Dallas Stars: Blackout Dallas Predicts 2016-17 Season
The Dallas Stars season starts tomorrow and it’s an overall mystery at how successful they will be. Here’s how each Blackout Dallas staff member sees every aspect of the 2016-17 season breaking down.
It’s almost time, Dallas Stars fans. As the NHL commences tonight for a wonderful new journey, the Stars will lay in wait as they prepare to kick off their 2016-17 regular season at home tomorrow night.
The Anaheim Ducks will visit Big D for a season-opening brawl, and like the Stars’ regular season as a whole, it promises to be an interesting one. The Stars are dealing with a few injuries to role players and have a slightly deprived lineup as a result.
Their offense is missing some key pieces, their newly-built defense is looking to start off on the right foot after a major overhaul during the offseason, and their goaltenders are looking to finally earn the “elite” title. All in all, they are going to look like a decisively different team tomorrow night.
But that hasn’t stopped them through training camp or the preseason so far from playing the exciting brand of hockey they have quickly become known across the league for. However you look at it, the Stars are definitely in for a special season over the next few months.
Will they regress a bit from their success last year due to youth and inexperience? Will they take another step forward, or even two steps and find a way to win their first Stanley Cup in 18 years? Or will they come apart at the seams early and become a complete bust?
These are the questions that must be answered as the season unravels. That’s why we tune in, attend the games, and avidly follow through any accessible avenue. It’s a habit that no one wants to break. Everyone is just excited to see how it goes. Whether it’s a “happy” excited or a “nervous” excited, everyone is ready just to see it all unfold.
We at Blackout Dallas love taking a spare moment at the beginning of each year to break down the season from our own perspective and make educated guesses on how the Dallas Stars are going to perform in the coming year. And we must be on to something considering our very own Micaela Hamid perfectly predicted the Stars’ regular season record and playoff performance last season.
What we did was focus on an array of topics for the upcoming season and each give our honest opinion in regards to the question. We have our predictions formed neatly into a slideshow, so please enjoy!
Dec 29, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Patrick Sharp (10) celebrates with center Jason Spezza (90) after scoring a goal in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Will Turn Heads This Year
by Allison Scott, Staff Writer
Greatest Strength
The Dallas Stars were the No. 1 offensive team last season and I anticipate similar results this year. They have upgraded their defensive core and I think that group will be able to buy in to the Stars’ offensive system. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin will only continue to get better, while Patrick Sharp and Ales Hemsky will only be more comfortable with the team.
Newcomer Jiri Huddler will add another level of production to the team as he’s a guy who’s shown he can put the puck in the net. Overall it’s hard for me to think that the Stars will have a greater strength than their offensive power in the near future because they’re just that good.
Greatest Downfall
Unlike in previous seasons I think the Stars are going to have the most trouble in the crease this season. Their defensive core has become a younger group with a lot of talented players like Stephen Johns and Patrik Nemeth.
Goaltending, however, has remained stagnant this offseason despite Jim Nill’s best intentions. Acquiring Ben Bishop would have drastically changed the make-up of the Stars’ goaltending, but because that didn’t happen it will be their greatest downfall.
Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi proved their abilities last year during the regular season, but couldn’t find a way to get it done during the playoffs. That led to disappointment for the entire team. If the Stars don’t have one goalie take the starting position and run with it, they’ll be in trouble during the playoffs.
stars
Blackout Dallas 3wDallas Stars Lose Radek Faksa To Injury In World Cup
More headlines around FanSided:
3w - Dallas Stars: World Cup Action In Full Swing3w - Dallas Stars Updates: Breaking Down Tyler Seguin's Injury4w - Dallas Stars Pull Tyler Seguin From World Cup Due To Injury4w - Dallas Stars Hopping On WCH Stat Sheet Early4w - Dallas Stars Suffer Moment of Uncertainty In World Cup of HockeyMore News at Blackout Dallas
Leading Goal Scorer
It’s difficult to go against the grain in this prediction, but I think Tyler Seguin will find his stride and lead Dallas in goal-scoring this year. Although Jamie Benn is still Dallas’ best player, Seguin is a forward with more goal scoring fire power.
