In The Wild: Dallas acquires Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks

Real reactions to a mixed bag of a trade.

For those that are new here, ‘In The Wild’ is what I do when I feel like the reptilian brain deserves to write. This is my emotional reaction to the events. In that respect, it’s not even an assessment of the trade or Jim Nill. When the facts change, I’ll change my mind. For now, this is about how I’m feeling about the trade.

And there it is. Dallas’ Finnish Mafia gets bigger by trading for Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci. My first thought was True Detective memes, and nonsensical gifs. This is a team that didn’t give up a first for Chris Tanev. Obviously, no two deals are alike just as no two timelines are alike.

We’ve known for awhile that Nill was always gonna go with UFAs given the cap situation in the future. However, the issue Dimitri Filipovic and I posited on the PDO Podcast is that the market wasn’t good enough to dump money and assets into. A hockey trade — at least from an armchair warrior like me — made the most sense in terms of truly leveling up the Stars. So naturally, my initial reaction is that Dallas got better with what the market provided, but because the market was bad, have not gotten better enough to truly push them over the top in say, a series versus Winnipeg or Edmonton. But again, that’s just my initial reaction.

Here’s the deal, in full, courtesy of PuckPedia.

Mikael Granlund

In terms of underlying numbers, Granlund has had an awful last three years. This year has seen a quality spike in shift to shift offense, however.

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While this looks really bad on the surface, it’s worth noting that Granlund has been a consistent producer despite getting up there in age.

My main concern is how much of this trade is due to Granlund having literally the best season he’s ever had at 32 years of age (currently with 45 points, which would be just above Roope Hintz right now). Granted, nobody cares if it’s enough to earn the Stars a cup. But if he’s conjuring production out of a well he’s never had, then who’s to say the faucet doesn’t stop during the playoffs?

These are doom and gloom thoughts, and I don’t want that to distract you from the fact that Granlund is a fun player to watch, and adds a ton of speed to a lineup that doesn’t have much. Overall, it’s a good move to improve the team. But it’s not a move that pushes them over the top IMO. Good thing that’s the only move today…oh?

Cody Ceci

I don’t know what to tell you. This is Matt Dumba 2.0, and I don’t see how anyone can say otherwise. Ceci was a big part of Dallas gaining ground on Edmonton, as Ceci on a pair with Darnell Nurse was an abject disaster.

But has Dallas upgraded?

If the idea was to upgrade the Tyler Seguin position, then no.

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Despite Granlund being known as a two-way forward, he hasn’t performed like it from shift to shift.

As for Dumba versus Ceci, avert your eyes.

Stepping back

This reaction might seem negative. And it is. I don’t believe Granlund is enough, and Ceci actively hurts a blueline that is already questionable as a Cup contender. I felt like Dallas could get a quality player in this draft as well (like a long term RHD solution ala Blake Fiddler), so giving up a first rounder adds to my personal sting. Some things you don’t need to “wait and see” for. Ceci is a defective defender everywhere he’s been. This is known. If Seguin can’t come back until a series that might never happen, then Granlund doesn’t upgrade the position. That is also known.

But beyond just being a dude behind a desktop, I’ll grant this. Assuming the Stars have enough to get there, and that they get the right breaks, this is the lineup they can take into a Cup Final.

Robertson-Hintz-Johnston

Marchment-Duchene-Seguin

Benn-Granlund-Stankoven

Steel-Bourque-Dadonov

Harley-Heiskanen

Lindell-Ceci

Bichsel-Lyubushkin

I don’t know if that’s enough. But they’re already doing extremely well with less than that right now.

When the facts change, I’ll change my mind. For now, my mind is set at “improved a little. But not enough if this is the grand design.”