On this day in 2023, the Dallas Stars made a late-season move ahead of the NHL trade deadline, sending forward Denis Gurianov to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for veteran winger Evgenii Dadonov.

Gurianov, originally selected 12th overall by Dallas in the 2015 NHL Draft, had spent parts of six seasons with the Stars organization. The 6 foot 3 winger was known for his straight-line speed and heavy shot, and he delivered a memorable postseason performance during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs with nine goals in 27 games, including a four-goal outing in the Western Conference Final.

However, consistency proved to be a challenge. At the time of the trade in the 2022 to 2023 season, Gurianov had recorded nine points in 43 games and was approaching restricted free agency. A change of scenery offered him a fresh opportunity in Montreal as the Canadiens continued their retool.

Dadonov, a veteran scorer, brought a different profile to Dallas. Drafted by Florida in 2007, he had developed into a reliable offensive contributor, posting four 20-goal seasons between 2017 and 2022. Prior to the trade, Dadonov had 18 points in 50 games with Montreal during the 2022 to 2023 campaign.

The Canadiens retained 50 percent of his salary in the deal, making him an affordable depth addition for a Stars team pushing toward the playoffs. Dallas was looking to bolster its forward depth and add experienced scoring for the stretch run.

The trade reflected two teams in different phases. The Stars were in win-now mode and aiming to strengthen their lineup for a postseason push, while the Canadiens focused on giving a younger former first-round pick a chance to rediscover his game.

Looking back three years later, how do you feel about this trade? Did Dallas get the boost it needed, or did Montreal make the smarter long-term move?