Dallas Stars Have New Super Line In Production

The Dallas Stars are flying through the early-goings of their 2015-2016 season so far. With a 3-1-0 record and 15 goals scored by the most powerful offense in the league, the Stars are sitting pretty in a tie for first place in the Central Division.

This is quite the turnaround from the 2014-2015 Dallas Stars team that never truly found traction. Last year, the Stars offense began clicking early and consistently put up impressive numbers. But the defense and goaltending suffered due to inexperience and inconsistency. As a result, the Stars fell seven points short of the 2014-2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

So, as the Stars have a knack for doing, there was significant improvement in the offseason. While the defense and goaltending received significant enhancement, GM Jim Nill could not help but add a new face to the already high-powered offense.

Enter Patrick Sharp. On July 10th, 2015, the Stars announced a four-player blockbuster trade made with the Chicago Blackhawks that officially brought Sharp to Dallas.

The 33-year old sniper increased the Dallas Stars depth on offense and in the special teams category.

As a unit in 2014-2015, the Dallas Stars put up 261 goals, putting them in second place throughout the NHL. These goals came from multiple different line combinations construed by head coach Lindy Ruff. One of the fan-favorite lines was made up of Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, and Tyler Seguin. This line was ceremonially nicknamed the “Super Line.”

This Super Line was considered one of the most dangerous lines in hockey. With all three players having a knack for finding others to pass to as well as an ability to finish for the score, it was almost a guarantee that a goal would be the result of each shift.

That line was only in usage for a short time though. With all of the other problems plaguing the Stars last season, change was the only constant factor.

But that does not mean that the Super Line is dead. While the Benn-Spezza-Seguin combo is more than likely outdated, there may be a new and capable winger to join the two young guns and take Spezza’s spot. This winger is Patrick Sharp.

Ruff experimented with this combination in the preseason, but did not keep the line together for opening night. Instead, he kept Benn and Seguin up top and sent Sharp to the second line.

This would not last for long though. The first offensive line juggle of the year came just three days after the Stars opening night game. An embarrassing performance in Colorado left Ruff no other option than to try something else.

The new Super Line would not be a part of the new format, though. Instead, Patrick Eaves would slide up to the top line and play right wing. This would only last the first few moments of the new format’s first game in session on Tuesday. Eaves would leave the game against the Edmonton Oilers with an unidentified injury that would later turn out to be severe enough to put him on the IR.

So Ruff improvised and pinned Sharp on the top line mid-game. From there, the top line became the shining light on offense. These three alone took 20 of the Stars 52 total shots.

It was expected for these three to put on an offensive show, but their performance Tuesday night was pretty stellar. On Thursday night, they contributed 6 of the Stars 22 shots.

Out of the Dallas Stars 13 goals since Tuesday night, seven have been from the top line. 15 points have been accumulated by the three. This new Super Line has gained some quick and fluid chemistry and already knows how to work well together.

It looks like the Dallas Stars may now have a Super Line that works and can be put into place every game. Unlike last year, the Stars now have comfort in their other nine forwards as well as the deep prospect system they have built up to carry the bottom three lines. This line could stick together for a while, and if so the points will continue to flow at an extensive and excessive rate.

Next: Stars Tame Panthers In Epic 4-2 Comeback - Post Game

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