Sorry if this was known, but I just found out that Bichsel is eligible to return to Texas THIS SEASON after the Liiga season is over. As it stands now, his team won't make the playoffs, and he'll be free mid-March. Could we try the Harley and call him up in time for the playoffs?

At first, I'd say this is crazy, but someone I trust said it's not at all. The feeling within the organization was that while they would have loved to have him close and had a more hands-on approach in his development this season, he's already outgrown the AHL ala Stankoven and Bourque.

The trade deadline could mean just clearing room for Stankoven/Bourque and Bichsel. Will it happen? Probably not. But something to keep an eye on.

I hear ya, but him going back to Europe really throws a wrench in things for me. Not only would he already likely have received a call-up of some kind when Miro went down, but I really think they would've given him a look outright with how we have looked on D, at-times.

I would be all for getting him back and then giving him string on games at the end of the season. We know we are going to be a playoff team, so what does it hurt to tinker a little and see what the kid has, but I also think he's had quite the year and asking him to come back and then make some starts for a playoff team is a tall order. I also just don't know if the organization would be willing to do that with him. Harley was the clear No. 1 guy with the Texas Stars and with them all season and had already had a cup of coffee with the big club in previous stints. This would be Bichels first rodeo at the NHL level.

Again, I personally would love to see it, but could see the organization pumping the breaks a bit with him. I also think the Stars make a move of some kind. Whether that's trying to clear some cap space, or adding a lower level defender etc. I think they do SOMETHING. I just don't think it will be anything with real meaning. The Stars are in a very weird spot when it comes to trades. They have prospects that everyone would want, but that's about it. Outside of those three guys everyone else is pretty much a JAG. So in a sense we have all or nothing trade potential.

You and I are on the same page.

A little more "color" behind things. The conversation I had was regarding something else I heard. Basically that as bad as Esa and Hakanpaa have been, they're the anchors of the PK. Nill may be gun shy about moving Jani out of the lineup. Especially since there's legit concern that asking prices will be too high, and ESPECIALLY for right-handed defenseman.

And as you said, after our top-tier prospects, there isn't a lot of trade bait in the organization. I'm not prepared to say there won't be a trade (I still honestly think there will be 1 or 2 moves) but today was eye opening regarding other options being considered, and I was somewhat surprised that Bichsel was one of them.

Prices are actually eye popping. I don't know why the canucks paid what they did, same with the Jets.

Jim Nill recently did a small interview with The Dallas Morning News where he recapped a bit of the first half of the season, but also spoke on looking forward and what's to come.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars/2024/02/08/stars-2024-trade-deadline-preview-who-to-sell-top-targets-and-jim-nills-approach/

• "You always want to add some depth. You're always trying to get better. That's my job," Nill said. "You have to analyze where you're at, what's available and what's the cost to do all that, so that's what we're doing."
• The Stars need to make improvements defensively. They rank 20th in the NHL in goals against per game at 3.02. They've found an effective pairing of Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, but beyond that, the unit is thin.
• "We are a little short on depth on defense," Nill said. "That's something we're looking at."

The article goes on to further state a lot of what this board has said, like that the Stars are cap challenged with only a projected 1.85 million in space going into the deadline, or that some of the veteran pieces that need to be moved have no-trade or limited trade clauses, etc. They also go into the issues of only having one true functioning d-pair.

Lastly, the guys to be traded are essentially Faksa, Dadonov, and Hakanpaa (7 million in total cap hit). That's about it, and with how hard it would be to find someone to help us Jim Nill has his work cut out for him. No mention of Bichel either.

Cool wife! Now the ball's in your court dude.

Dadonov has a fracture and is out for a while.

Start the talk on potential call up

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) February 13, 2024

I'll throw-up if it's not Stankoven or Bourque. I'd lean Stankoven slightly because of the position and what Dadonov is asked to do. However, I do think Bouque could play wing and bring a different flavor of play making ability to a line or team.

Edit to add: the more I think about it, the more Bouque makes some sense. He provides you with more position flexibility, and if you stuck him between Benn and Pavs, maybe he could create chances for the two old guys. He also wouldn't have to take a face-off with those to goats on the ice.

I have an extra ticket in 103 if anyone is close. 9037444252

Blew a breakaway and give up the tying goal on the other end...

Tough one on Harley. Trying to pass the puck out of the zone, it gets tipped and he lays out leading to a goal.

Freakin' Dellandrea. Just call up Stankoven.

Robo

Robo sighting

Robo

Oh my Otter.

Larceny!

FWAppraiser said:

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Freakin' Dellandrea. Just call up Stankoven.

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Seriously. Dude can't finish to save his life.

Good otter

Guess there's a reason he's a career 4th liner

Just completely inept on the PP...

Harley needs to be the guy on the PP.

Duchene from distance.

I like that!

.

It's never easy. Good job Suter.

Shouldn't count, but we'll see

That's GI

Wow, ballsy challenge, even though it seems pretty clear interference.

Don't like this challenge

Razor saying that goal shouldn't be allowed. I guess they are pushing Otter's pad in while the puck is underneath it.