A chaotic free agency for the Dallas Stars has resulted in vetoed trades and the loss of one of their young assets who was on the rise to become a star.
Columbus Blue Jackets star defender Zach Werenski vetoed a trade that would've sent him to the Stars, but losing center Mavrik Bourque to the Nashville Predators may get equal attention. The Stars traded Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin to Nashville for draft picks, but the headline isn't as pretty as it seems.
Back in May, Bourque told Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News that he wanted to stay in Dallas. Knowing what we know now, it looks like Bourque was blindsided out of nowhere. Here's what the former Stars center told Assimakopoulos.
“I don’t see myself anywhere else than being a Dallas Star. They drafted me six years ago, and I'm finally showing me what they were hoping for when they drafted me.”
Mavrik Bourque sounded like he didn't want to get traded away from Dallas
Bourque looked to settle in nicely as a Dallas Star after making his NHL debut in April 2024. Last season, the 24-year-old scored 20 goals, 21 assists and 41 points. He was a nice piece of a balanced Stars team of veterans and youngsters, and even recorded his first career hat trick in April.
In return, the Stars got a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-rounder from the Preds, and while the draft capital in return is nice, it doesn't make up for losing a young fan favorite. Bourque was also on one of the friendliest contracts, making $950,000 on a one-year deal last season with Dallas.
For the Preds, they're getting a valuable young piece who will help them build. Also, for the Stars, it's the loss of another young goalscorer. Logan Stankoven just won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes, but that trade is still playing out in real time.
The whole Werenski ordeal was frustrating enough, but losing a piece like Bourque, who wanted so badly to stay, will sting every Stars fan, no doubt.
It's another day and another disappointment for the Dallas Stars front office. It goes to show that no one is ever safe in any professional sport. This kind of move proves it is a business, no matter how we want to look at it.
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