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In watching the reports come out about the Mavericks trade Wednesday, I kept saying to myself: I bet that's a trade that Brett Hull would do – and one that Les Jackson wouldn't.

I know the two interim co-general managers are on the record saying they very much will make every trade decision together. But it's also worth noting that they are coming at the Stars' trade scenario in different ways.

Hull is a guy who wants to push for the present, wants to find the right fit, wants to help good buddy Mike Modano get the right scoring partner.

Jackson wants the same thing, but he does not want to give up prospects or draft picks to accomplish that goal. Unfortunately, the price for adding a big-time scorer is prospects and draft picks.

Hull is going to the GM meetings in Naples, Fla., that begin Monday, so he will be in the belly of the beast, and I imagine he will be talking to a lot of GMs trying to find out what the going rate is for a scorer out there.

Jackson has planned a trip to Toronto to do some scouting (both amateur and pro), so he will let Hull get the lay of the land while he is doing his own research.

We will probably never know how the two come to their decisions on trade possibilities before the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline, but I imagine there will be some intense discussions.

There are trades out there to be done. The question is how much will they cost? Some people are willing to pay the cost and others are not. We'll see who has the more convincing argument for the Stars in the next few weeks.

Q: If you were a GM and you thought your team had a real shot at the cup, would you mortgage the future of the team in trading for a "special" player that could put you over the top?

Jim B.

HEIKA: I guess a lot would depend on how much I have riding on the present. Marty Turco is 32, Sergei Zubov is 37, Mike Modano is 37 and Jere Lehtinen is 34. Those are some pretty big pieces that are aging.

So, yes, I do feel a certain push to want to win in the next two or three years.

If I could add a huge player, I would do so at a reasonable cost to the future. I would try to not give up all of my young players, but I would give up a couple of key ones (or several mediocre ones) with the hope of making the roster better for at least the next two seasons.

Q: What's the latest on Aaron Gagnon, who was acquired by the Stars last year? We watched him skate up here with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL during the 2004-2006 seasons and were consistently impressed with his hustle and scoring ability. I know he naturally plays center, but is there any chance he could be brought up to play wing along side Modano as the playoffs near?

Kurt in Seattle

HEIKA: I think Aaron Gagnon is down on the depth list a little ways.

He just recently made the move up to the AHL level from the ECHL, and has yet to score a goal. Dallas has players such as B.J. Crombeen, Konstantin Pushkarev, Chris Conner and James Neal ahead of Gagnon, in my opinion. My guess is Gagnon's first real chance to impress the Stars will come in next season's training camp.

Q: Pretend you're coach Dave Tippett. When Sergei Zubov returns, it's easy to see Mark Fistric will go to the bench. But when Philippe Boucher returns, I don't think it is that easy. He wasn't playing that well before he was hurt (perhaps because of the injury), but Nick Grossman is the real deal, as is Matt Niskanen. Do you really mess with this chemistry? I'd seriously entertain trading Mattias Norstrom or Boucher.

Bob in California

HEIKA: That's a tricky one. I don't know how you sit Nicklas Grossman down right now. I think he and Stephane Robidas have been tremendous.

The Stars are a traditional team and they will definitely support the veterans, so my guess is Grossman will get the scratches if everyone is healthy. I would closely monitor the defensemen over the next few weeks and ponder allowing Grossman some ice time in place of Daley, Norstrom or even Niskanen. Maybe you get a rotation going (although that would not allow for much consistency at a crucial time during the season).

Norstrom is an unrestricted free agent in the summer, so I do not see him returning. But I don't think they dare move him before the trade deadline because I'm not sure either Boucher or Zubov will be back on the ice before then.

Boucher is under contract next season for $2.5 million, so he would have value at the trade deadline even if he hasn't returned to play. I guess that would be something to consider.

Q: People have asked all season: Who is better for the Stars – Mike Smith or Marty Turco? I'd like to ask you how they compare in one particular aspect, and that is Stars offense? Who makes Stars score more and play better offense? Are players more defensively minded when Marty in goal so they spend more time in their own zone? Are they getting more chances to score with Marty jump-starting some plays? Is there definitive statistics that shows Stars score more with Marty or Mike in goal?

Gregory in Dallas

HEIKA: I don't have definitive stats, but this season in games in which only one goalie plays, the Stars score 3.08 goals per game when Turco is in net and 2.82 when Smith is in net.

My assessment on that is Turco has a much better W-L record and that means the team is leading more when he is in goal. A team that is leading, in my opinion, generally has the better opportunity to produce goals, including empty-net goals or counter-attack goals in the third period.

I believe both goalies handle the puck well, and that the team "can" produce plenty of offense with either in net. The scoring difference this season is simply because Turco is having a better year in net.

Q: Why do goalies scrape up the ice before the beginning of each period? I know that slows down the puck, but I would imagine that might cause the puck to take some strange bounces.

Mark in Dallas

HEIKA: It gives them a more consistent surface to work with. When goalies come out at the start of a period, the ice usually still is a little wet and also is very slick. Because goalies slide into position while going post to post, as well as forward and backward, they want consistency and they want to be able to "feel" where they are in regards to the net. By scraping up the area, they take the slickness out of the surface and get less slide and a better feel.

