DALLAS _ Johnny Oduya returned to play Sunday after missing 15 games with an ankle injury and might now become a player the Stars can move before the 2 p.m. Wednesday NHL trade deadline.
That's what the season has come down to for Dallas.
A 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins in a rare nationally-televised matinee underscored the fact the 24-28-10 Stars are not going to make the playoffs. Oduya's return to the ice and decent games for Patrick Sharp and Lauri Korpikoski underscored the fact that they might be desirable assets that could be used by teams that make the playoffs.
It's the business of hockey.
"Everybody is aware. Management decisions are out of my hands and it's something I am not really going to worry about too much," Oduya said. "Of course, I am not going to deny and I know what's going on in the league and how things work, but when that day comes or not, I am going to be prepared for that either way."
The Stars feel the same. They already moved Patrick Eaves to Anaheim on Friday and now have to prepare for further possible departures. Oduya, Sharp and Korpikoski can become unrestricted free agents in the summer, so Dallas management is hoping to get some value rather than lose them for nothing. The players, meanwhile, both want to chase a Stanley Cup and up their value heading into free agency.
That's the reality of the situation, but it also makes a bold statement on just how disappointing this season is for Dallas.
"When you lose a guy like that because of the situation we're in, you've got to look at yourself in the mirror a little bit," forward Jason Spezza said after Eaves was traded. "It's frustrating to lose a guy like that, because you want to be adding this time of year, not subtracting."
But the Bruins showed Sunday why the Stars are subtracting. Boston took a 2-0 lead, Dallas charged back to tie the game at 2-2, and then Boston took over. Despite getting outshot 36-28, the Bruins carved up the Stars defense and ran away with the game.
"We got right back in the game and tied it up and they seem to get two quick ones in back-to-back shifts," said Tyler Seguin, who had a goal and an assist. "It was just pretty quick. It's a bummer."
A bummer of a season that will likely lead to big changes.
