Dallas Stars Defense Regains Key Veteran Presence

The Dallas Stars are on the path to immediate rebirth, just in time for the 2015-2016 season to begin. After falling seven points short of the NHL postseason in 2014-2015, they have created a new lineup that will hopefully link them to better success.

This began with trading for veteran goaltender Antti Niemi to further solidify their crease. The Stars suffered with goaltending problems all year long, and it ended up being the main reason that the team missed out on the playoffs. This would be acceptable if the Stars had not made the playoffs in 2013-2014 and do nothing but improve their team in the 2014 offseason.

After signing Niemi to a three year deal, GM Jim Nill expressed that the team was more than likely done making deals for the offseason. But as July 10th rolled around, the Dallas Stars were back in action. They traded away longtime D Trevor Daley and F Ryan Garbutt to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for F Patrick Sharp and D Stephen Johns.

While adding a reliable leader with valuable Stanley Cup experience in Patrick Sharp, they ended up sacrificing a big piece of their roster.

Trevor Daley had been a member of the Dallas Stars since being drafted by the team in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After a year in the minors, Daley became a full-time member of the Stars NHL club. He instantly became a terrific addition to the blue line. Standing at 5-11 and weighing in at 195 pounds, Daley is a quick and agile left-handed defenseman.

Through 756 career NHL games, Daley posted 67 goals and 231 points, along with a +6 on-ice rating. He prided himself as an offensive defenseman, one who could help run a power play from the blue line and always be there for a scoring chance. The one downside was his lack of playing a stay-at-home role, but he was always quick to react when an attack started moving the other way.

When the 2013-2014 playoff run began, Daley was the only Stars player that had been a member of the team the last time they participated in the postseason. He was the oldest member of the team, and the veteran presence the Stars needed on the blue line.

After the trade, the defense certainly fell back into question. Without the presence of a longtime member of the team on defense, there may be an imminent struggle involved. The veteran presence shifted to Alex Goligoski, who is on the cusp of turning 30. Besides him, the rest of the Stars defensive corps was made up of first, second, and third year players.

It looked bleak for the blue line after Daley was lost until July 15th rolled around and the Dallas Stars pulled off another big offseason move. In this one, they brought on free agent defenseman Johnny Oduya to help round out the defense.

Next: What Johnny Oduya Is Bringing To Dallas And Where He Fits In

Oduya is a 6-0, 188 lb. defenseman that packs a punch. As Nill aimed to bring in some veteran experience for the offensive side of the puck, he seems to have replicated it on the defensive side as well. The Stars are gaining a 33-year old defenseman that understands the game. A nine-year veteran in the NHL, Oduya helped the Blackhawks along to two Stanley Cup titles in the past four years that he has spent with the team. He was a teammate to Patrick Sharp during both of these runs. Both players will bring veteran caliber mixed with deep playoff knowledge that is unknown to many of the current players on the Stars roster, including their own captain.

Johnny Oduya only has 152 total career points in 664 games, but it is because he sticks to his primary role as a defenseman first. Oduya is a stay-at-home defenseman that knows how to be physical when necessary. He knows how to shut down a rush whenever one may happen and however spontaneous it may be. His leadership mixed with his skill is not only the perfect replacement for Trevor Daley, but is even an improvement.

After an offseason like this, one thing is for sure: Jim Nill has outdone himself. As he seems to do in every offseason, of course. Now the moves just need to follow through. Johnny Oduya should have no trouble becoming a leader for any members of the Stars defense that need someone to look up to and mirror.

Next: Dallas Stars Set To Introduce Patrick Sharp To Media Today

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