Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson could be a good fit for this contender.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson is one player who could be moved before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline passes. This is because he is pending UFA and has plenty of experience, so contenders should certainly be calling. 

The Hockey News Sabres' Michael Augello recently listed the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche as possible landing spots for Johnson. However, there's another team who could use the veteran defenseman's services for the final portion of the season - the Dallas Stars. 

The Stars absolutely could use more defensive depth. This is because they are not only dealing with injuries on their blue line but also would benefit from strengthening their right side. Johnson would have the potential to do just that. 

When looking at a possible fit in the Stars' lineup, Johnson would work nicely on their bottom pairing. Along with that, he would be an option for their penalty kill because of his defense-first style of play and physicality. 

If the Stars miss out on some of their bigger trade targets like Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Sean Walker, Johnson would be a nice consolation prize. It will be intriguing to see if Johnson ends up heading to Dallas from here, but there could be a good match here. 

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