An official trade between the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings: One side is still paying the price

The Dallas Stars' 2015 trade with Detroit that quietly built a future around Roope Hintz.

It's the kind of trade that looks small on paper but ends up changing everything when you look back years later.

At the 2015 NHL trade deadline, the Dallas Stars traded veteran Erik Cole and a third-round pick to the Detroit Red Wings.

In return, Dallas got Mattias Janmark, Mattias Bäckman, and a second-round pick that would turn into something Detroit still regrets.

That pick became Roope Hintz.

This trade has sparked debate across fanbases, and even Red Wings websites are still talking about it years later. One breakdown by Red Wings Insider called it a move that "haunts fans to this day," showing just how badly Detroit misjudged the deal.

Why the Roope Hintz trade with Detroit still defines the Dallas Stars' rebuild

Erik Cole was 36 at the time of the trade.

He had once scored 35 goals with the Canadiens in 2011-12, but injuries had slowed him down.

He played just 11 games for Detroit before a spine issue ended his season, and ultimately, his NHL career.

The Stars, on the other hand, got a lot more than they bargained for.

Mattias Janmark quickly became a dependable forward and made an impact in the lineup during his rookie season.

More importantly, Dallas used that second-round pick to draft Roope Hintz, who has developed into a true first-line center.

He's now a consistent 30+ goal scorer and plays a major role on a top line with Jason Robertson.

"That trade gave us two key pieces for the long term," a Stars staffer once admitted.

Hintz's speed, size, and hockey IQ have made him a cornerstone of Dallas's roster.

Meanwhile, Detroit was bounced in the first round of the playoffs and got no long-term value from the deal.

"It might go down as one of the quietest franchise wins we've ever had," said a long-time Stars fan reflecting on the deal.

I still can't believe how one simple deadline deal gave Dallas so much for so little.