Dallas Stars Have Three-Way Battle For Final Offensive Spot

The Dallas Stars offense has three lines that are locked, loaded and ready to go. But what about the fourth line? There is one final spot on the wing where a starter needs to be decided upon. Who is going to win the spot?

When looking at the Dallas Stars roster for the upcoming year, it’s pretty clear that the club is stacked on offense. While it will be interesting to watch how the defense and goaltending pan out, the offense is a solid group, one that has seen little change this offseason.

Speculations have begun circling around that the Stars offense could potentially be even stronger than it was last year. As everyone knows, Dallas owned the highest-scoring offense in the NHL last season, putting up 3.23 goals per game. Is there even a slight chance that the offense could be even stronger?

While the dream is slim, there is a legitimate chance it could be based solely on the fact that the offense will have the exact same top three lines as they did last season. The first and second lines did significant damage, while the third line provided a necessary physical edge that still produced on the scoring side on a regular basis.

But what about the fourth line? The last line of offense has seen some significant change this offseason. Patrick Eaves, Vernon Fiddler, Colton Sceviour, and Travis Moen were all regulars on the bottom line this past season. Of them, Eaves is the only player still with the team due to free agency.

So with the center position already filled and Eaves taking up either the left or right wing slot, there is still one spot open that needs to be filled. Surprisingly enough, there are three different Dallas Stars players that will battle for it. Brett Ritchie, Curtis McKenzie, and Adam Cracknell could all end up securing the final starting spot.

Let’s take a look at how each one came to be in the league. Cracknell was drafted in the ninth round of the 2004 NHL entry draft by the Calgary Flames. McKenzie was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by Dallas. Ritchie was selected most recently in the second round of the 2011 draft by the Stars.

McKenzie and Ritchie have developed in the Stars’ system over the past few years, getting NHL games in here and there as they prepare for the regular NHL life. Both bring a relatively similar set of skills to the table.

Both players are hard-hitting wingers that can score when given the opportunity. Both Ritchie (6-3, 220 lb.) and McKenzie (6-2, 192 lb.) have a physical approach to the game, and it can sometimes leave them out of position as they are still learning.

Through 39 games with the Dallas Stars club spanning over the past two seasons, McKenzie has scored four goals and tallied an assist, along with a -9 on-ice rating. He’s also racked up 48 penalty minutes in 11:19 average on the ice.

Ritchie has played the exact same number of games with Dallas, scoring six goals and tallying four assists in the span. He has a -4 rating in 13:30 average ice time.

Both players have their ups and downs, and both have proven that they are ready to be regular NHL players. They are among the best forwards when playing with the Texas Stars of the AHL, and are prepared for their next challenge. This past year, the Stars seemed to utilize Ritchie more than McKenzie, but anything can happen.

Then there’s Cracknell. The 31-year old forward was signed by Dallas this offseason to a one-year contract, further solidifying their depth at the wing. He’s played a total of six seasons at the NHL level, but can also provide solid leadership in the AHL. In 134 NHL games, he has scored 11 goals and tallied 16 assists, along with a -4 rating.

The Stars have three capable choices for this final spot, and choosing the correct player will be critical to rounding out the offensive attack. If Dallas is looking to own the best offense in the league once again, they must first make sure that their offensive starting lineup is ready to fire.

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If you’re head coach Lindy Ruff, who do you put next to Eaves and either Cody Eakin or Radek Faksa? Do you go with the veteran presence in Cracknell? Or do you give it to one of the younger guys who have worked their way up in the system and proven they are ready for the NHL?

It will be a difficult decision, and it’s very possible that Ruff could pass up the 12-forward system and run with 13. That would give him the opportunity to make changes as the year moved on and use substitutions.

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Either way, he’s got three strong players to choose from. Which way does he go? We’ll have to wait on that one, at least for now.