The next team in the team overview series is the Dallas Stars. The Stars are just a weird team. They have players that can make a difference, but really only see it coming from one forward line. Dallas was able to squeak into the playoffs last season and put up a 7 game fight against the Calgary Flames. The best player on Dallas, Jason Robertson, is currently holding out due to contract disputes. This would be a major blow to the Stars as Robertson tallied 41 goals and 79 points in 74 games. Roope Hintz is the center on that line and has blossomed into a true number 1 center in Dallas. Hintz plays a strong 2-way game and is able to play in any situation asked of him. The last component of that line is Joe Pavelski. Pavelski is 38 years old and has been elevating his game since he came to Dallas, putting up his highest point total of his career achieving 81 points in 82 games. The rest of the Stars' forwards have been underwhelming to say the least, specifically Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Seguin is the NHL's highest paid player this season and has seen his production diminish fairly drastically since the 2019-2020 season. The same can be said about the Stars' captain, Jamie Benn. Since the 2018-2019 season, Benn has failed to put up over 50 points and also has a contract that hamstrings Dallas. The Stars need these two guys to start to perform at high levels again if they want to be competitive without Jason Robertson to start the season. However, the Stars went out and signed Mason Marchment this summer. Marchment had the best season of his career in Florida last season. Dallas is bringing him in to fill a second line winger role while he has not seen such a role in his career. If Marchment can bring the same production to the Stars as he did for the Panthers, this signing should prove to be a valuable one through the season. The Stars did not make many changes on their backend except letting offensive defenseman, John Klingberg walk in free agency. Klingberg saw his role in Dallas change once they drafted Miro Heiskanen and wanted out. Heiskanen is a much better player. He skates like a gazelle and is extremely efficient in the offensive zone and even better in the defensive zone. He is a true number 1 defenseman that has the ability to elevate his team with his play. The Stars also have Esa Lindell who is a fantastic defensive defenseman, but does not have much offensive upside to his game. They signed Colin Miller this summer, who has become a bit of a journeyman in the league, but does a serviceable job in the roles he is put in. The Stars other 3 defensemen include long-time NHLer Ryan Suter, who is near the end of his career, young defenseman Thomas Harley, looking to play his first full season, and Jani Hakanpaa, a bottom pair defenseman. The Stars goaltending is what got them to 7 games with Calgary in the playoffs, and it is what will keep them in games this year. Jake Oettinger is the best young goalie in the league and showcased that through the second half of last season and into playoffs. They also have a proven backup in Anton Khudobin to take some of the load off of Oettinger's shoulders when need be. If Oettinger can play to the same level as he did last year, the Stars could maybe find themselves fighting for a playoff spot. The major contingency on the Stars success in Jason Robertson. He is a restricted free agent and if the Stars don't move on signing him, he could find himself playing in another jersey, and the Stars finding themselves on the outside looking in.
Record Prediction- 44-33-5
Playoff Prediction- No
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