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Star Gazing: Bruins' Trip to Eastern Conference Final Benefits Stars

May 28, 2013, 12:25 PM ET [7 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Dallas Stars Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Although he is the new general manager of the Dallas Stars, Jim Nill could be forgiven if he is pulling for the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nill, after all, spent the last 19 seasons as an influential voice in the Red Wings organization before his recent hire by the Stars.

As soon as he became the Stars general manager, Nill also became a temporary Boston Bruins fan. That's because a first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft was riding on the outcome of Boston's series with the Maple Leafs and Rangers. When former GM Joe Nieuwendyk traded Jaromir Jagr to Boston, he received forward prospects Lane MacDermid and Cody Payne along with a conditional Draft pick.

The condition: If Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference Final this spring, the Stars would receive the Bruins' first-round pick in the upcoming Draft. If Boston lost in either the first or second round of the playoffs, Boston would keep its first-rounder and Dallas would the Bruins' second-round pick to complete the Jagr trade.

All things considered, Nieuwendyk did a real nice job with the Jagr trade. Considering that he was trading a 41-year-old impending unrestricted free agent who was unlikely to stay in Dallas beyond this season, to get a first-round pick and a promising young role player in MacDermid (who scored in each of his first two games with the Stars before getting injured, but is more of an energy line type than a scoring prospect) was a good return for the future Hall of Famer.

The selection spot for the newly acquired pick remains to be seen, depending on how the Bruins fare the rest of the playoffs. For Dallas, it would now be beneficial if the Bruins lose to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Final. The best possible scenario for the Stars would also involve for Detroit and San Jose reaching the Western Conference Final.

The Stars will choose tenth overall with their own first-round pick. With an additional first-round pick now in hand, they own two of the top 30 picks as well as the 40th overall selection.

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