It really seemed as though the Dallas Stars were set up to completely avoid the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline and be a better team because of it.
After a busy 12-hour period on Saturday in which the Stars shored up their young defense by trading Connor Carrick and a pick for Ben Lovejoy in the morning, got shut out by the Carolina Hurricanes in an unemotional 3-0 showing in the afternoon, and wrapped up the day with a trade for Mats Zuccarello, everything seemed to have fallen neatly into place.