Dallas Stars Mailbag: Blackout Dallas May 2015 Edition

Good morning, Dallas Stars fans! It’s Monday morning, and I thought it would be a good time to start up our annual offseason mailbag posts!

We had a lot of good questions asked, so let’s go ahead and dive right in! A note, this will be a regular thing for the offseason. I will be doing one every few weeks, so make sure to check our Facebook and Twitter pages for when we ask for questions!

Question #1: What are your thoughts on selecting Zach Werenski in the first round and Brandon Carlo in the second round? If not, who do you take in the first two rounds? (submitted by Rishi Trikha)

Answer: I have watched Werenski for a while and believe he would make a fine addition to the organization’s blue line. The Michigan defenseman had nine goals and 25 points in 35 regular season games. He’s only 17 years old, so there may be a bit of youthfulness that needs to be hammered out, but then again Valeri Nichushkin was only 18 when he started his first game for Dallas. Either way, the Stars need to go for a defenseman first round. If they proved anything this year in the NHL and AHL, it is that they are fine in regards to offensive firepower.

Brandon Carlo is a good option in the second round, but I feel that he will already be gone before the Stars pick rolls around. I would say the Stars go for left winger Austin Wagner in the second round. Wagner had 39 points in 61 games this past year, and would make a fine addition to the organization’ offense as a whole. Plus, he’s another 17 year old, so some fresh legs are always welcomed.

Question #2: Will Jim Nill go after Antti Niemi this offseason to challenge Kari Lehtonen for the starting job? If so, does Niemi’s cap hit work well with Lehtonen’s? (submitted by @Klingbae)

Answer: This is a lingering question among Stars fans, and it is a viable one at that. The answer contains a lot of “if’s” and should be broken down into each possibility.

First off, there’s the fact that Niemi and Lehtonen have both adapted to the role of starting goaltender. If Niemi is told that there is a chance he will be a backup for Dallas, he will more than likely walk and go to a team where the starting role is his, such as Edmonton or Buffalo Sabres. Same goes as if Lehtonen becomes backup, he will likely request a trade or find a way to get back to a starting role.

Secondly, Niemi will need to leave San Jose. Sure the Sharks didn’t make the postseason, but if Niemi gets the right price, I’m sure he’ll be up to stick around a little while longer.

And lastly, Jhonas Enroth is still a piece of the puzzle. Enroth may have surfaced talk of looking for a starting position, but he quickly retaliated, saying that they had not revealed the entire article. If he doesn’t find what he wants, the Stars will more than likely offer him a decent deal and he will return to Dallas. If he returns, Lehtonen won’t be moved and the Stars will be set on their two goalies for opening night.

But Niemi had a cap hit of $3.8 million. If the Stars signed him, his cap hit may increase a bit, but the Stars won’t give too much away. The top goaltender cap hit in the NHL for 2014-2015 was the New York Rangers with $9,062,500. If the Stars brought on Niemi even with the same cap hit as before, it would put the Stars at $9,700,000, which would put them at the most of any NHL team goaltenders.

It’s a difficult scenario, especially considering most think Lehtonen isn’t worth his contract. It’s going to be a fun offseason to watch what Jim Nill, but there’s a good chance Lehtonen won’t be moved. So the one question mark would be the backup category, which Niemi probably doesn’t fit. But very intriguing question.

Question #3: Is there a chance Jim Nill goes after Zdeno Chara this offseason? (submitted by @JordanWillNance)

Answer: Most likely no. Although it would be nice for the Stars to have a veteran defenseman on their blue line, I don’t think Chara is that player. Chara is 38 at the moment and will turn 39 next season. He had a bit of an off year, only tallying 20 points in 63 games. These points may be a reason why the Bruins would be willing to move him. But Jim Nill will more than likely go for a younger veteran defenseman.

But with a new front office and an aging captain going on a decade with the organization, the odds of moving Chara are very slim.

Question #4: If Daryl “Razor” Reaugh switches to play by play, who is on the short list for color commentary? (submitted by @jtraviss09)

Answer: This is still up in the air. The Stars are definitely a growing market in Texas, so the applications are probably pouring in at this point. But right now, there are probably a few people within the Stars organization that are being looked at. Josh Bogorad, the hosts of Stars Live during intermission reports, is more than likely a candidate. Bruce Levine and Owen Newkirk from Stars Sunday and the Stars radio show are also possible choices. But it could end up as anyone. After all, Ralph Strangis came out of nowhere.

Question #5: What, if anything, will the Stars do next year to beat the Avalanche? (submitted by the MileHighSticking.com)

Answer: Hey now, hey now. You watch your tone. At least we weren’t seventh out of seven in the Central Division… 🙂

But great questions everyone! These questions were a nice, strong start to our offseason mailbags! Keep your eyes open for the next request for questions on Facebook or Twitter.

Next: The Dallas Stars Swept: Breaking Down Each Series Pt. 2

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