His one-timer from the top of the circle is difficult for any goaltender to stop and I think he’ll return to his previous domination of the league in that regard this season. Expect a highly motivated No. 91 this year as he’s curtain to be disappointed after missing the World Cup of Hockey due to injury.
Leader in Points
Despite thinking that Seguin will take the goal-scoring lead this season, I think it’s nearly impossible to predict anyone other than Jamie Benn will be Dallas’ points leader. He’s a dominant force in the NHL and his ability to play in every situation, five-on-five as well as both power play and penalty kill, makes him an easy choice.
Benn seems to not tire from anything and has been able to play through the pain of bad hips and an abdominal injury with great success. That kind of determination is second to none and it’s hard to imagine him as anything other than the Stars’ leader in points.
Biggest Surprise Player
Patrik Nemeth has been a rather dominant force in the preseason and I think that’s just a glimpse of what’s to come. The 6’3 Swede has the size to be a physical threat on the ice and the offensive touch he’s displayed in the preseason only goes to show that his game is multi-faceted. Nemeth seems to be the kind of defender who can play with any of a number of different defensive partners and that alone makes him valuable.
When you consider that he doesn’t quit on plays and that he can make smart decisions in all three zones of the ice, he’s nearly invaluable. I think this season will be the year of Patrick Nemeth and he’ll finally get the recognition he deserves.
Biggest Bust Player
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, reluctantly. Antoine Roussel will be the biggest bust player in victory green this year. His style of play is just too over the line too much of the time and it gets him and the team into trouble. Although he’s certainly improved his anger management over the last few years, his frustration can get the best of him on the ice.
The stigma in the league that Dallas’ No. 21 is a borderline dirty player plays into the bias that he deals with, but at the same time it’s a reputation he’s been happy to fulfill. I don’t think referees accurately judge Roussel in a lot of cases, but it’s difficult to change biases and that alone makes Roussel a hard player to expect greatness from.
Which Goalie Will Play Better
Maybe it’s the hopeful side of me, but I think Kari Lehtonen will find his game once again this year. He’s had a few seasons with an up and down trend to them, but he’s been working hard to find consistency in his game.
The glimpses of greatness that he’s shown in his time in Dallas leads me to believe that he’s capable of having a fantastic season. As long as he can stay healthy, I anticipate Lehtonen making a splash in the NHL and finding himself as the starter for the Stars.
Which UFA Will Earn A New Deal
I can’t see the Dallas Stars passing on the opportunity to sign Patrick Sharp to a new contract if he wants to stay in Dallas. The man has two Stanley Cup victories under his belt and his skating ability is on par with that of those years younger than him.
Although I would be hesitant to say that No. 10 has reached his maximum comfort with the Stars’ system, I would be willing to say that he still has a number of good years left in him. Unless he expresses interest in moving onto a different organization, I think it’d be difficult for the Stars to pass on re-signing Sharp.
Final Record
I think the Stars will finish the regular season with a (47-28-7) record for 101 points.
Final Central Division Standings:
St. Louis Blues – 104 points
Dallas Stars – 101 points
Nashville Predators – 99 points
Minnesota Wild – 95 points
Chicago Blackhawks – 93 points
Winnipeg Jets – 88 points
Colorado Avalanche – 80 points
Do They Make The Playoffs? If So, How Far?
Again this may be the biased Stars fan in me, but I think the Dallas Stars will make the playoffs and they’ll reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Oct 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Antoine Roussel (21) and center Jason Spezza (90) and right wing Ales Hemsky (83) celebrates Spezza scoring his third goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Oilers 4-2. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Stars May Step Back Slightly This Season
by Micaela Hamid, Staff Writer
Greatest Strength
Obviously, the Stars will continue to rise to the top in offense. This season should be no different from previous ones, especially with the work the Stars have done over the off season. Although they will start season at a disadvantage, lacking some crucial forwards, the Stars have prepared to fill those holes with good depth players to start out the season.
