The Dallas Morning News Mike Heika column

By Mike Heika, The Dallas Morning News

Nov. 5--As a lesson for all of us who are impatient with young players, I offer up today the curious case of Matt Carle.

Drafted in the fourth round by San Jose in 2003, Carle went through the U.S. National Development program and three years at the University of Denver before being moved up to the NHL. He played on the Sharks for three seasons, and simply wasn't that good when given top-level responsibility. He's a skilled player who can lug the puck, but he had breakdowns in his own end, and proved a source of frustration for fans and coaches alike.

So, the Sharks moved him to Tampa Bay in 2008 with Ty Wishart and a first-round pick for Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich. Carle was clearly a big part of that deal for the Lightning, but then they either tired of him or really felt they needed to make a move for financial reasons when they traded him to Philadelphia for Steve Eminger and Steve Downey after just 12 games.

So if you were a sportswriter who saw Carle more than a few times, including in the playoffs, you would have reasoned that he was a bust. Two teams gave up on him, and he just didn't seem to have what it took.

Which brings us to this season. Carle, at 25, has proved to be the perfect fit with Chris Pronger on the Flyers. He is playing 24:47 a game, he has two goals and 10 assists, and he is plus-11. Is he better because he is playing with Chris Pronger? Well, yeah. Is he better because he has played 230-something NHL games? That too. Is he better because he was knocked down a few pegs by being traded? Maybe so.

But the bottom line is Carle found a way to get better ... at least for now. He is the perfect fit on the Flyers, and he seems to be fulfilling what many thought was impressive potential.

And the reason that is important to Stars fans is because there are a few guys just like Matt Carle on the Stars. Whether it be Matt Niskanen or Trevor Daley or Fabian Brunnstrom, there are young players who have potential. Now, do you wait around for that potential to develop like the Stars did with Loui Eriksson? Do you move that potential for some immediate help the way the Sharks did (they seem very happy with Boyle) or do you dump that potential for spare parts, the way Tampa Bay did?

Obviously, you would choose the first two options, but the third is always a possibility, isn't it?

So be careful what you wish for in trying to figure out the development of these players. You could be seeing them having pretty good futures on another team.

Onto the questions:

STARS Q&A

Q: I know they played Krys Barch on defense a couple of times in preseason. Any chance they will make that switch? He seems to skate well backwards and is pretty quick.

HEIKA: Hey Ty, I do not see that happening. Barch's biggest asset is his hitting and his ability to fight -- players like him are typically moved from defense to a wing. Having a defenseman as a fighter can really throw a team off if that player is in the penalty box. It's much easier to play that type of player on a wing and then either scrap his line or rotate a forward in if he is in the box or out of the game. Plus, I think the Stars have some pretty good options on defense in the form of Maxime Fortunas, Garrett Stafford, Dan Jancevski and Andrew Hutchinson if they want to play around back there.

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Q: Let's start handicapping the Calder race. The early favorite had to be John Tavares, but will playing on a bad Islanders team hurt his chances? Does this open the door for Jamie Benn? What kind of numbers would Benn have to put up to have a shot?

Chris W.

HEIKA: Hey Chris, actually many players on bad teams have won the Calder. The key to that situation is bad teams don't mind handing 20 minutes a game and first power play time to a rookie, and those things add up to points. Points, then, add up to Calder Trophy votes.

If Benn could put up Bobby Ryan numbers from last season (31 goals, 26 assists), I think he would have a chance. But James Neal had 24-13 (37) and didn't even make the all-rookie team, so it's tough to get into that group.

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Q: Did you ever get more info on the reported Kyle Quincey trade prior to last season that the Stars backed out of after the trainers looked at his back?

That might be a good topic.

How do you assess the D-corps so far? Do you think the Stars can make a deep run with this group? Does GM Joe like what he sees, or will we be working the phones?

Rory

HEIKA: Hey Rory, yes, it was a fourth-round pick that the Stars offered Detroit for Quincey, and Les Jackson was disappointed it did not work out. Doctors said Quincey needed back surgery, and so they could not approve him physically. It was a tough break, as Quincey is playing very well with Colorado right now.

The D-corps is inexperienced and need some games. They are what they are, but you either have to trade some kids or be patient.

The West is such a mess right now, I'm not sure who can make a deep run. I would say the Stars have as good a chance as the Avalanche or the Coyotes.

As for Joe, I just don't think he has any money to work with right now. That's just the reality of the situation.

I don't think they could even move a prospect for a 3 or 4 right now. I think they are pretty much set at $45 million of real money.

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Q: Do you think Ralph Strangis would ever consider writing a book? I enjoy reading his occasional articles on dallasstars.com. Watching his TV special on NHL Network last year, I had no idea what kind of battles he has had to fight. He has to have a lot of stories to tell about hockey, Razor and all the other crazy things that go on. This is a ways off, but what do you think the chances are of the Stars extending Brad Richards' contract? Hopefully he will be willing to take less money, but I would love to see him stick around for a long time!

Jessica

HEIKA: Hey Jessica, I think Ralph would love to do that, but he also would love to put more time into acting and also possibly host a game show, so he has a long list of things he wants.

But I think a Ralph book would indeed be a good read.

As for Brad Richards, I do think he would re-sign with the Stars, and I do think it would have to be for less money than the $7.8 million he is making now. But he still has next year under contract, and a lot could change in that time. We'll see what happens.

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Q: On Friday (Oct 30), Yahoo Sports Hockey writer Ross McKeon ranked the Dallas Stars 16th in the NHL out of the 30 teams. McKeon's comments were very interesting when he said, "Marty Turco is off to a better start this season than last. You don't think it has anything to do with it being a contract year do you?" I'm pretty sure Turco being a free agent in the off-season has something to do with it, but do you think Turco is trying to show the Stars (and the league if Dallas doesn't re-sign him) that last year is a fluke? I mean, it's not like he's been an awful goalie (despite what some people think).

Taylor in Phoenix

HEIKA: Hey Taylor, contracts are important to everyone, but I think Marty Turco is smart with his money, and he has made more than $25 million in his career, so my guess is he's in pretty good shape.

This is just me, but I believe Turco's motivation to be good is part pride and part comfort. I believe he likes Dallas, his family likes Dallas and he feels a part of the organization. He understands that there is a very good chance he won't even get an offer from the Stars if he doesn't play well, so he wants to play well and continue his career here. The other part of the equation (the pride part) is that he knows he has the ability to be one of the best goalies in the NHL, and he simply wants to accomplish that goal. I think we would all want the same thing in his situation.

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Q: I know it feels like this whole Sean Avery thing will never go away ... but ... Larry Brooks over at the New York Post wrote a story this week about the one-year anniversary of Sean Avery's comments in Calgary, and it paints Avery in a victim's light for his time in Dallas. Brooks neglects to point out that Dave Tippett had just asked Avery to not stir the pot via the media and then was horrified to watch as Avery, after saying he wouldn't, literally gathered the cameramen and made his now-infamous statement. Brooks also puts the blame on Brenden Morrow, Dave Tippett, Tom Hicks et al. Seriously, can't this story ever be set straight?

Gray W.

HEIKA: Hey Gray, my guess is that New York will have its side of the story no matter what. I can tell you that the tale of Sean Avery as victim in Dallas would not go over well in the Stars locker room. This team said he never made the effort to fit in, and was more focused on a movie he was doing or his budding fashion career. I'm sure both sides are right in their own minds. It's like Jon and Kate, is anyone ever really right?

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