2014-15 Dallas Stars: Team MVP Candidates

The 2014-15 edition of the Dallas Stars is heading toward the finish line, and although there are still 12 remaining regular season games, it’s time to take a look back at what has been. In the twilight of the season, there is still a minute chance of a postseason berth, but one still has to declare this year’s campaign a disappointment. Last season’s surprise playoff club improved on paper during the summer of 2014, but the product on the ice has been maddeningly inconsistent. Defensive issues? Check. Discipline issues? Check. Backup goalie issues? Well… how about starting goalie issues? Home ice advantage? No such thing. Preserving a lead? Never heard of it.

Regardless, no matter how successful or otherwise, every club has valuable contributors that are vital to the tally in the wins column. Even if your favorite team finishes the season with 25 wins, there could’ve been fewer. Let’s take a look at the biggest contributors in Dallas so far this year.

C Tyler Seguin: 60 GP, 32 G, 30 A, 62 P, -2 +/-

Oh, what could’ve been. For all the reasons that attempt to explain the mediocrity in Dallas this year, there’s one pivotal moment that, despite your best attempts, you actually can’t blame on the team. I’m talking of course about the February 13th debacle against Florida that saw Ales Hemsky, Patrick Eaves, and leading scorer Tyler Seguin leave the game with injuries. The moment was critical because that was the moment when the wind left the sails for the Stars. Seguin’s injury in particular was devastating for it’s length, impact, and total avoidability. Dmitry Kulikov cheaply took the legs out from under perhaps the league’s most exciting scorer. At 26-21-8, the Stars were on the cusp of the eighth seed and charging, but by the time Seguin returned on March 7th, the boys had lost seven of ten and were in the hole that they inhabit today. It’s impossible to understate Seguin’s importance to the Dallas Stars.

LW Jamie Benn: 70 GP, 23 G, 41 A, 64 P, -6 +/-

Live Feed

App Trigger

While the captain didn’t quite take his game to next level in 2014-15, he’s still had quite a solid season by any metric. He’s mixed well with all teammates who’ve occupied slots on his top line, and has deftly balanced the roles of scorer, tone-setter, set-up man, and locker room presence. He currently leads the team in points, co-leads in shorties, is second in PIMs, and is one of only three Dallas players to suit up in all 70 games so far (Jason Spezza and Alex Goligoski are the others). Off the ice, he continues to absorb any blame so as to keep the locker room in fine working order. In short, if Tyler Seguin is the fire in Dallas, Jamie Benn is most certainly the spark.

D John Klingberg: 53 GP, 10 G, 26 A, 36 P, +5 +/-

The young Swede has been by far the biggest surprise of the year for the Dallas Stars, and he conveniently dug out his starring role while addressing the team’s biggest need. While his defense is solid (he’s one of three regulars on the team with a positive plus/minus rating), it’s on offense where he gets serious about picking up the great Sergei Zubov’s torch. He’s sixth in rookie scoring, despite playing at least 12 fewer games than anybody else in the top ten. He leads all rookie d-men with 36 points, with two more than #1 overall pick Aaron Ekblad in 15 fewer games. While Filip Forsberg and Johnny Gaudreau are the clear front-runners for the Calder Trophy, there is no doubt that Klingberg deserves to be in the conversation. He openly admits that his game needs polishing, that he can get better with on-ice communication, and that he can stay healthier by being more aware. This only serves to make Stars fans more excited for his sophomore campaign.

C Vernon Fiddler: 68 GP, 12 G, 14 A, 26 P, -4 +/-

Vernon Fiddler is the type of old-school player that seems to be in short supply these days. He takes his bridge out before the puck drops, he brings grit and wisdom to the younger depth lines, and he took less money to stay in Dallas and “finish the job”. To cap it all off, at the age of 34, he’s enjoying a career season with 26 points and has consistently found a way to be a presence in clutch situations. He loves Stars fans, and they love him back. Of course, what’s not to love about this man?

Who do you think is the MVP of the 2014-15 Dallas Stars campaign? Thanks for reading, and check back to Blackout Dallas for more news and updates!