’s almost a certainty that he’ll look to address his hole on defence with it.