The Value Of: Marty Turco
NHL Hot Stove presents it’s “The Value Of” series which will look at some of the names discussed around the NHL who likely will be moved at the March 3rd trade deadline.
What does the future hold for Marty Turco and the Dallas Stars? The team continues to fall out of playoff contention, Do they begin rebuilding or do they resign the veteran and try again? At 34-years-old, one would speculate his reign in Dallas would be coming to an end.
The goaltending pipeline provides nothing. The team drafted two NHL quality goaltenders in Dan Ellis and Mike Smith but let them go with Turco their man between the pipes. This season, Turco’s numbers turned some heads, creating trade buzz after an admitedly dismal showing last season.
With Turco’s expiring contract and excellent career numbers, some contending team should be willing to part with prospects or picks. This transaction would relieve the limited budget in which owner Tom Hicks forces the team to operate. In fact, rumors surrounding the team and their financial woes indicate both Turco, star center Mike Ribeiro and most likely and recently agitator Steve Ott should pack their bags.
Rumors earlier in the year indicated interest from the Philadelphia Flyers. Both teams however shot down these rumors almost immediately.
Also, the recent play of Alex Auld fires up further speculation. Auld got his second start in a row Monday and backstopped the Stars to their second consecutive victory, beating the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, at American Airlines Center.
He wasn’t flawless, but he was consistent and steady. And that’s what the Stars need right now. If his play continues to be steady, there is still hope for a playoff birth as well as a return with shipping Turco out.
Keep in mind that the Stars are not the most gifted club in the league. They posses future pieces but stare at a second season of playoff absence. With a team mostly filled with veterans the Stars brass need to focus more on the future and less on the now.
Brandon Worley of Defending Big D recently breached the subject of trading Turco, below shows an excerpt from his article.
This past weekend, several online publications and hockey television analysts stated that the Dallas Stars are preparing to move on without Marty Turco. Now this is hardly surprising news; the future of Turco with the Dallas Stars has been in doubt since the start of the season. Yet now it’s being reported as if this is a fact: the Dallas Stars are moving on without him.
The question now asked is: What is the value of a player with a 2.84 GAA and a .900 SV%?
The answer: The Stars need to use Turco’s history as a selling point in order to retain full value. A second or third round pick seems fair at this point, if you consider Cristobal Huet only fetched the same two years ago.
The domino’s are then able to fall. GM Joe Nieuwendyk has a situation. It is inevitable that Turco is with a different club come October 2010. Do not go the route of the Florida Panthers Mr. Nieuwendyk.
Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @ACHockeyGuys
I agree it is time to make a move and I think Ribs, Otter, and Turco are good picks. Although I would argue I would let go of Niskanen in the place of Otter. Then as a goalie solution the #1 becomes Auld and then pick up a free agent low $ backup for Auld.
The low $ #2 would sit on the bench all nights Auld starts and then is scratched at scheduled intervals so that Krahn or Climie gets a shot. I have the luxury to watch the Texas Stars play often and Climie looks solid.