Trade Deadline Buzz: Stars high on Despres; Morrow, Nystrom being looked at as depth options?

Could the Penguins rob the Dallas Stars in a trade again?

An NHL source says the Dallas Stars love defenseman Simon Despres and have strong interest in making a serious play for Despres. The Stars are said to have approached the Penguins about Despres but GM Joe Nieuwendyk isn’t that dumb to move a top-6 forward to Pittsburgh for a young puck defenseman again is he?

I highly doubt it but if the Stars want Despres, a source says they better be ready to trade 27 year old winger Loui Eriksson the other way. The Stars know that’s what it would take and I just can’t see it happening.

Regarding the Stars, the Penguins have been scouting them heavily of late, three straight games in a row to be exact (including Tuesday night vs Nashville), and I’ve been hearing that the Penguins are evaluating potential depth options, 34 year old Brenden Morrow and 30 year old Eric Nystrom, both UFA’s.

Morrow has 6 goals and 5 assists in 23 games. Morrow is currently sidelined due to a groin injury and has missed the last two games with the Penguins in attendance but had a goal with Penguins scouts watching on Thursday night in LA. Morrow is under consideration as a possible third line target, a source says, but the Penguins have concerns about his durability. Morrow has a NTC. The Bruins are among the teams considering a play for Morrow.

One thing to keep in mind with Morrow is that Bill Guerin played three seasons with Morrow in Dallas and Guerin has become move involved with the going on’s surrounding the Penguins decisions with the NHL club, despite being a player development coach in the organization. Morrow was also on Team Canada with Crosby in 2010.

Nystrom, 30, has 2 goals and 1 assist this season. He’s among the bottom six players the Penguins have been scouting of late. Nystrom had 16 goals last season and 174 hits in 76 games.

Both players could become available for a draft pick.