I believe that giving those players the opportunity to start the season and gain ice team when it counts will only strengthen an already explosive offense.
Greatest Downfall
I think we will continue to see consistency issues within the Dallas Stars’ ranks. The third period blues are not something easily shaken for fans or players, but it seems like something that the Stars need to put some more work into before they will be a thing of the past.
With a defense, and in many ways also an offense, that is still solidifying its identity, I think this is a common problem, but one that must be dealt with as the Stars try to make a deeper playoff run.
Leading Goal Scorer
Between Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, this is a difficult choice. With the impressive performances of these players as well as Jason Spezza, it feels like a toss up. It really comes down to which player can stay uninjured through the entire season and play with the game in mind instead of the pressure. I’m going to bet the farm on Seguin this season.
He has dealt with injury recently, but then again, so have the other two. I just think that Seguin is ready for a true break out season, and a season in which he and Benn stay healthy would be a stand out on for them both.
More from Blackout Dallas
Leader in Points
The points leader will for sure be the Captain. While he’s obviously great at scoring goals, he’s also at the top for the Stars as far as setting up plays and touching pucks that go in the net.
Like I mentioned before, he and Seguin hitting on all cylinders for the duration of the season will be key in their individual, and the team’s corporate, success. And I think that if that can happen, Benn will earn the most points of any Star.
Biggest Surprise Player
Would it be appropriate to call Stephen Johns a surprise player? I know he surprised a lot of us last season, but I would venture to say that he will be an even greater surprise this season.
I think what he was able to accomplish in his time with the Stars was a testament to how well he should be able to acclimate to the Stars’ environment and really shine as a core defensive player this season. And with defense being so vital to what the Stars are looking to do this season, there couldn’t be a better surprise at a better time.
Biggest Bust Player
I’m going to call out Patrick Eaves on this one. Although he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time in a good way, that also goes for the bad way, too. He’s accumulated a lot of injuries- specifically head injuries- and missed a lot of time for those.
His points last season were not impressive, and with the Stars adding more and more forwards to their ranks, I think that they are not anticipating big seasons from some of these oldies but goodies, Eaves included.
Which Goalie Will Play Better
Kari Lehtonen is going to build on last season and come out stronger than ever. I’m naming and claiming that one. We saw him improve greatly last season, thanks to new goalie staff and the implementation of the tandem system, and though Niemi also stepped up for the Stars, Lehtonen was the one who seemed to benefit from the arrangement the most.
During playoffs, he came out and played like a playoff-caliber goalie. I think feeling that confidence and that success will keep him on that path.
Which UFA Will Earn A New Deal
Because the Dallas Stars are really working on reforming their defense, they will be looking to lock down all players who have become integral to that new system.
And Johnny Oduya would fit that bill. He’s become that veteran leader on the defense who the Stars can count on to show up with some consistency. Those are qualities that the Stars will not be looking to let go of soon.
Final Record
48-24-10. I think the Stars won’t be at the top of the Central Division this year. With that achievement under their belt last season, they will be focusing simply on starting the season strong and making a playoff bid.
The Central Division will only keep getting tougher, and I think the Stars will rise to the challenge, but will pay equal attention to their other-division opponents.
Final Central Division Standings
St. Louis Blues- 110 points
Nashville Predators- 107 points
Dallas Stars- 106 points
Chicago Blackhawks- 100 points
Colorado Avalanche- 95 points
Minnesota Wild- 88 points
Winnipeg Jets- 82 points
Do They Make Playoffs? If So, How Far?
I believe the Stars will make playoffs. The depth of their run will be determined, as I mentioned before, by how healthy their players can stay for the duration of the season and into playoffs. Last postseason, the Stars did well early but suffered from fatigue, injury, some distraction, and some fatal flaws especially on defense.
