Dallas Stars Jibing With Stephen Johns
With each passing game, it’s becoming more and more apparent just how perfect a fit Stephen Johns is for the Dallas Stars.
Fate is a funny, fickle thing. Events conspire to produce circumstances we could not have predicted if we tried. When the great defenseman injury debacle occurred, leaving the blue line a bit exposed without three of its usual protectors, we weren’t really that surprised when Stephen Johns was called up.
Back in July when Nill set off his annual display of fireworks via trade, the big focus was on the acquisition of Patrick Sharp. Giving up Ryan Garbutt and Trevor Daley also meant that Johns would tag along. Most Blackhakws fans were upset about losing a superstar, and were unaware, as many Stars fans were also, that Nill had stolen two gems out from under them.
And after spending a majority of the season with the Texas Stars, Johns finally got the nod in early March to come fill the empty space on the Dallas Stars’ roster. Since then, it’s become blaringly obvious that Johns is exactly the kind of defenseman that Dallas has been looking for, with a strong physical presence, powerful hits, good positioning, and a good two-way game.
At 6’4 and 225 pounds, Johns has that immediate intimidation factor. But wait just a second. He’s not the biggest defensemen the Stars have boasted- Oleksiak is a whopping 6’7. So what puts Johns heads and shoulders above the rest? It’s simply the fact that he owns his size and utilizes it. While other players may be big, Johns is actively big.
He will not hesitate to hit any opponent, and that’s a crucial part of the game. When forwards know that an opposing team’s defensemen aren’t going to rough them up at all, it’s an open invitation for them to waltz in and live in the opposing team’s zone. And for a while, Dallas was simply lacking that intimidation factor that many other teams have had in the bag.
As an example of how important it can be to have a physical presence on defense, remember last night’s game against the Nashville Predators. In a very high-energy game with a playoff-like feel, the Dallas Stars were dealing with some cheekiness from the Preds, and Johns decided to nip it in the bud by hitting James Neal and situating him right in the middle of the Stars’ bench.
While it was all in good fun and resulted in laughs all around, it was also a message that the Stars aren’t going to be passive on the blue line.
Another pro to John’s style of play is his positioning ability. He’s in good company with Kris Russell in his willingness to block shots- another important aspect of physical play. Johns has the ability to retain focus as the puck enters the zone, and he has a “seek and destroy” knack when the other team is trying to set up scoring chances.
Last but not least is Johns’ proclivity for offense. I know some of you probably stopped in your tracks reading that. Yes, I know Johns has scored one goal so far in his nine games with the Stars, but I think from what we’ve seen, he’s on the right track.
He doesn’t take shots all the time. But when he does, they’re ones that make you tilt your head, squint, and get a little excited. Johns has a powerful shot. His first NHL goal came on March 17th against Tampa, the equalizing goal that propelled the Stars forward to a 4-3 win.
While the timing was impressive, it was the nature of this goal that was the real stunner. Johns, right at point, had all the room in the world. Way out front where only defenseman were lurking, Johns obviously didn’t seem like an offensive threat to Tampa’s defense. However, Johns’ powerful slap shot from distance proved to be something to worry about. Well, just see for yourself.
With the physical, proactive, two-way nature of Stephen Johns’ play, it’s no wonder that the Dallas Stars have already locked him down for two more years with a contract worth $1,450,000 (which is apparently much, much more than the worth of his weight in gold, for those of you who were wondering). I, for one, am really excited to see Johns grow for two more years from the potential and talent he’s shown in the last nine games.
Next: Dallas Stars Captain Reaching For Sky Once Again
Like I said before, sometimes you just don’t know which way the cards are going to fall. When Jason Demers, John Klingberg, and Jordie Benn were all out earlier in the month, it felt more like a death sentence than an opportunity.
Now that the Dallas Stars have discovered the defensive asset in their back pocket, we can look back and agree that even rather nasty things can often work out even better than you ever expected them to.