Dallas Stars’ Names Written In Lights With Nominations
In the midst of exciting accolades for the captain, the coach, and the GM, the Dallas Stars are also locking down players to add to the star-studding cast for the 16-17 season.
It’s no shocker that the Dallas Stars are being recognized in big ways leading up to this summer’s NHL Awards. After a break-out season, the NHL has had no choice but to sit back and take notice. As the Stars accepted several important nominations recently, they also took the time to sign some up and comers.
Captain Jamie Benn is no stranger to attention from the NHL on a grand scale, and no one can forget his Art Ross-earning performance (or acceptance speech) from last season. Although he didn’t repeat that performance, he did receive for the second season in a row a nomination for the Ted Lindsay Award.
This is a special honor, as it determines the most outstanding player as according to Benn’s peers in the NHLPA. Although Benn didn’t snag the Ted Lindsay last summer, this could be his year.
In addition, he is a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist, an honor given to the player deemed most valuable to his team and decided upon by a vote of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
His value to the team goes without saying, and even though he wasn’t the NHL’s highest scorer this season, he played in all 82 contests for the second season in a row, despite the off-season hip surgery in between them.
Coach Lindy Ruff was also honored with a Jack Adams Award nomination, which goes to the best coach, also decided by the PHWA. Like Benn, Ruff’s importance was overt and instrumental; looking back over the accomplishments of the season, it’s easy to see why the NHL is recognizing Ruff as one of the best coaches in the league.
The Stars went from the bottom of the table to division champions in the most hockey version of a rags to riches story ever. Dallas continued to run circles around the league offensively, and owed much of that to Ruff’s wisdom and jedi-line-juggling skills.
And at the end of the day, you really can’t leave Jim Nill out. As a first-time finalist for NHL General Manager of the Year, Nill was deemed among the best of the best by his peers and members of the media. They would, of course, be blind not to see it.
The Dallas Stars have come a long way since Nill took over three seasons ago. Since then, he’s added incredible value to the team and brokered miracle deals that have revolutionized the way this team plays. Are you a big fan of Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, or Patrick Sharp? Well, you have Nill’s trademark-pending July blockbuster trades to thank.
In short, Nill is bold enough to make smart choices before anyone else knows how smart they are. And if that’s not a great GM, what is?
As if being recognized by the NHL for league-wide excellence in these areas wasn’t enough, the Stars are setting their sites on future seasons and focusing on one of their biggest assets: young talent.
Yesterday, the Dallas Stars signed defenseman Chris Martenet to a three year, entry level contract. You all may remember Chris Martenet- the kid drafted last summer in the fourth round. The 6-foot-7 kid drafted last summer in the fourth round. Now that the Stars’ defense is evolving into a more size-friendly environment, it may be just the place for Martenet to land.
The Stars also saw fit to lock down forward Denis Gurianov to a three year, entry level deal last week. Also picked by the Stars in the 2015 Draft, Gurianov has been playing in Russia and was noted for his similarities to pre-hip-issue Nichushkin.
Next: Dallas Stars Puzzle: Pieces Assembling
With these promising additions sticking around for at least another three years and with the Dallas Stars getting their names written in lights, all disappointments aside, it’s still a good time to be a Stars fan.