Because I believe that defense will more or less find itself this season, I think that will help carry them into the playoffs.
But unfortunately, they can’t solve all their problems within a single season. Lack of focus and consistency will still come back to bite them. The Stars will fall in the Western Conference quarterfinals, but hopefully go further in the future!
Apr 22, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya (47) and left wing Antoine Roussel (21) and defenseman John Klingberg (3) celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild in game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. The Wild defeat the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Get Ready For An Interesting Year, To Say The Least
by Josh Clark, Editor
Greatest Strength
Offense. Duh. Do I need to say much else or can I just move to the next question?
The Dallas Stars owned the best offense in the league last season by a long shot. Their average of 3.23 goals per game stood out among the other 29 teams. The second highest team (Washington Capitals) hit 3.02 GPG. Quite a stark difference, huh?
The most encouraging part is that the Stars lost very minor parts to their offensive recipe for success this past offseason. Forwards Vernon Fiddler, Travis Moen, and Colton Sceviour all parted ways with Dallas during the 2016 offseason. These three players, though they did play helpful roles in the bottom six for Dallas, only combined for 23 of the Stars’ 265 goals last season (8.6 percent).
Valeri Nichushkin returned to Russia to play in the KHL for the next few years, meaning the Stars have three open spots on offense. Two of those will quickly be filled by young gunners Brett Ritchie and Curtis McKenzie.
But GM Jim Nill took the offense a step further by signing free agent Jiri Hudler back in August. The 32-year-old Czech put up 76 points two seasons ago and still has plenty of energy left to help Dallas take another step up on offense. Throughout the preseason, Hudler played a calm and commanding brand of hockey and finished leading all Stars in points.
So, yeah. Let’s go with the offense.
Greatest Downfall
In an attempt to jump away from the mainstream just a bit, I think that the Stars will struggle a bit with their special teams.
While the defense and goaltending definitely have big shoes to fill and a lot to prove, the special teams may not be as successful as Stars fans may assume it to be. That is primarily due to who Dallas lost in the offseason.
Defenseman Alex Goligoski, whether Stars fans agree or not, turned out to be the Stars’ biggest loss this offseason. The veteran defender meant more to the Dallas Stars and their success then most people may think. He was a multi-dimensional player that contributed on defense, offense, and special teams as a whole.
His ability to help run a power play at the point and effectively stage a penalty kill was part of what made him so valuable to Dallas. Now that he’s been trading away, the Stars need a new face to fill the void. They may have some trouble finding this specific player.
Not only him, but also Jason Demers, Valeri Nichushkin, Colton Sceviour, and Vernon Fiddler. Each of these players departed for a new home this past offseason. They also played a significant role in the Dallas special teams system. There may be a sign of struggle, at least out of the gate, on the power play and penalty kill. But that remains to be seen.
Leading Goal Scorer
I don’t think anyone can contest Jamie Benn and his 40 goals from last season. I say he wins the title again this year.
Benn’s offensive prowess and his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis are just two of his uncountable traits. He’s just the complete hockey player, and Dallas Stars fans are just fine with that. Let Jamie Benn do what Jamie Benn is known for: leading, offense, defense, power play, penalty kill, physicality, hitting, fighting, and a whole lotta scoring.
Leader in Points
It may sound strange, but give me the other piece of the Bennguin duo on this one. Tyler Seguin will lead Dallas in points this year.
Over the past two seasons, Seguin’s “breakout” season has been cut short due to injury. He has either been unable to help the Stars in their playoff bid or in the playoff run itself. You can tell that that does not settle well with him.
If Seguin can get an 82-game season under his belt this year and help lead Dallas through a tough postseason, I can see him tallying anywhere from 85-90 points. He’s just too skilled of both a scorer and a passer to overlook when it comes to points.
Biggest Surprise Player
The Stars have a lot of young and talented players that could truly hit their stride this season. But amongst all of those, I have to go with Radek Faksa.
