Dallas Stars: Examining Their Chances At A Stanley Cup Run

After a magnificent offseason, the Dallas Stars look poised to have a major bounce-back year. But will it end with them going the distance and winning their second Stanley Cup? Only time will tell.

In exactly one month, the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights will be duking it out at the American Airlines Center. How amazing is that?

It’s been a long haul since April 8, but time seems to be moving quicker as we approach opening night. That’s a good sign for hockey fans everywhere. It’s especially good for Dallas Stars fans.

That’s because of the immeasurable amount of excitement surrounding the team as they enter the 2017-18 season.

After a disastrous 2016-17 season that ended in one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Stars have rebounded in a big way. GM Jim Nill took the offseason by the reins and secured some of the best available talent throughout the league. He upgraded every position and gave Dallas a completely different look for the 2017-18 season.

Dallas Stars

These moves could take the Stars in one of many directions. But the question on everyone’s minds is in regards to whether it will take Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final?

The diehard Stars fans whose sense of reason are saying it’s a shoo-in. Some critics say that a first round exit or missing the playoffs entirely sounds more reasonable. And everyone else is somewhere in between.

So is this going to be the year? That’s a difficult question to answer.

When the season begins, all 31 teams arguably have a claim to fame. Each team has a strong point that they cling to and use as their defense in any debate that may come up. So, in some cases, the Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins each have a shot at winning the Cup.

Vegas and the odds calculator have a very different say in the matter, but it’s true to an extent. The NHL is known for its unpredictability, and just about any team can make the leap from the bottom of the pile to the top in one season. That’s what makes it fun.

But do the Dallas Stars have what it takes to go the distance this season and claim their second Cup in time for their 25th anniversary celebration?

What is already known and accepted is that Dallas should be a much better team than they were last year. As long as the team buys in to new head coach Ken Hitchcock, they should be alright.

Ben Bishop will help revitalize the goaltending; Marc Methot will help lead a young but more confident blue line; Alexander Radulov and Martin Hanzal should grow the Stars both on offense and special teams; and finally, a Ken Hitchcock system should round out and effectively balance the team.