Dallas Stars’ Dynamics Propel Them Into Postseason
The Dallas Stars have created an environment in which old dogs can learn new tricks, and young ones better utilize the ones they already know. It’s this type of give-and-take atmosphere the Stars have to thank for their success this season.
Typically, when one says their team is in a rebuilding phase, it has the same weight as when parents insist that what their moody teenager is going through is just a phase. Throughout the NHL, we’ve seen teams that have gotten stuck, it seems, for an extended period of time in their rebuilding phase with no relief of finally being fully built in sight.
The Dallas Stars, however, through a combination of luck and shrewd decisions, have pieced together both slowly and all at once a new, fresh team which feeds off the interaction of young, energetic talent and experienced wisdom. A look at how several of the Dallas Stars’ season acquisitions have situated themselves on the team thus far will reveal that the Stars are on the up and up; Dallas is simply the place to be right now.
Patrick Sharp recently interviewed with The Ticket about his transition to Dallas and how he feels he fits. He mentioned that a locker room full of young players can help the more experienced ones to avoid being jaded and to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the value of winning games.
As a multiple Stanley Cup champion, Sharp is definitely familiar with the exhilaration of victory, but he also fits into a group of older, more mature players who can temper this vigor with some good old level-headed sensibility about what it takes to have a winning season versus a short-lived winning streak.
While the enthusiasm of the Stars has inspired Sharp to play with heart, his experience has imbued the Stars with some renewed perseverance to push their play all the way.
Another fresh face around the Dallas Stars’ locker room is Kris Russell, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Flames. Russell not only came in at just the right time when the Stars had lost a few key defensemen, but the Stars’ mode of defense serves as a much better fit to Russell’s own physical, shot-blocking style of play.
At the deadline, many speculated that the Stars would go with a bigger name choice. However, it was obvious to Nill that Russell’s style of play wasn’t being utilized to its full extent in Calgary, but could be put to great use in Dallas.
And it has been so far. The addition of Russell and Stephen Johns on defense has given the Stars confidence and a big presence on their blue line, which has allowed all four lines to bloom offensively.
Speaking of Johns, a lot of young players who have been called up from the AHL have had great success with the Stars this season thanks to the team’s balance of youth and experience.
These players have provided just what the Stars needed at the right time, and the Dallas Stars have returned the favor by giving them a great place to grow into athletes who belong in the NHL.
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Johns’ size, as well as Janmark and Faksa’s offensive know-how, have helped round-out the Stars and build this team up to one that can clinch a playoff spot and withstand the absence of key players.
Sometimes, all it takes is switching out a few pieces for new ones here and there to bring a team back up to speed. Vernon Fiddler agreed that the addition of new players increases the energy and electricity of the team. And if this is true, then the Stars have greatly upped their electricity factor this season, which is a good thing indeed. They’ll need it come playoffs.