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Star Gazing: Larsen for Horcoff, Free Agency Friday

July 5, 2013, 7:46 AM ET [11 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Dallas Stars Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Shortly after the Dallas Stars completed a blockbuster deal with Boston yesterday to acquire Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley, the club made another trade. Dallas sent defenseman Philip Larsen and a 2016 seventh-round pick to Edmonton in exchange for the Oilers' captain, veteran forward Shawn Horcoff.

Larsen is coming off a disappointing year in the lockout-shortened 2013 season. The puck-moving Dane entered the campaign with an opportunity to solidify a spot in the top four of the Dallas starting blueline but ended up yo-yoing in and out of the lineup. Indecisiveness with and without the puck and a tendency to get outmuscled down low in the defensive zone were his two big bugaboos. Even so, at age 23, the mobile defenseman can bounce back. He showed promise with the Stars during the 2011-12 campaign.

The 34-year-old Horcoff, who carries a hefty $5.5 million cap hit but decreasing annual salaries through 2014-15, has not lived up to his salary in recent years. However, what he brings to the table is the promise of some veteran stability on the third line. While not doing much offensively the last few years, Horcoff has good size, experience killing penalties and is pretty good in the faceoff circle. If the Stars keep Vernon Fiddler (an unrestricted free agent next summer), they will have some good depth in their bottom six despite the likely UFA departure of Eric Nystrom this weekend.

After yesterday's trade of Loui Eriksson to the Bruins, the Stars forward corps shapes up as having Jamie Benn and Seguin atop the lineup, with youngster Alex Chiasson, veteran Ray Whitney, Cody Eakin and perhaps veteran Erik Cole rounding out the top six.

I will update this blog today when and if the Stars make additional roster moves.

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