Three Dallas Stars Players Due For A Breakout Season

After an action-packed and very triumphant offseason (for the third year in a row!), Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill sparked a flow of optimism throughout the entire Dallas Stars organization and fan base.

By trading for right winger Patrick Sharp and defenseman Stephen Johns, as well as signing free agent defenseman Johnny Oduya (all from the Chicago Blackhawks), the Stars stocked up in preparation for their 2015-2016 campaign.

On top of that, the Stars still have All-Stars like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Jason Spezza who have worked wonders throughout their entire NHL career.

With all of those weapons, the Stars have an unfathomable amount of skill.

But today, we aren’t going to look at these players who have proved their worthiness and value in the NHL.

We’re going to look at three Dallas Stars players who all Stars fans can expect to have breakout seasons, as they are in the early years of their NHL career.

Brett Ritchie

In 31 games at the highest level last season, Brett Ritchie recorded just nine points (6G, 3A) in those appearances.

But it’s what he accomplished with the Texas Stars that gets Dallas Stars fans giddy.

In the 2013-2014 season, Ritchie, in 68 games, scored 22 times and added 26 helpers. His eye-catching year led the Texas Stars to a Calder Cup winning season.

Then, at the start of the 2014-2015 season, when Ritchie recorded 21 points (14G, 7A) in the first 30 games of the year with the Texas Stars, he was brought up to initiate his NHL career with the Dallas Stars.

Brett Ritchie is a straight-up goal scorer. Throughout his entire youth career, he has always found ways to put the puck in the back of the net. As his NHL career continues, he will also continue to score goals.

Inevitably, the 22-year-old will see the ice a little more this season, and just the smallest of opportunities might be all Brett Ritchie needs to shine.

Cody Eakin

Cody Eakin was hard to put on this list, solely because it’s hard not to call last season a breakout year for the 24-year-old center.

With 19 goals and 21 assists, Eakin played exceptionally well for the Victory Green. On top of those 40 points, Eakin had a 51% face off percentage, 68 takeaways, 268 shots, 59 blocks and his average time on the ice was 17:21.

The young Canadian was a workhorse every time he stepped on the ice throughout the entire 2014-2015 season. He was solid both offensively and defensively, as well as on the dot.

Despite being the third-line center, it wouldn’t be surprising if Cody Eakin has another phenomenal season with even better stats than last year. In four NHL seasons, his stats have gone up every year.

Don’t expect that to change this season.

Valeri Nichushkin

Of course Big Val was going to be on here.

The tenth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft has been one of the most raved on young stars in the entire game of hockey.

Following his hip surgery, Valeri Nichushkin is preparing to return to the ice completely ready to go, after missing all but eight games last season.

In his debut year, the 2013-2014 season, Val scored 14 goals and tallied on 20 assists. An impressive rookie campaign proved that Nichushkin has the ability to develop into the great player many expect him to be.

The 6’4, 205 pound right winger was even nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy (most proficient first-year player) for his success in the 2013-2014 season.

Above all, Nichushkin is just 20 years of age. He has plenty of time to prove himself. It’s not unreasonable to assume his promising future will commence this upcoming season.

If guys like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza can produce the numbers like they usually do, and younger, less-experienced players like Eakin, Val and Ritchie can have successful seasons, the Stars are absolutely bound for success in the 2015-2016 season.

Any person that follows Dallas Stars hockey knows that they have all the players they could possibly need to succeed, they just have to execute when it’s time to return to the ice. With all of the talent the Stars have on their roster, there are no excuses to perform poorly.

Tenth place in the Western Conference just isn’t going to cut it.

Next: Dallas Stars Goalies: Top Five In Franchise History

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