The title of this blog post is a bit misleading, because Nils Lundkvist is not the ONLY reason Chris Tanev became a Dallas Star. However, I don't believe the Stars would have gone out and acquired Chris Tanev if Lundkvist had taken the next step. I felt this aspect of the conversation was not being talked about enough.
Last season, Lundkvist was basically handed a roster spot and was expected to take that next step in his development. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), Thomas Harley emerged at the end of last season and hasn't looked back. I would argue he's been the Stars second best defenseman this season. Meanwhile, Lundkvist was healthy scratched for a good chunk of the end of the regular season and never touched the ice in the playoffs.
It makes me wonder if Jim Nill made the wrong decision in trading for Lundkvist. Maybe he would be as effective as Harley if he had gone to the AHL and played with the Texas Stars for a period of time before playing for Dallas. I would argue that still might be the best course of action for him even though Lundkvist himself will not want to do that. Dallas would find them in the same situation as the New York Rangers when Dallas traded for him. In the Rangers organization, he was going to be sent to Hartford, but he was vehemently against that. So, the Rangers traded him to Dallas for a first round pick and a third round pick. To this day, I believe that is the only first round pick Nill has ever traded as the general manager of the Dallas Stars.
I don't say all of this to be a Lundkvist hater. I honestly want him to succeed because he's a great hockey player, seems to fit in well with the locker room, and he's right-handed. That helps him a ton. However, he has been given chance after chance, opportunity after opportunity to cement himself in the lineup, and he has not done that. What's important is he needs to convince Pete DeBoer, not me. If he had taken that step this season and been more consistent, I don't think Jim Nill would've gone out this trade deadline and gotten someone to take his spot in the lineup. My opinion might be unpopular, but I really think it's the truth.
Despite him not taking advantage of his chances, I still think Nils Lundkvist can grow into the role that the Stars seemed to have destined for him. It might just take some time in the AHL before he can truly grow into that role.
