Dallas Stars

[NoWayOut]

It's jason spezza hockey. Can't believe they signed him.

I can believe they signed him. They needed a #2C who could drive secondary scoring, he's done that. Hemsky is the one I can't believe they signed.

Their issues on defense pre-date his arrival. Spezza's no Selke candidate but he's not been as bad as advertised defensively. The Stars got what they wanted from him.

[Big Ev]

Again it's no coincidence that they're playing the same way the Sens did last year. Their team is just all offence no defence. Until that is fixed, nothing will change, and none of it is Kari let homers fault. They did not a #2 c like spezza, they needed a #2 c who could shut down the opposition and score at a decent rate

[Daydream Nation]

Until that is fixed, nothing will change, and none of it is Kari let homers fault.

Slow your role there Big Ev. Lehtonen has let in quite a few soft goals this year. Yes, the defense needs to improve but Lehtonen has played poorly this year.

[27Blue]

Again, stick to what you know Ev and leave the real hockey talk to people who know the game. Isn't there a poll about Karlsson being better than Orr that needs your attention.

[Big Ev]

Again, stick to what you know Ev and leave the real hockey talk to people who know the game. Isn't there a poll about Karlsson being better than Orr that needs your attention.

yeah you really know the game eh. Why don't you stop being an ******* for once in your posting career? People are having discussions on hockey and you barge in being an ******* as per usual. **** off with that shit dude, nobody wants to see it. You contribute nothing to this community by degrading others and posting negative comments on all things not related to the stars or isles.

[NoWayOut]

Again it's no coincidence that they're playing the same way the Sens did last year. Their team is just all offence no defence. Until that is fixed, nothing will change, and none of it is Kari let homers fault. They did not a #2 c like spezza, they needed a #2 c who could shut down the opposition and score at a decent rate

The Stars preference is to roll 4 lines. The role you describe falls on Eakin's line, and when Garbutt and Roussel are on that line handles that role well. That's a big reason why even though Eakin clicked pretty well on the top line, they never left him there all that long, they needed him back in his usual role.

Fiddler, Horcoff, and Moen/various 3rd wheels, are the defensive specialists, if it can be said that the Stars have any of those. They stated going into the season, they expected Spezza's line to bring a second wave of offense. Naturally they also expect a certain level of defensive responsibility from everybody, but never, not once, did they say they wanted Spezza to play a shutdown role.

Kari has been swiss cheese all season. Sure he's had his moments where it seems the old Kari is back, but that's made his struggles all the more frustrating. And made Nill's job that much harder. Can Kari be the goalie from season's past? Or is he this mentally fragile, leaky, mess? As Heika said in his piece, that's the conundrum and there's probably no right answer.

[Big Ev]

Slow your role there Big Ev. Lehtonen has let in quite a few soft goals this year. Yes, the defense needs to improve but Lehtonen has played poorly this year.

His defense is awful. Led by a rookie. And all the top forwards play a similar style that is all offense all the time. It's not a good recipe for success for a goalie, and I think he will do better elsewhere. He does get some blame, that is natural for the position

[27Blue]

Oh Ev, what a moron art thou. All we heard for years was how great Spezza was... a true number one center that every team would love to have. The rest of us laughed at you and called you a homer, and you swore a lot and went home crying. Then, when it became apparent that Spezza's time as a Senator was nearing an end, you resurfaced and changed your tune for the first time and started putting all the weight of your team's failure onhis shoulders. If the Senators traded for Spezza tomorrow, he would suddenly be a savior again and you would probably be pumping him for the Selke as you seem to pump every other Senator for every other award out there. Stick to the propoganda, man. At least we all get a chuckle out of you then...

[NoWayOut]

The Stars walk a tight rope. Their mantra all season has been 'safe is death'. Yeah they push the offense, they certainly have the horses to do so, and when they lay back and play prevent they get roasted. Once they sort out the defense they will likely pull back a little bit, though not much. They create more turnovers and give teams more headaches in coverage by using that speed and offensive threat to keep them back on their heels. No reason they can't have the best of both worlds if they can make the right additions and subtractions to the personnel.

As far as the D being led by a rookie, well he is a good one. The Stars have taken the approach that they will address the defense from within for the most part. One of the things Nill liked most when he came over was the depth of the prospects on the blueline, and in general. Nieuwendyk, for all his faults as a GM, put together an excellent scouting staff and drafted well for where they always found themselves in the draft order. Even if Nieuwy had remained as the GM the Stars were headed down this road, building the D from within, with a veteran acquisition or two to finish it out.

I give the Stars credit for realizing that their best route is to absorb the rookie's mistakes, teach 'em, coach 'em, and let them learn as they go and gain experience and confidence. It hurts short-term, but long-term, I love where we're headed with kids like Nemeth and Klingberg, Jokipakka, Honka. They still need to move out guys like Daley and Jordie. Bring in some defensive specialists on the blueline and in due time things will be a lot better.

Lot's of work left for Nill to do, but he's proven capable, and it's not like Dallas is miles off. I still expect a major house cleaning among the assistants. Ruff is safe, unless of course Babcock doesn't re-sign with the Wings. For the record I don't see Babcock leaving Detroit, but if he does, I have little doubt that Jim Nill will at least explore the possibility of making a run at him. Seems too obvious a fit, but then again I don't know what their working relationship was like in Motown.

[NoWayOut]

The Dallas Stars and two goal leads go together like tornados and trailer parks.....

[NoWayOut]

A Dallas Stars backup gets the start and the win?!?!....




Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Shake]

The Stars named Jeff Reese as goalie coach ( most recently helped Steve Mason become relevant again in Phily ) also the Stars jettisoned Jussi Rynnas who is most likely KHL bound.

[Shake]

Stars nab Dave Strader as TV play-by-play announcer.
That's a nice get for Dallas.

[sammynos]

Dave Strader is a great follow-up for the Stars

[Instant Karma]

Stars nab Dave Strader as TV play-by-play announcer.
That's a nice get for Dallas.

Man, that is indeed a good get!

It will be strange without Ralphie, he's been here since the move. But at least there won't be this massive letdown now.