After a surprise playoff run following the 2013-2014 season, the Dallas Stars didn't make the playoffs last season, though they were a better team last year than the year before. More than just finishing with one more point, they were better offensively and unlocked the potential and hope John Klingberg offers on defense. Coming into this season they still have one of the best center duos in the league with Tyler Seguin (who was having an MVP type year before getting injured) and Jason Spezza. Art Ross winner Jamie Benn played hurt all year but still dominated. He's one of the top four wingers in the league, and Seguin arguably a top five center. They've added Patrick Sharp from the Blackhawks to their top six, which will keep one of the most high powered offenses in the league buzzing. There’s no doubt they’ll be good, but how good they can be depends on improvement on the defense end and in net.
Projected lineup:
Forwards:
Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Patrick Sharp
Valeri Nichushkin-Jason Spezza-Ales Hemsky
Antoine Roussel-Cody Eakin-Colton Sceviour
Mattias Janmark-Vernon Fiddler-Patrick Eaves
Reserve: Travis Moen
Defense:
Alex Golisgoski-John Klingberg
Johnny Oduya-Jason Demers
Jyrki Jokipakka-Patrik Nemeth
Seventh defenseman: Jordie Benn
Goalies:
Starter: Kari Lehtonen
Reserve: Antti Niemi
Best case scenario
The offense is the most potent in the western conference once again and the difference this year will be on defense. Johnny Oduya came over from the Blackhawks and will provide grit on the second pair and the return of Patrik Nemeth, who missed all of last season, further improves the depth on the blue line. John Klingberg continues to improve in his second year and the defense actually goes from a weakness to a strength. Kari Lehtonen bounces back and re-establishes himself as a reliable goalie. Furthermore the addition of Antti Niemi will allow Lehtonen to rest more often and keep him fresher throughout the year. Behind better goaltending and defense to go along with their stellar offense, the Stars soar to one of the best records in the west.
Worst case scenario
Johnny Oduya struggles to bring continuity and depth to the defense and once again they struggle with giveaways and on their end of the ice. The barrage of shots will wear down on the mind of Lehtonen and by the end of they year he will have reached the point of not being able to become the player he once was. The competition Niemi brings in, instead of motivating Lehtonen to play better will instead make him play worse and eventually the Stars have to go with Niemi as their #1 guy, which was not their plan for him at all. Offensively they don’t improve with Sharp coming in and Nichushkin back from injury and the majority of the burden will fall on Benn and Seguin once again.
Prediction
The first two years of the central a team rose from the bottom to first or second in the Central (Colorado in 2013-14 and Nashville last season), and the Stars are primed to do that this season. They have so much young talent that is just waiting to break out and solid veterans across the board that can steady the ship. As they improve and the rest of the central declines, Dallas wins the central. Chicago lost many important players, but not just Sharp and Oduya. St. Louis is always a solid regular season team but there has to be some dissent in the locker room after three straight first round exits. Minnesota can’t possibly count on Devan Dubnyk to maintain his torrid pace from the second half of last season over a full year this season. Nashville is going to be good again, but there are questions whether Mike Ribiero and other veterans that Peter Laviolette got the best out of last season can do it again. Most people have confined Winnipeg and Colorado to the cellar of the division, but they both have young talent and have the potential to make things interesting, but both are still a couple pieces away from being consistent contenders. The Stars have finally put the pieces together to bring winning hockey back to Dallas.