Q: With the trade deadline fast approaching I've found myself thinking more and more that the Stars really don't need to add a big-time scoring winger to succeed in the playoffs. I think they could get away with trying to acquire Miroslav Satan or Michael Ryder. So which of the two would you prefer? Also do you think Montreal would even think about trading Ryder to Dallas after the way the Mike Ribeiro deal turned out?

Anthony

HEIKA: I would go after Ryder. There's something there with this kid. At age 28, he can become an unrestricted free agent, but I still think he could be a long-term acquisition who has solid upside.

He has two seasons of 30 goals behind him, and I'm not sure why he has dried up this season. Mike Modano believes the team needs another right-handed shot, and Ryder is right-handed. He also has a history of producing in the playoffs at a lower level (6-11-17 for Hamilton in 23 games in 2002-03). That was one of the things I liked about Brad Boyes when he was on the market last year.

Like many Europeans, Satan is a left-handed right wing, but if he was on a line with Jere Lehtinen and Modano, Lehtinen (RH) could play the left side, and the two could weave around to find their respective shots. Satan is also an unrestricted free agent, and at age 33 should still have some years left, so he still could be a player who could stick around.

Satan is probably better defensively and better in open ice. Ryder is more of a lurker who likes to uncork his shot. I don't know why I get the feeling that Ryder could just take off if he got in the right situation. I think the Canadiens knew Ribeiro needed to go elsewhere and may feel the same about Ryder. What they have to do with Ryder is get something better than Janne Niinimaa in return. That's where the negotiation would get interesting.

Q: I read recently in one of the newsletters someone wanted to see organ music play at the AAC. I just wanted to throw my two cents in on the subject. As someone who is in her 20s and having been a Dallas Stars fan for most of her life, I have to say that my friends and I cringe whenever we hear organ music playing at the away games on TV. Maybe it's because we've never heard organ music play at the AAC or Reunion, but I think organ music is definitely an age thing. I've been to games and have seen occasions where the right song can energize the whole stadium and don't believe an organ could have the same effect. Anyway, just wanted to say that I hope we don't ever go to the organ music format, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Anne

HEIKA: Anne, I understand your aversion to us old folk, and I will record your vote. However, might I interject that you don't have to use the organ all of the time. It can simply be a nice interlude.

When used properly, the organ can play a humorous song ("Three Blind Mice" for the referees or the Jeopardy! theme during a break in play), it can inspire the crowd with the "Charge" call or the simple hand clap song. It can make you laugh with old polkas or "The Chicken Dance." I believe you could even hear some of those new songs you kids are listening to today like "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" or "Light My Fire."

So, I implore you to open your heart and reconsider. Yes, change is important, but tradition is the centerboard of this ship we call life.

Q: I've attended a couple of Stars games at the United Center in Chicago, and I thought the organ really added something to the atmosphere. Do you think there's any chance of getting an organ in American Airlines Center?

David in Plano

HEIKA: All right David, there has to be some conspiracy for all of this organ talk to break out.

Like you, I'm all for organ music. In traveling, I would say that about 75 percent of arenas either have organs or play some kind of canned organ music.

To me, the organ just feels like hockey. As I wrote to a younger reader who is against the organ, you don't have to use it all of the time, but it's nice to have. It's perfect for the "charge" call from the crowd or to play the Hockey Night in Canada Theme or a nice version of "Brass Bonanza."

I'm not sure of the logistics or cost of adding an organ, but I would look into it if I was running the Stars.

Q: When a goalie is pulled during a game, at what point does it become the second goalie's game and impact his win/loss stats?

Phil in Frisco

HEIKA: The goalie who is on the ice when the game-winning goal is scored is the goalie of record.

So, as unfair as it seems, a goalie can give up three goals, get pulled, and then not be the goalie of record if his team loses 4-3. It's not fair, but it's the best system the league can come up with.

Q: I've watched a couple of Anaheim games recently, and it looks like they are getting close to last season's form and will be a handful to deal with in the playoffs. To that end, I had a question: Would the Stars have any interest in trading for Chris Simon when he comes off his suspension (next Thursday)? If he has anything left in the tank he would give the Stars some much needed bite and snarl and wouldn't break the bank.

Or would the Stars not want the potential distraction?

Mark from Lewisville

HEIKA: I understand the need to make yourself strong enough to battle the best teams in your conference, but I think the Stars match up well with the Ducks. For whatever reason, they don't seem to have a problem with Anaheim.

And then, what if you build yourself to beat Anaheim and don't meet Anaheim? Is Chris Simon really the player that helps make the Stars better? I think you have to build your team to your own specifications. That's what Anaheim did. Brian Burke had a vision and built that team to meet his vision. He didn't worry about matching up with Detroit or San Jose or Dallas, he built it to the personality he wanted.

I think the Stars should build their team to the personality they want – which, I believe is a hard-checking, solid defensive team that frustrates opponents and forces them into mistakes.

Chris Simon is fine, I just don't think he fits what the Stars need right now. They are a smart, controlled team. Chris Simon is not a smart, controlled player.