Dallas Stars Set For More Consistent Lines Under Hitchcock

With Ken Hitchcock’s preliminary plans laid out, it’s possible that the Dallas Stars’ line-juggling as we’ve known it could become a thing of the past.

Line switching is a consistent fixture of the game of hockey. Coaches will play around with lines at the beginning of the season to see which players fit best where, the lines with be juggled a bit some more when things aren’t exactly clicking right in a game, and sometimes you just have to replace players who are injured and out. If one NHL team has seen it all in the way of line juggling, it’s been the Dallas Stars.

Granted, the Stars’ circumstances this past season almost necessitated constant line changes, what with players dropping like flies on and off of the IR list, and new guys coming up from the AHL to fill in. However, there seemed to be multiple points at which the lines changed the moment a problem was anticipated, instead of sticking around to brave the storm and come out stronger on the other side.

While that’s not always an option in some of the circumstances I’ve already described, the Dallas Stars should be starting a new chapter where these scenarios befall them less and less, and their lines should become more and more dependable. And now that they’ve hired on Ken Hitchcock, his philosophy seems to line up closely with this objective.

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In laying out some of his expectations and plans for the Stars over the last few days, Hitchcock has leaned much more toward nailing down a game plan and sticking to it than feeling it all out and seeing where things land, trial and error style. Some of his hopes and dreams for the players seem to fall perfectly in place with what the Stars need to become more consistent and dependable in their lines.

Jamie Benn let reporters know late yesterday that his initial meetings with the new coach had been beneficial, and that he’d been impressed by the level of preparedness and thought that had already been put into the game plan for the Stars. Hitchcock himself confirmed this mindset in an interview, dishing that his intentions for Seguin specifically involved making him a fixture as center on the top line.

Seeing the intentional approach to line formation is not only a relief, but also a much needed and welcomed piece of the puzzle. Last season, the Dallas Stars’ most consistent offensive line was Benn- Seguin- Eaves, which is now void for obvious and painful reasons. But even this most consistent line only showed up about 6% of the season.

The next most frequent line that Tyler Seguin centered consisted of Remi Elie and Brett Ritchie, and was only active less than 2% of the season. All in all, Seguin stuck to the wings much more than his natural center- a fact that Hitchcock is obviously aware of and ready to change for the betterment of the team.

From his plans to solidify a top line starting with Seguin, it seems that Hitchcock is going to be much more steady and consistent than what Stars fans may have grown used to. Obviously, there will be a trial and error period in which the coach will be figuring out which players he has to work with and who fits best where.

But all facts seem to point to the conclusion that once he’s got that under his belt, Hitchcock is planning to make a sturdy and dependable team out of the Stars, starting with solidifying spots for key players and building around them.

Next: Jim Nill's Future In Dallas Might Depend On 2017-18 Season

With all the consistency woes the Dallas Stars have faced in the past, this approach is a pretty welcome and exciting thing. What do you think of Hitchcock’s preliminary plans for the Stars? Let us know in the comments!

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