STARS GET WILLIE MITCHELL
The Dallas Stars acquired defenseman Willie Mitchell and a second-round draft pick in 2007 from the Minnesota Wild for defensemen Martin Skoula and Shawn Belle.
What does it give the Dallas Stars
The Stars are gunning for top spot in the Western Conference as they hit the stretch drive and Mitchell will be a nice anchor for a solid defense corps. He's not a huge scorer but is a huge guy who moves well and clears both opposing forwards and the puck from the defensive zone.
What does it give the Minnesota Wild
The Wild have lost their top defenseman, but they got two in return. Skoula will step up as their blue-line leader and they won't lose a lot with that swap. Skoula will score a little more, but throw his weight around a little less. In Belle the Wild, who are still trying to scratch their way into a playoff spot, are also looking to the future. He's a 21-year-old kid with good size and strong scoring potential from the blue line.
Fantasy impact
