Why the Dallas Stars aren’t Shining
The Dallas Stars have played 19 games thus far in the 2014-2015 season and have a record that is under five hundred: they’ve lost more games than they’ve won. For a team that was expected to be “one to watch” this club has been underwhelming to the greatest extent with only 16 points, but why?
Pressure
The amount of buzz around the Stars this past off-season, coupled with the immense pressure to make a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs could be causing this horrendous play. The youth of the team is another factor that makes dealing with the pressure that much more difficult.
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“Super Line” Expectations
When analysts were predicting how this season would play out most were generalizing the Dallas Stars based on a handful of players, the ones even the bandwagon fans know: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Kari Lehtonen and newly acquired Jason Spezza.
This was assuming that all four would perform as they had in previous seasons, which has, unfortunately, not been the case. Seguin and Spezza have performed well in comparison to the rather disappointing play of captain Benn and starting goalie Lehtonen. Jamie Benn has been repeatedly criticized for over compensating in his leadership role and he’s struggled to find consistency in his offensive game. Lehtonen has been at both ends of the goalie spectrum: phenomenal and exceptionally disappointing.
The reliance on those four leaves the other players feeling even more pressure to perform and isolates them from the rest of the roster.
Injuries
Many a time fans will use injuries to a team as an excuse for a dry spell or lackluster season; however, when looking at the first two months of the season Dallas has had their fair share of players fall.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar was out with an ankle injury and only played 3 games before being traded, while rookie d-man Patrik Nemeth’s season was cut short with a severe arm laceration that will keep him sidelined until March at the earliest.
Forward Valeri Nichushkin has only taken part in four games thus far and just had hip surgery, which will prevent him from seeing playing time for four months. Not to mention Rich Peverley, who is still questionable to return to play after his heart issues from last season.
When injuries pile up it generally shows negatively in a team’s record, much like the current situation with the Stars.
Defensive Woes
As much as everyone would like to attribute poor play to the youth of Dallas’ blue line, every breakdown can’t logically be a result of it.
The Dallas blue line has severely lacking in the decision-making department thus far, Brenden Dillon and Jordie Benn being two of the greatest offenders. They’ve turned pucks over in the neutral zone when there was minimal, if any, pressure. They’ve failed to help Lehtonen or back-up goalie Anders Lindback and are making their jobs that much more difficult.
General Manager Jim Nill even solidified the six defensemen and gave them that much more security when he waived Kevin Connauton, who was claimed by the Blue Jackets, earlier this week.
Whether it be the use of a new system defensively, a new coach covering the defensive plays, or more personnel changes within the team, Dallas needs to find a solution and fast. The season will be half over before we know it and it will be too little too late if they don’t do something soon.
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Odd Man Losses
Dallas has failed miserably on 2-on-1 situations. The basic concept is that the goalie takes the player with the puck and the man back stops the pass, simple right? Apparently not.
For whatever reason Stars players are doing virtually nothing to stop the passes across and the goalie, mainly Lehtonen, can’t conceivably stop both players, which results in a goal against. These types of plays are detrimental to the confidence of the team and either losing the lead or playing from behind are negative experiences for a locker room that is struggling as much as the Dallas Stars are right now.
Confidence
More than anything else confidence, or lack there of, is the main reason the Stars are failing to play to their full potential at the moment. Regardless of the pressure, players in the spotlight, injuries, or defense, confidence can determine how the team plays in its entirety.
The Stars don’t believe they can win and after they dug themselves out of that seven game losing streak to end October and start November every loss seems like the beginning of yet another mass losing streak. With that mindset every goal against is the end of a game and the loss of two points, which is no way for an NHL team to play.
The Solution?
How do you fix this potentially season-ruining issue? If I knew the answer to that the Dallas Stars would have a much better record than they do.
The truth is that Head Coach Lindy Ruff will have to take a good, long look at his players and convince them that they can win. He will have to regain control of the room and create an atmosphere in which the young players will thrive.
The leadership within the room will have to take a stranglehold on the season and hold other players accountable for their actions on the ice. Management may even need to make a blockbuster trade for a right-handed defenseman to fill the gaps on the blue line.
If the aforementioned issues don’t get resolved entirely and as soon as possible this Dallas Stars club will not look the same as it did two months ago because neither Jim Nill, nor any other leader of this organization, will allow them to merely give up.
What do you think the Stars biggest issues are? What do you think they should do to solve them? Respond in the comments below.