Before the puck ever dropped on what was fated to be yet another lopsided home loss for the Dallas Stars to the Anaheim Ducks, Renaud Lavoie of RDS asserted via Twitter that contract extension talks between Derek Roy and Nieuwendyk/Provenzano had ceased.
No more contract extension talks for #stars Derek Roy. Hearing Canucks have interest in him. We'll see if he'll be traded or not. #RDS
— Renaud Lavoie (@RenLavoieRDS) April 1, 2013
That was to the surprise of no one, albeit interesting to see from such a highly regarded outlet two days before the trade deadline. Joe Nieuwendyk was made available to media during the second intermission of last night's contest, and nearly mum on the subject.
On if there's any news on potential extensions on Jaromir Jagr, Eric Nystrom or Derek Roy
"I don't really have any update on that. No."
On if that would affect how they might deal with things in the next two days
"I think so. I think it's all part of it. Have to see where we're at. Listening to calls."
Short and sweet from the Stars General Manager there. These decisions carry extra weight this year.
With Bouwmeester, Morrow and Iginla already moved, will the market heat up for what the Stars have to sell, or will parity in the standings dictate standing pat, leaving Dallas with pieces un-sold? We'll find out in another 32 hours. Like GM Joe said, he is fielding calls and will presumably attempt to maximize value for the franchise moving forward.
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Glen Gulutzan said after the game that if they had just capitalized on some chances early it would have been different. That they "had enough there - if they had capitalized, to win." [Stars Inside Edge]
The Ducks offense had been anemic, Bobby Ryan hadn't been scoring, and their power play had been lifeless. As is often the case this year, the AAC solved all of those woes. [LA TIMES]
The complete transcript of Joe Nieuwendyk's availability last night in the press box [DMN]
The Calgary Flames received a first round pick and two prospects in exchange for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, now a member of the St. Louis Blues. [Yahoo!]
Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin says "Stars coach Glen Gulutzan definitely on the hot seat" - And that was before last night's game. [DMN]
If you prompt the Dallas Stars official Twitter account for a joke after a disheartening loss on home ice, they might oblige, as demonstrated by our own Josh Lile [SB Nation - NHL]
Steve Ott's Buffalo Sabres continue their sell-off, sending defenseman Robyn Regehr to an already loaded Kings team in exchange for two second-round picks. Los Angeles was already going to be good in the playoffs. Watching them lose two second round picks is at least mildly entertaining. [Puck Daddy]
Pierre LeBrun says the Stars are having serious internal debate on whether or not to sell Jaromir Jagr at the deadline Wednesday. The feeling of those surrounding the team continues to be that the return would have to be REALLY something to out-weigh another year of him here mentoring and selling tickets like he does. [ESPN]
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The Stars teased a sneak peak of the new jerseys for next season last night, repeatedly, building up the reveal for a third period April Fools joke - At 3-0 with an empty arena and a second home loss in 24 hours brewing, the response was not amiable in the building as an individual burst forth in a mooterus jersey.
Points for self deprecation regarding the mooterus, but the timing was less than ideal, as it turned out. Such is the luck of pre-planning game presentation with the variable of the score being unknown.
[Link if this "Vine" thing isn't working]