With Tyler Seguin out due to a lower-body injury, the Dallas Stars might be in a position to make more trades or other roster moves.

The acquisition of defenseman Chris Tanev on Wednesday has sent a message to the NHL that the Dallas Stars are serious about making a run to the Stanley Cup

The 34-year-old blueliner, acquired in a three-way trade involving the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils, gives the Stars a top-level defenseman from the right side. With the Flames and Devils agreeing to pay three-quarters of Tanev's $4.5 million contract between them, that means Dallas is only on the hook for $1.125 million of the deal, which expires after this season.

Another player on the Stars' current roster could also affect the team's cap space. Forward Tyler Seguin has been dealing with a lower-body injury for some time, and finally came out of the lineup late last week.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer has listed Seguin as week-to-week. But if his injury keeps him out for the remainder of the regular season, Dallas could utilize his salary cap hit, making it possible for general manager Jim Nill to make more roster moves.

Seguin is drawing $8.45 million this season, with a cap hit of $9.85 million, per CapFriendly. During an appearance on NHL Network this past Tuesday, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period indicated Seguin could be out sometime around the end of the regular season. If that's the case, Pagnotta said, Dallas could take advantage of his cap hit.

"I'm hearing the timeline for (Seguin's) potential return is in-and-around the regular season," Pagnotta said on NHL Tonight. "If that extends--and they're going to continue to monitor this and re-evaluate this situation later this week -- if he is out until the end of the regular season, that opens up an additional $9.85 million in cap space for Jim Nill to spend."

Pagnotta made those comments before the Stars acquired Tanev, but the point is still relevant. On top of that, forward Evgenii Dadonov is on LTIR with a fracture.

Following the injury to Seguin, Dallas called up top prospect Logan Stankoven from the AHL's Texas Stars, and he has not disappointed. Stankoven, the Stars' second-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, has four points (three goals and one assist) in four NHL games.

However, Stankoven was loaned back to Texas on Friday, the day after a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Stars have done this on several occasions over the past couple of weeks, mainly for salary cap purposes. That would leave the team with 11 healthy forwards.

This could mean a number of things. Stankoven may get recalled before Saturday's home game against the San Jose Sharks, or the Stars may be working on another deal involving a forward.

The Fourth Period has speculated Dallas might wish to explore one of the forwards currently on the trade market: Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel, the Anaheim Ducks' Adam Henrique, Ottawa's Vladimir Tarasenko or San Jose's Anthony Duclair. There are a lot of variables at play, including Seguin's timeline for a return, which makes the situation an intriguing daily adventure.

Check back with The Hockey News for further developments as the situation continues to evolve.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Stars Eager to Welcome New Defenseman Into the Fold

Stars Get Top Defensive Help in Major Three-Team Deal

Stankoven's First Career Goal Not Enough as Stars Fall to Islanders

Monday Morning Skate Update: Stankoven Recalled, Others Still Out with Injuries

• undefined