Locked On Stars - Daily Podcast On The Dallas Stars · Locked On Podcast Network, Joey Erickson

Is Artemi Panarin to Dallas Worth the Risk—Could This Be the MISSING PIECE for Stanley Cup GLORY?

·30 min·3 clips

Could Artemi Panarin be the blockbuster move that finally gets the Dallas Stars over the hump and into the Stanley Cup final?

This episode explores the potential for the Dallas Stars to acquire star winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers before the NHL trade deadline. Host Joey Erickson, a former producer for 105.3 The Fan, analyzes whether Panarin could be the final piece for a Stanley Cup run. The discussion is framed by the Stars' recent playoff history of falling one round short of the final for three consecutive seasons. The Athletic published an article detailing each team's potential fit for Panarin, with Mark Lazerus noting it "makes a lot of sense" for Dallas given the franchise's urgency. General Manager Jim Nill has a history of aggressive deadline moves, exemplified by last year's acquisition of Miro Heiskanen. Panarin has 57 points in 52 games this season and a career-high of 120 points, though he is 34 years old. His potential addition is seen as a solution for scoring depth lost with Tyler Seguin's injury and the departures of players like Evgenii Dadonov. Acquiring Panarin would likely be a rental, as re-signing him alongside Jason Robertson would be difficult. The cost could include prospects like first-round pick Emil Hemming or young NHL player Mavrik Bourque, along with draft picks. Panarin carries an $11.5 million cap hit, but the Stars could use Seguin's LTIR space to facilitate a trade. The host also speculates about pairing Panarin with a top-four defenseman to fully address roster holes. Other mentioned trade targets include Dougie Hamilton, Luke Schenn, and the recently traded Carson Soucy. A surprising claim is that the host initially thought Panarin was much younger, attributing his age to his earlier career in the KHL. The proposed top line of Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Panarin is described as "absolutely sick." The host admits he is only "50/50" on the current Stars beating the Minnesota Wild in a hypothetical first-round playoff matchup. He argues the current roster is not good enough for a deep run and likely cannot get past the Colorado Avalanche. An interesting insight is that five-on-five analytics show the Stars and the struggling St. Louis Blues are closer than their overall standings suggest. The host predicts a decisive 5-2 Stars win over the Blues in their upcoming game, stating Dallas needs to "flex your muscles" at even strength. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending fan enthusiasm with a practical assessment of roster construction and salary cap logistics. The style is speculative, exploring various trade scenarios and their implications for the team's championship window. This episode would appeal to Dallas Stars fans deeply invested in trade deadline strategy and the team's championship aspirations. Listeners who prefer game recaps or analysis of recent on-ice performances might skip it, as the focus is squarely on future roster moves.

As heard by us

A sharp deadline debate over whether Dallas should add more scoring and firepower.

The episode treats the Dallas-Artemi Panarin rumor as more than a headline and uses it to test the bigger deadline question: how much more scoring a contender should chase after three straight trips that fell one round short of the Stanley Cup final.

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Could the Dallas Stars land Artemi Panarin?

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