Dallas Stars: Examining Their Path Through The Central Division
After an excellent offseason, the Dallas Stars look poised to bounce back in a big way in the 2017-18 season. But how do they stack up with the competition in the Central Division?
Every professional sports league has that one division that is inexplicably stacked in terms of competition. In the NBA, it’s the Northwest and Southwest Divisions; in the NFL, the AFC West and NFC East rule supreme; in the MLB, it’s the AL East and NL West; and finally in the NHL, it’s the Central Division.
These roles of dominance tend to shift around as the years pass, but the NHL doesn’t necessarily see a shift. Though they may not bring home the Stanley Cup every season, the competition is consistently deep and intense.
The Dallas Stars will be the first to attest to this fact. Since the realignment occurred in the summer of 2013, the Stars are a combined 50-47-20 in divisional play. While that is technically above .500, it’s not very impressive. That’s because the Central is always threatening.
Last season, the Stars turned in an ugly 34-37-11 record. It was the second-worst season in franchise history, and their play in the Central was a large part of their demise. Dallas finished with a 9-15-5 record in the division, which plotted them sixth out of seven.
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That’s an ugly finish to a year, but it just goes to show the immense amount of depth within the division. And it looks to be relatively the same for the 2017-18 season as well.
Luckily for Dallas, they restocked in the offseason. The Stars upgraded every position that needed help and look poised to have a bounce-back year in 2017-18.
But will it be enough to get them through the Central? How does the Dallas Stars’ path through the Central Division look this year?
Here is a brief rundown of each of the six teams that Dallas is up against within the division this year. Read up and draw your own conclusions.
The Potential Threats
There are two teams in the Central Division that have the potential to be threatening simply because of the unpredictability of the division as a whole. Though they missed the mark like the Stars in 2016-17, there is still a chance that they could rebound in some fashion. Let’s take a look at the two clubs.
Colorado Avalanche
Meetings this season: 2 home (10/14, 1/13), 3 away (10/24, 11/22, 12/3)
You might see this and immediately dismiss Colorado as an invalid and impossible threat. But don’t forget that it will be hard for the Avalanche to not bounce back in at least some form in the 2017-18 season.
Dallas Stars
That’s because of the extremely degrading and downright embarrassing season the Avs had in 2016-17. Colorado finished last season at the bottom of both the division and league with a revolting 22-56-4 record. They did not even break the 50-point mark. In other words, they set the bar so low for themselves that it would be extremely difficult to go any lower.
So obviously they took the 2017 offseason by storm, right? Well, not really. The Avs spent the majority of their time signing small-name players to short term deals. In fact, their biggest offseason acquisition was Predators forward Colin Wilson through trade. Other than that, the roster is pretty much still intact.
Now, it’s not necessarily fair to say the Avalanche’s 2016-17 record combined with their lack of offseason push means that they will experience the same fate, but it could be close. This team looks decent on paper, but when they get on the ice, everything goes to the toilet. Unless a new scheme and focus puts the team back on track, it is looking to be another long year in the Mile High City.
The Stars had little trouble squaring off with Colorado last season, going 4-1-0 against them. In this coming year, it seems as though Dallas outmatches them in every single category. Barring any monumental turnarounds, don’t expect the Avs to be giving the Stars too much grief in the Central.
Winnipeg Jets
Meetings this season: 2 home (11/6, 2/24), 2 away (11/2, 3/18)
The Winnipeg Jets are known around the Central for being one thing: consistently average. You never really see them fighting for the top spot in the division, but never see them sitting in seventh either. They’re always somewhere lost in between.
But rarely do they find the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Since realignment, the Jets have qualified for the playoffs once. And the one time they did, they were quickly swept in the first round.
This season looks as though it may be another one of the same for Winnipeg. Though the team made a few decent moves in the offseason, they didn’t make any monumental additions. Their biggest moves were made in the back end by signing defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and goaltender Steve Mason. Those two additions should help the Jets get their goals against average down, but neither helps them take a massive step forward from their 40-35-7 record from last season.
The Stars went a humbling 1-4-0 against the Jets last season primarily due to late-game collapses and ugly goals against. If Ben Bishop and Marc Methot help hold the line like people are expecting him to, then Dallas should have no trouble competing with and even besting Winnipeg on multiple occasions this season.
But there is always the chance that Winnipeg surprises, so they are listed as a potential threat. The Jets are known for “flying under the radar” (that’s a fun pun), and the young talent they currently possess could aid them in having a big year this season. So keep your eyes peeled.
The Probable Threats
There are two teams in the Central Division that always raise some sort of threat level within the division. Though they may not win the division overall, they are shoo-ins for the postseason and always put up one strong fight. Here are two teams that Dallas should keep a stern eye on this year.
St. Louis Blues
Meetings this season: 3 home (12/29, 2/16, 3/3), 2 away (10/7, 12/7)
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Bleedin' Blue
Ever since the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues have not had the best relationship. It might not have been the strongest relationship before, but the semifinals round in 2016 didn’t help things.
