Dallas Stars’ Penalty Kill Could Be Potential Weakness
Penalty kills can make or break an NHL team. After examining their offseason losses, the Dallas Stars could be in some trouble this upcoming year when they are a man short.
The penalty kill is the ultimate accountability test in hockey. When a player on a team screws up, it’s a chance to see whether or not his teammates can hold the line for two, four, or even five minutes.
That’s a lot to rest on a group of four going up against a group of five offensively skilled players on the other side. Yet the shorthanded side gets away with it 80 percent of the time. That’s because each team picks its strongest players. They pick the players who can think on their feet, be consistently mobile, and are willing to do anything to stop the overstocked opponent in their tracks.
The Dallas Stars did a good job this past year at keeping other team’s power plays at bay. Their penalty kill unit is headlined by their captain Jamie Benn, who is hands down the most well-rounded player in the NHL (“the ultimate hockey player”, as Jonathan Quick might say).
Over the course of the regular season, the Stars stuck with a pretty consistent PK unit. The two lines typically saw the same players, including Benn, mixed throughout. The combinations ended up paying off in a big way.
Dallas finished tenth overall in the NHL in terms of penalty kill efficiency. They ended the 2015-16 regular season with an 82.3 percent success rate in shorthanded affairs. When the playoffs rolled around, the Stars hit a sharp decrease in effectiveness, finishing at 73.7 percent, which is good enough for 13th of the 16 teams.
Let’s not look at the ailing postseason numbers, though. Let’s focus on the strong rates from the 82-game slate. It was an impressive improvement from their 80.7 percent PK rate in 2014-15, which landed them 19th in the NHL.
But the Dallas Stars’ penalty kill success may disappear in the coming season. It’s not because any certain player is going to necessarily be detrimental to the unit overall. Instead, it may be because of the significant change that the PK has seen over the span of one offseason.
Last year, one of the Stars top penalty units for the majority of the season was as follows:
Vernon Fiddler – Colton Sceviour
This four-man group had a significant role in the Stars’ shorthanded success for the majority of the season, and each player was known for their strengths on the PK.
Three of those four players departed for other teams in the 2016 offseason. Not to mention that the other units typically consisted of players like Jason Demers and Kris Russell.
That’s a big chunk lost from a unit that only used nine or ten players throughout the season. One of the most significant pieces they lost was from the defensive ranks. Not only Goligoski, but also Demers, were two huge pieces that ate up time on the PK.
So where do the Dallas Stars go from here? Who is going to hold up the penalty kill in the coming season? A doomed penalty kill will almost assuredly lead to a doomed season overall. PK’s are vital to not only success, but also a Stanley Cup.
The Stars of course have Jamie Benn at the helm of the PK (and every other area of the game, for that matter). In addition to Benn, they also have Oduya returning.
Radek Faksa played on the kill towards the end of the season, so he could be a trusted face in the forwards group with Benn. Antoine Roussel is another valid choice for the forward spot. He plays a hard and gritty style of hockey, always physically pursuing the puck.
The only problem is, Roussel is usually the one headed for the penalty box. He can be effective and useful when he’s not the one committing the penalty, so keep an eye out for him when another Star falters.
Cody Eakin is another forward that knows how to work a penalty kill, and even contribute in shorthanded scoring. Look for #20 to potentially be on the top line with Benn or Roussel this coming season on the PK.
So if that rounds out the forward group, who do they have on defense? Of course Oduya will be back, but which other defensemen fit into the scheme?
The truth is, the Dallas Stars saw a significant change on defense this offseason. Their new core will feature both some prospect players and new players overall.
Johnny Oduya – Stephen Johns
There’s an opportunity open for different defenders to take on a new role, but they will need to prove that they’re ready.
Jordie Benn has played some time on the penalty kill in his career, including time last year. His tenure on the PK could be a major factor in how much playing time he gets this year.
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Hamhuis is the newest Dallas Stars defender and has also played on the PK various times throughout his 12-year career. In his first interview in Dallas as a member of the Stars, he expressed that he would be willing to play on the PK if need be. He would be a nice veteran with PK experience to add to the mix.
Then you have one or two more spots to fill on the blue line. Do you gamble on a rookie like Lindell or Johns? Or do you try out Klingberg and hope he works? Maybe Nemeth could use his physical edge to shut down the power play rush? Either way, it’s a gamble.
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The Dallas Stars definitely have some decisions that need to be made before the season begins. They have the pieces that could potentially make up a dangerous team. The trick is getting them to gel and produce. Do they have what it takes?