Dallas Stars Season Preview: Making It Happen

The Stars have a tough job this season. Last season, they came closer than they had in a long time to winning the Cup. The Stars were known as a “one-and-done” team, one of those teams that makes it to the playoffs consistently, but can’t get past the first round for whatever reason. I watched last year’s run with hope and hesitation, knowing what had happened in seasons before and not wanting to get my hopes too high. They went above and beyond what I, and many others, expected. Owner Tom Hicks has said that there’s a good feeling in the locker room this year, a feeling of hope, a feeling of strength, a feeling that they have what it takes to win it all. The team overcame adversity with injuries to key players, but that ended up helping in the long run, giving younger players a chance to shine and get some serious NHL ice time.

I’m sure everyone knows the big summer signings – highly touted Swedish player Fabian Brunnstrom, and NHL pest Sean Avery. Now, the Stars have a younger, faster, more skilled team. They have a perfect blend of younger players and veterans who have been through it all. What to do with them all?

Captain Brenden Morrow will undoubtedly lead the top line with Mike Ribeiro at center, and Jere Lehtinen on the wing. Morrow is a gritty, fast forward who’s not afraid to get in the thick of it. He’ll battle for the puck and get in someone’s face whenever he needs to. Ribeiro is never afraid to make the patient play, and combined with Morrow, the duo scored 157 points and were a +44. Face of the franchise Mike Modano and 7.8 million dollar man Brad Richards are both highly skilled centers who give the Stars an opportunity to have three competent scoring lines. Youngsters Joel Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson are guys who have only been getting better with time, and combined with tough guys like Steve Ott, Krys Barch, and Sean Avery, can make up solid checking lines with scoring ability. Brunnstrom is likely to wing a second or third line, but will possibly get the chance to play on the top line, should three-time Selke winner Lehtinen get injured. Young guys B.J. Crombeen, Toby Petersen, and rookie James Neal will likely make up a fourth line, combining grit with skill.

The Stars’ leading defensemen are veterans Sergei Zubov and Philippe Boucher, both of whom are unfortunately injury-prone. In fact, Zubov will be on injured reserve until November. Stéphane Robidas proved last season that yes, he can score goals, and will probably end up on the top defensive pairing, at least until Zubov gets back. Trevor Daley is a veteran compared to the young guys on the team – Nicklas Grossman, Mark Fistric, and Matt Niskanen. Those three rookies proved themselves last season, capable of helping to carry the team to the playoffs and beyond. The Stars picked up Doug Janik off of waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, and ended up trading a seventh round draft pick for him, possibly to light a fire under the youngsters to keep their jobs in the NHL.

Goaltending is a simple issue in Dallas. Marty Turco has clearly proven himself the number one guy around these parts, having shaken the playoff monkey from his back. Backup goaltender Mike Smith was traded to Tampa Bay last season as part of the Brad Richards deal, giving Swiss netminder Tobias Stephan a shot in the spotlight. Young Stephan was given a chance last season, when both Turco and Smith were injured or ill, playing in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in October. Despite losing the game in overtime, Stephan wasn’t shaky, saving 38 of 40 shots. With Turco helping to train him, undoubtedly Stephan will prove a great goaltender at the NHL level.

Skill, grit, veteran, and youngster all combine to make a well-balanced team that will be tough to play against. Undoubtedly it will be a challenge for the Stars to repeat the success they had last year – after all, only four teams ever make it that far, and only one team can win it all. General Managers Les Jackson and Brett Hull (or, as I like to call them, the Dynamic Office Duo) made what they felt were the necessary changes to make the team go further than they did last season. Will it happen? We’ll find out soon enough.

Author Bio

A Dallas Stars fanatic through and through.  I eat, sleep, and breathe hockey, to the extent of when I get bored at work, I just run a game in my head.  Also, I may or may not have named my guinea pig after Mike Modano.

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