The Blues knocked the Stars out of the postseason in a demoralizing 6-1 fashion in game seven of the second round. The worst part is that it happened in front of a sold out crowd at the American Airlines Center.
After that series, the Blues quickly made their way onto the Stars’ hit list. Since then, it’s been a long haul for Dallas. They spent the 2016-17 season going 1-1-2 against St. Louis on their way to an awful year.
The Blues are preparing for a redemption year after being knocked out of the second round of last year’s playoffs by the Nashville Predators. They spent the offseason losing and gaining talent across the board.
Jori Lehtera, David Perron, and Nail Yakupov all left for new destinations, while Brayden Schenn and Chris Thorburn joined the team. That’s a pretty even exchange.
The Blues have made the playoffs in six straight seasons and look poised to do it again this year. It almost seems repetitive each year, but the Blues have yet to make it to the Stanley Cup Final. Is this going to be the year that they finally get over the cusp? They haven’t made any significant additions this offseason, but if their goaltending and defense can continue to hold up (even in Ken Hitchcock’s absence), they could be dangerous.
The Dallas Stars definitely need to keep an eye on the Blues. Even when the Stars practically ran the Central in 2015-16, the Blues still kept with them stride for stride. Never look over the Blues.
Minnesota Wild
Meetings this season: 2 home (2/3, 3/31), 2 away (12/27, 3/29)
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Eyes On Isles
It’s hard to argue that the Minnesota Wild didn’t own a significant chunk of the Central Division last season. They were simply unbelievable. The Wild finished the year with 49 wins and 106 points, but somehow couldn’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Still, it was a good season for Minnesota. The question is whether they will be able to turn in a similar year in 2017-18.
Notable additions included Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis, while notable subtractions were Marco Scandella, Jason Pominville, and Erik Haula. It’s hard to believe that the Wild win and dominate the Central Division for a second straight year, but it’s perfectly logical to think that they will make the playoffs for a ninth straight year.
The Stars went 1-3-1 against the Wild last season, with their only win coming in overtime back in November. Dallas and Minnesota have had a fierce rivalry brewing ever since the Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993.
These two teams will once again duke it out this year, and Minnesota has the potential to make things interesting. With the team they currently possess, don’t count them out yet.
The Definite Threats
These final two teams will likely give Dallas a run for their money in the 2017-18 season. Let’s take a look at them both.
Chicago Blackhawks
Meetings this season: 2 home (12/2, 12/21), 2 away (11/30, 2/8)
Go ahead and count the Chicago Blackhawks now. It will likely only come back to haunt you.
Dallas Stars
The Blackhawks’ 2016-17 season went from bright to dark practically overnight. After battling for the Central Division title and taking it with 109 points, the Hawks drew the Nashville Predators in the first round…. and got swept.
It was simply unbelievable. It was the first time in professional sports history that a one seed was swept by an eight seed. Chicago entered the offseason with a lot of questions and anxiety.
And the moves they made only furthered the nerves. Chicago traded away Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin and picked up Connor Murphy and Brandon Saad. That’s a slightly uneven return, simply because of the experience they are losing on defense.
They also signed former Stars forward Patrick Sharp, Tommy Wingels, and Lance Bouma to help balance out the roster.
Some think that the Hawks are an older roster and therefore slower and less threatening. But don’t forget that this team won the Central last year, has two of the best forwards in the game, and never seems to falter. They have qualified for nine straight playoffs, and don’t expect them to fall out all of a sudden this year.
The Stars were humbled by Chicago last year, going 0-3-2 in the season series. Dallas always struggles with the Hawks (except for 2015-16, of course), but this coming season should be a good fight. Still, don’t just expect the Blackhawks to fold over. That’s a bet you will likely lose.
Nashville Predators
Meetings this season: 2 home (12/5, 12/23), 2 away (10/12, 3/6)
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are the new talk of the Central Division. Since realignment happened, they have yet to win a division title, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t made a reputation for themselves.
Last season, the Predators complete a miraculous run to the Stanley Cup as they burnt through the Western Conference with ease. Though they didn’t cap the season off with their first ever Cup, they made themselves into a threat. Not bad for the eight seed.
The biggest thing to worry about is that the Preds didn’t really get any worse this offseason. They arguably got better.
After losing captain Mike Fisher, veteran forward James Neal, and Colin Wilson, the Predators added Nick Bonino, Scott Hartnell, and Alexei Emelin. That’s a solid offseason for an already high-quality team.
Though the Dallas Stars went 2-3-0 against Nashville last season, each result was extremely lopsided.
The Preds have one of the best defensive groups in the league, a solid veteran goaltender in Pekka Rinne, and a capable offensive charge. The Stars will have their hands full, and it’s likely that the Central Division will be carried by one of these two teams.
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Regardless of what you may think or believe, the Central Division always brings uncertainty and excitement. This season is going to be a good one, so make sure you buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.