After coming in midway through last season to begin his NHL career, the 22-year-old forward took some time to make a sizable impact. He began as nothing more than a filler for injuries, but eventually turned into a capable center that Lindy Ruff was able to call on for more and more duties as the season went on.
By the end of the regular season, Faksa finished with five goals and seven assists in 45 games. As the Stanley Cup Playoffs began, he made sure to prove that he was in Dallas to stay. The rookie found excellent chemistry with Ales Hemsky and Antoine Roussel, and the three formed the “Fak ‘Em” line which was feared by all opponents who came in contact with it.
The line wore down defenses, consistently kept the puck cycling through the offensive zone, and eventually scoring a clutch goal at just the right time. Faksa himself had three goals and two assists in 13 postseason games.
Faksa left a strong impression at the end of last year and it looks like that may have simply been the tip of the iceberg. Keep an eye on him, because the kid is set to do big things.
Biggest Bust Player
Now before I begin, I just want to clarify what bust means (at least in this context). Bust simply means he might not pan out as strongly or successfully as fans are hoping him to. It does not mean that he is going to tank and be traded before the end of the year because of his severe decline in performance.
That being said, I think Dan Hamhuis may be in for a bit of a slow start. Considering it is a completely new defensive scheme for everyone, it’s almost as if he is two steps behind. His play in the preseason was not horrible, but his stats were bland. That can completely be expected for a new player in a new system. Not to mention he’s got some big shoes to fill replacing Goligoski on the top line.
But I see Hamhuis catching on after the first few weeks and producing on a consistent basis with all the other defensemen by the end of the season. We’re all rooting for you, Dan. Go get ’em.
Which Goalie Will Play Better
It may just be me, but I see both Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen playing not only better, but also more effectively for the Dallas Stars.
The offseason was partially filled with rumors about the Stars trying to acquire Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop through trade on more than one occasion. That would mean that one of them would have to be gone.
If those rumors will serve as anything, it will be a scare tactic. Niemi and Lehtonen both know that they are on the chopping block right now. With the expansion draft happening in eight months, these two will need to be on their A-game if they want to stay in Dallas.
Give me both Finns winning at least 20 games a piece this season. Both will have their save percentages somewhere around .915 – .925 and their goals against average around 2.40. If they don’t, they may not be here much longer.
This is the year that Lehtonen and Niemi finally prove that they are ready to carry the load and backstop a team all the way to the Cup. They now know the two-goalie system well and continue to challenge each other to get better.
Which UFA Will Earn A New Deal
That’s a tough one. To me, it comes down to the two former Chicago Blackhawks. Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya both contributed in extensive fashion in their area of the ice last season. Both are expected to pick up where they left off and aid Dallas in another run.
It would be a tossup between the two of them, but the fact is that both are unique and valuable in their own ways. At the end of the day, GM Jim Nill knows what he is doing. Let’s give him the reins on this one.
Final Record
Last year the Dallas Stars hit 50 wins and finished with a final record of 50-23-9.
I don’t see Dallas being AS successful as they were last year, mainly due to early injuries and the new looks to certain departments. Once chemistry is produced, the Stars will thrive just as they have in the past.
Give me Dallas finishing at 47-25-10.
Final Central Division Standings
Nashville Predators – 105 points
Dallas Stars – 104 points
Chicago Blackhawks – 98 points
Winnipeg Jets – 95 points
St. Louis Blues – 90 points
Minnesota Wild – 86 points
Colorado Avalanche – 79 points
Do They Make Playoffs? If So, How Far?
The Dallas Stars will most assuredly make the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs and put together a strong run at the Cup.
In the end, I don’t think Dallas will capture the Cup, but they have enough potential to reach for it anyway. Give me the Stars losing in six in the Western Conference Finals.
So, that’s how we feel. With just one day to go, it’s crazy to think about all the ground that has been covered since May 11th. It will be definitely be an entertaining ride. Buckle up.