Dallas Stars linked to Eastern conference enforcer as search for toughness continues

The Dallas Stars may turn to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari after missing out on Mathieu Olivier, as their search for toughness in the bottom six continues.

According to NHL insider Jeff Marek, Dallas was interested in Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier before he re-signed, and now another physical forward could be on their radar.

Marek believes the Stars may look to the Pittsburgh Penguins' Noel Acciari, a hard-nosed forward who brings the type of toughness Dallas still covets. Acciari has one year left on his deal at a $2 million cap hit, making him a potential affordable target if Pittsburgh decides to move him.

Why the Dallas Stars continue to hunt for physical depth up front

Marek's comments highlight what has become a clear pattern for Dallas.

"Before Mathieu Olivier re-signed with the Blue Jackets, I'm firmly of the belief that was a target for the Stars. They wanted him or someone like him. I don't think that search is over."

With less than $500,000 in available cap space, Dallas is limited, but the need for a bottom-six grinder remains. The Stars have also been linked to Kiefer Sherwood, who registered 462 hits and 40 points last season, and Brandon Duhaime, who added 21 points and 165 hits. Another option is Klim Kostin, still unsigned heading into the fall.

For Dallas, the pursuit of toughness is about more than regular season balance. The Stars have been eliminated in the Western Conference Final by the Edmonton Oilers in back-to-back seasons.

As House of Hockey pointed out, adding an enforcer-type forward could give them an extra edge in the physical playoff battles that have often been their undoing.

Acciari may not be a game-changer offensively, but his reputation as a grinder makes him exactly the type of player Dallas appears to be chasing. Whether they find a way to make it work under the cap will be the next challenge for Jim Nill.

Personally, I think Dallas's commitment to adding grit shows they know what's missing when the games get heavier in May.