Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, and Kris Russell. These were the three veteran defenders that the Dallas Stars lost to the 2016 offseason either via trade or free agency.
After a second round exit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, these three defensemen were all in line for contract renewals. They had all been regular starters on the Stars’ blue line throughout the final half of the season and into the postseason.
The options were up in the air, and just about every Stars fan had a different opinion. Some sided with the “keep Goligoski and let Russell and Demers go” theory.