The Dallas Stars are loading up for another Cup run, and the Vancouver Canucks are clearing cap space for the future. That's the story of the latest trade deadline deal.
Pierre LeBrun reports that Tyler Myers is headed to Dallas in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-round pick. Vancouver is retaining 50% of Myers' salary, making him a $1.5 million player for this year and next.
Let's talk about what this means. The Stars just made themselves deeper on the blue line. Myers is a big-bodied defenseman - 6'8" of reach and experience. He's not going to be your number one guy, but as a third-pairing defenseman who can move up in the lineup when needed? That's valuable in the playoffs.
Dallas is clearly all-in this year. They've been one of the best teams in the Western Conference all season. They've got Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Jake Oettinger playing at elite levels. Now they're adding depth for the playoff grind.
The salary retention is key here. By eating half of Myers' contract, Vancouver made him palatable to more teams and probably got a better return. That 2027 second-rounder could turn into a solid prospect. In a rebuild or retool, those picks matter.
For Myers, this is probably exactly what he wanted. He goes from a Canucks team that's been inconsistent to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He'll get a chance to win. At 34 years old, those opportunities don't come around forever.
The Canucks, meanwhile, are in an interesting spot. They're not tanking, but they're not going all-in either. They're somewhere in the middle, which is the worst place to be in professional sports. Selling off pieces like Myers gives them flexibility going forward.
The March 6 trade deadline is looming, and this is just the beginning. Every contender is looking for depth. Every seller is trying to extract maximum value. These next few days are going to be chaotic.
