Dallas Stars Rumors: Forward Becoming Trade Candidate

The Dallas Stars need to clear up cap space at the deadline if they are going to upgrade their forward group. There are two candidates to move - Denis Gurianov and Radek Faksa, but Gurianov may have emerged as the more likely option for the team.

Faksa has been centering the second line between Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment, but that could be to increase depth or to showcase him before the trade deadline. The Stars are locked in with him for two more years at $3.25 million AAV while Gurianov is a little easier to move.

Gurianov is a restricted free agent after the season and has a cap hit of $2.9 million for the remainder of the season. He hasn't lived up to expectations, playing the majority of the season in the bottom-six and more recently the fourth line in particular. The team isn't showcasing him, but Pierre LeBrun thinks that Gurianov could be a candidate to be swapped in a one-for-one at the deadline.

There are options around the league with teams also looking to move a younger player or someone in need of a change in scenery. Two names that top the list are Jesse Puljujarvi and Jakob Vrana. Puljujarvi is in the exact same position as Gurianov and would likely have about the same impact, so arguably it wouldn't be worth it.

As for Vrana, he's an interesting one because it could save the Detroit Red Wings some money to not buy Vrana out and instead eat some cap while taking back a cheaper RFA in the process to help level out the cap. Seguin can play center and Vrana is a known scorer who would come at a very cheap price. The Stars could kill two birds with one stone here if they can't go all-out in acquiring a top-six forward.