A new report has emerged outlining the trade talk between the Dallas Stars and the Buffalo Sabres for the rights to current Sabres defenseman, Tyler Myers. Eklund of Hockeybuzz.com reports that the Sabres' starting point for negotiations is now winger Valeri Nichushkin.
"More details regarding the talks between the Sabres and the Stars today and I was just told the Sabres asking price from Dallas is Nichushkin," writes Eklund. "The Stars are NOT into this idea at this point, but you really have to wonder about this one."
As Eklund notes, taken at face value, this seems like an almost entirely unreasonable request on the part of Buffalo. Nichushkin is only 19 years old and played his first full season in the NHL last year, posting 14 goals and 20 assists in 79 games.
"He has Malkin-esque skills and when he drives the net is virtually unstoppable. But he also wasn't sure he even was coming to North America a few years back and who is to say that he will have the patience to make a career here. He wouldn't be the first Russian player with his sort of credentials to shine for a very short time in the NHL."
If this trade were to come anywhere near happening, it would only further outline the increasing premium placed on young blueliners with size who can move in today's NHL - or the front office of Dallas' fear of Nichushkin bolting for Russia at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Myers is young at 24. He won rookie of the year only a few seasons ago. He plays on a struggling team.
"He has size, skill and speed, and as any scout will tell you, 'The bigger the defenseman the longer it takes for him to develop.' But it really could be worth the wait."
It could indeed, if Eklund, drawing comparisons to another towering defenseman who took several years to reach his full potential, the Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara, is correct in his assertion that all Myers needs is time.
"Myers is 24 years old. When Zdeno Chara was 24, the Islanders gave up on him and he moved to Ottawa for his first season where he put up 23 points in 75 games. Chara was a -27 his last season on the Island...and +30 his first season in Ottawa. In Ottawa for 4 seasons his point totals increased year after year and STILL at the age of 29 the Senators opted to let him walk as a UFA and instead put their money into Wade Redden."
But probably the most important point Eklund makes is that the Stars already have what probably amounts to a Stanley Cup worthy offense headlined by Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, even without Nichushkin.
Their defense on the other hand is not playoff-caliber. The addition of Myers, even at the expense of Nichushkin, is an intriguing prospect for their future postseason viability.
