Breaking down the Dallas Stars ahead of NHL Free Agency.
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 14 | Restricted: 5 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”dal” season=”2013″]
Stars overview
With strong play down the final stretch of the regular season, the Stars snuck into the playoffs and gave the Anaheim Ducks a tough challenge before bowing out in six games. The Stars have a lot of emerging talents to build around up front, and possess good depth with an impressive farm system — the Texas Stars just won the Calder Cup in the American Hockey League.
Jim Nill made some excellent strides in his first year as the team’s general manager. He started by acquiring Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, Shawn Horcoff and Sergei Gonchar in off-season trades and selecting Valeri Nichushkin 10th overall in the 2013 draft. He also brought in Lindy Ruff to run the bench and add some stability. With so many new parts, the Stars struggled early but eventually found their stride.
Dallas was one of the better five-on-five teams in the league (159 goals at even strength, good enough for seventh in the NHL), but didn’t get much offence from any forwards outside of Seguin or Jamie Benn. They also struggled on special teams. The Stars were in the bottom third of the league in both power play (23rd) and penalty kill (21st).
Nill definitely has more work to do this off-season, but this is a franchise that is trending upward.
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| Click player positions to see depth chart | ||
Areas to address
UPDATE: Stars acquire Spezza from Senators
The Stars need a top defenceman desperately. Were it not for the fact that they traded Matt Niskanen to the Penguins a few years ago, they’d likely go after him hard this summer because he’s exactly the type of player they could use. Seeing that Nill wasn’t the GM that dealt him, he could still make Niskanen an offer, but it’s more likely that Dallas will have to go the trade route to land a top-paring blueliner.
By using a compliance buyout on d-man Aaron Rome, and letting aging UFAs Ray Whitney and Tim Thomas walk, the Stars have some money to spend on free agents. Dallas could use some of the cap space to add more firepower to the lineup, so don’t be surprised if they land a big-name forward on the open market.
In net, the Stars have to decide if Jack Campbell is ready for NHL action. If he can’t serve as a steady backup to Kari Lehtonen, then Dallas will need to find a netminder this summer. That shouldn’t be very hard, though, as there are a handful of viable short-term options available.
Possible signing targets
Thomas Vanek (LW): The thought of Vanek playing alongside Benn or Seguin — or both — is too juicy for the Stars not to make an offer.
Dan Boyle (D): A consistent point producer that can quarterback a power play.
Matt Moulson (LW): One of the best scorers available could give Dallas’ top-six an offensive boost.
Jussi Jokinen (LW): Would put up at least 40 points and improve a below average shootout squad. The Stars drafted him in 2001.
Justin Peters (G): Played admirably in relief behind a poor Carolina Hurricanes team. Very affordable option.
