Dallas Stars Cannot Seem To Catch A Break Right Now
By Josh Clark
Things are bad with the Dallas Stars right now. The only problem is, it doesn’t look like they are able to fix it, at least with their own strength. Can they turn things around?
The 2014-15 Dallas Stars were an interesting group.
After surprising the NHL throughout the 2013-14 regular season and securing their first Stanley Cup Playoffs spot following a six year drought, they entered the offseason with a world of opportunity at their fingertips.
Hockey was back on the map, ticket sales were rapidly increasing, the Stars added solid new players that now serve as cornerstones to the franchise, and a new era was beginning in Dallas hockey. Hope had finally been restored in the Dallas hockey world.
And oh how quickly that hope disintegrated. After acquiring Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky in the 2014 offseason, expectations were set through the roof. While their offense was in the perfect position to thrive, two things were missing: an experienced group on defense and a reliable backup goaltender.
Growing pains and inconsistent play produced multiple losing streaks, sometimes of five games or more, left the Stars limping behind in the Western Conference race. By the end of the year, the high-powered offense was unable to counteract the negative play from the back three. As a result, the Dallas Stars missed the playoffs, leaving many wondering if the team was truly ready to take the next step.
Then came the great 2015-16 year. The 2015 offseason served as an excellent growing period for Dallas, giving them the opportunity to gain chemistry and become a more effective unit. After a few more additions including Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya, the Stars burst out of the gate.
They ended the season with a 50-23-9 record and 109 points, which was good enough for first place in the Central Division and second place overall in the league. They advanced to the second round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in seven games.
Very similar to two years ago, this past offseason was filled with lofty expectations and assumptions. The Stars lost a lot through free agency and trade, including Alex Goligoski and Jason Demers. Their defensive subtractions left them with a similar situation to before 2014-15 as well: a young lineup with a need for experience.
But there was still hope for a successful year. Now that they are eight games in, it’s clear that there is something up. The question is, will it lead to the same results as two seasons ago?
The Dallas Stars just simply cannot seem to catch a break at the moment. Since the commencement of the World Cup of Hockey in early September, there has been a waiting line out the door of the Stars’ infirmary ward. Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Cody Eakin, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, Radek Faksa, and Mattias Janmark are just some of the names that have been affected by the injury plague over the past two months.
Earlier today, it was reported that Ales Hemsky would miss five to six months while recovering from hip surgery. On Saturday, October 22, Hemsky got back in the lineup after missing a few games, only to reinjure his hip during the contest. He now joins Patrick Sharp, Cody Eakin, and Mattias Janmark on the disabled list for Dallas.
On top of that, it seems that the Stars cannot earn a win no matter what they do anymore. Though Dallas has spent the first few games of the season using a “roller coaster” style of play (outdoing their opponent one night, being outdone the next, and then repeating the cycle). This past Saturday, the Stars traveled to Minnesota for a Central Division clash with the Wild.
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After outshooting the Wild and outplaying them in almost every area (besides special teams, of course), Minnesota won the game 4-0. It was a disheartening affair, one that leaves Dallas fans speechless in confusion. Is this how it’s going to be every game from here on out? Will the Stars be able to rise up from this subpar style?
Things aren’t good in Dallas right now. Sure it’s very early and there is still plenty of time to recover. Can the Stars make that transition? Do they have the power? Better yet, do they have the players? We’ll have to wait and see. Tomorrow night is their next test. Will they be ready?