After Thursday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Lighning, the Dallas Stars have a 17% chance to make the playoffs. Dallas Stars trade rumors are flying, but they should be savvy sellers stocking up for next season.

Feb 5, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Shawn Horcoff (10) and right wing Patrick Eaves (18) and defenseman John Klingberg (3) and center Tyler Seguin (91) and defenseman Alex Goligoski (33) celebrate Kilingberg

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. The Stars were supposed to make the playoffs with ease, perhaps even as a fourth or fifth seed. And some fans – dare they think it? – thought the Stars might be, GASP!, title contenders.

They traded to get Jason Spezza, captain of the Ottawa Senators and perennial point per game guy, along with signing Ales Hemsky to a three year deal. Ales Hemsky showed promise, and chemistry, teaming with Spezza in Ottawa last season for 20 games. Valeri Nichushkin and Patrick Nemeth were supposed to have break out seasons and be be part of the core of the team.

But things in sports, especially a very physical game like hockey, rarely go the way they “should”. Nichuskin has suffered from hip issues, and had a hip surgery, that has kept him out most of the season. Nemeth suffered a badly cut wrist very early in the season and hasn’t played since. Spezza had a rough start and hasn’t had the point per game season he has had in the past. Then there is Hemsky, who has shown improvement, but hasn’t earned his contract thus far.

All of these factors have combined to cause the Stars to fall to last place in the Central division. They are only five points out of a playoff spot, but they have not shown any signs of being able to turn it around and it’s unlikely this late in the season. This leads to the inevitable question that always looms for teams on the verge this time of year: should the Dallas Stars be buyers or sellers?

Dallas Stars Trade Rumors: Buyers or Sellers?

As I indicated earlier, the Dallas Stars trade rumors are ramping up and all the rumors are surrounding defensemen. Recently a rumor was circulating that the Stars were interested in Dion Phaneuf and Cody Franson of the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, with Phaneuf going on the IR, it seems unlikely that any trade involving him would happen any time soon. Franson could still be had, but Toronto may only want to ship him out if they can also unload a big contract (likely why they had him paired with Phaneuf).

Another Dallas Stars trade rumor floating around earlier this season involved Buffalo Sabers’ Tyler Myers. A “heard if from some guy, who heard it from some other guy” rumor floating around was that the Stars had a Myers-for-Nichushkin trade in place, but the deal fell through when Nichuskin had to have hip surgery. It seems, though, that the Anaheim Ducks are it talks with Buffalo and may now be the favorites to land Myers.

But, what Dallas Stars trade rumors have any validity right now? In my opinion, none. I think that Stars General Manager Jim Nill realizes that the playoffs are a slim hope this season, but also knows that next season has even more promise than this season did. This means that the Stars might just be sellers at the deadline and Nill is waiting for the right circumstances.

There are four players that are untouchable: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and John Klingberg. Trevor Daley has a no trade clause and is unlikely to waive that. I also think that prospect Julius Honka is very unlikely to be moved nor is Brett Ritchie right now because of how well he played along side Benn and Seguin on the top line before being injured. Just about every other player in the organization is fair game, I think.

The Stars have some very lucrative trade chips right now. Shawn Horcoff and Erik Cole (who has been playing very well lately) have expiring contracts at the end of the season, but are also players that could legitimately help a team this season. Horcoff and Cole would be perfect for a team looking to contend this season and shed payroll in the off season (LA Kings, perhaps?).

They also have a couple of young defensemen, Jamie Oleksiak and Jyrki Jokipakka who have both split time between the NHL and AHL this season, that might be pieces in trade for a proven defenseman.

Jim Nill is a smart GM who has pulled in two big names the last two off seasons in Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza and hasn’t given up much in return. I think Nill will be selling off pieces that he doesn’t see as part of the Stars future. Nill know the Stars need defensive help, both this season and next, so any trade he makes will likely have that in mind.*

Horcoff and Cole could probably get a second or third round draft pick each (this is just a guess though) and those draft picks could be used on either a goalie or on some defensemen. Keith Yandle or Oliver Ekman-Larsson from the Arizona Coyotes, but not both. I think Stars fans would prefer OEL, but I think Yandle would be a better cost. An Oleksiak for Yandle trade might benefit both, though the ‘Yotes likely wouldn’t accept a one for one trade there. Any way it happens, the Stars have pieces and room to work with, not to mention that Jim Nill seems to work magic, so the trade deadline should be interesting for Stars fans.

Fans should be optimistic about next season. Nemeth and Nichushkin should be back and healthy, Klingberg should be even better after having a season under his belt, and now that Spezza and Hemsky are coming around they should both be big contributors next season. Should.

*Originally this paragraph was followed by a paragraph suggesting that Kari Lehtonen would be a good piece to trade, however, several astute readers from reddit pointed out that a Kari Lehtonen trade piece should be it’s own article. I have removed it from this article with that in mind.