Welcome back Stalwarts of their Stanley Cup teams Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner were traded to the New Jersey Devils for Jason Arnott and Randy McKay.
In my 25 or so years of liking sports, I don't remember ever being so destraught and sad about a player leaving. And I think I speak for so many other fans that were disappointed to.
Looking back, the move was dumb. I do not begrudge a team that is looking to lose the old guard in order to rebuild or regroup for another run at glory.
However, it took another seven or eight years for the Stars to eventually to dump Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen and Sergei Zubov. And Zubie and Jere are gone due to injuries. Who knows if they'd still be on the team if they were healthy.
Today, our fan favorite returns. Nieuwendyk worked a trade with the Devils to get Langenbrunner for a 2011 draft pick.
For the broke Stars, this is "going for it." Veteran forward help, who will work the boards, make the right pass, set some examples -- basically do everything a solid hockey player does. He's 35 (but still looks 17) so I don't think anyone expects him to be a guy sitting on one of the first two lines.
Still, he's put together three 60-point seasons (career highs) in his last four years in New Jersey. He's languished on a bad Devils team this season with four goals and 10 assists. With a better cadre of offensive weapons, I suspect he'll point total improve.
It's cathartic. It's also savvy. Exactly what the Stars needed to plug into a line and solidify the back end of their roster.
