It’s important to note that Greg Pateryn came to the Dallas Stars in a less-than-ideal situation.
First, he came as something of an “also, this guy” sort of piece in the surprising Jordie Benn trade for the Habs’ fourth-round pick, which hardly endeared him to anyone. Folks were surprised as it was that Jordie had been shipped out, and the early word on Pateryn was that he was essentially a right-handed Patrik Nemeth with a better slap shot. It wasn’t the most Jim Nill of Jim Nill trades, Kris Russell notwithstanding.
Furthermore, Pateryn had the misfortune of benefiting from Lindy Ruff’s lame duck vendetta against Stephen Johns, finding himself holding down the third pairing (and some nights, the second) during games where many fans were steamed to see a big right-hander not named Stephen playing defense.