Dallas Stars Training Camp: Day Two Thoughts And Analysis
By Tom Dorsa
Dallas Stars training camp continued with the second day of drills and rushes on Saturday. Here are some takeaways to absorb.
Day two of Dallas Stars training camp has concluded in Cedar Park, as the second consecutive day of high-energy, up-tempo drills gives us an even larger sample size to evaluate individual players and the whole organizational scheme.
With the first day of training camp in Cedar Park, Texas finished, we walked into HEB Center at Cedar Park with a feel for what’s going on with the new schemes and coaching styles of bench boss Ken Hitchcock. This helps us further analyze players both on the bubble and surely on the club as day two progresses.
With the newest crop of free agent signings and trade acquisitions blending in with established Dallas Stars regulars, it’s interesting to see how the two classifications meet in the middle of a brand new coaching staff and playing system.
Some players, in this, are standing for the right reasons, and some for the wrong reasons. If you’re a player with National Hockey League hopes but American Hockey League probabilities, you want to stand out, but not in ways that are detrimental to your overall success.
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And if you’re blending in fine, you’re in good shape. For a lot of these players, all they’re being asked to do is play the game. Although it’s important to give 100% on every shift, if your position is pre-established and solidified, then you can just go out there and skate to a degree.
With that, we can see how the 59 players at Dallas Stars training camp faired. We’re using the three categories from yesterday’s Thoughts And Analysis post to sort out some of the players in question.
EXPECTED EXCELLENCE:
Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, Marc Methot, Stephen Johns, Brett Ritchie, Gavin Bayreuther, Mattias Janmark, John Klingberg
Once again, and as it should, the Stars’ best players paced training camp as superstars like Benn, Seguin, Klingberg, and Spezza gave it their all and continue to buy into the Hitchcock system. Stephen Johns had a productive morning and afternoon as his big body was everywhere from blocking shots and cutting off passes to shoving players off of the puck.
Marc Methot, with every passing day, looks more and more like the perfect partner for John Klingberg, whose puck-handling and decisiveness looks to have improved.
“I think we have a chance to be an elite team. I think the pain that we went through last year, missing the playoffs and really underachieving after winning the West, I think will fuel us and I think it will gives us a full buy-in this year.”
– Jason Spezza
Brett Ritchie’s heavy shot was noticeable, just ask Tyler Pitlick, whose stick was discarded due solely to the energy generated by one Ritchie wrister; depending on usage, Ritchie might be good for 25 goals this season for the Dallas Stars.
Mattias Janmark looked excellent again as his knee, at least from an analyst’s standpoint, looks like a non-issue thus far in camp.
Gavin Bayreuther also made the list as the St. Stephens University defender is expected to lead the Texas Stars’ blueline this season, a job he looks more than ready for.
SURPRISING EXCELLENCE:
Gemel Smith, Tyler Pitlick, Brett Davis, Julius Honka, Kari Lehtonen, Esa Lindell, Greg Pateryn, Adam Cracknell, Sheldon Dries, Jason Robertson, Remi Elie, Patrik Nemeth
That’s a lot of players. Firstly, Gemel Smith, one of my favorite players to watch, was a speedy, strong force in the offensive zone and didn’t get on Hitchcock’s nerves like Friday’s session. Tyler Pitlick looks like a stellar, cheap free agent signing that will pay off for the Stars, as the winger played well with Seguin on his line. Brett Davis looked powerful and used his above-average shot to get a sizable reaction from the Cedar Park crowd.
Dallas Stars
Julius Honka continues to be as impressive as anyone in camp, with his blazing skating being his most deadly attribute.
Esa Lindell and Greg Pateryn shook off any pressure from the loaded defensive core and looked ready to read their name on the opening night roster, as both were making smart, calculated decisions and defending the line well.
Adam Cracknell scored at least four goals in one drill by getting into some greasy positions and showing his grit and determination.
AHL-contracted Sheldon Dries showed off his wicked release in today’s sessions, turning my head and that of many others with a few neat goals in line rushes.
Patrik Nemeth has his work cut out for him in the search for a steady 7th defenseman, but kept himself in the conversation with a day of strong play. Remi Elie and Jason Robertson had good days at forward as well, sticking out in all three zones.
UNDERWHELMING:
R.J. Umberger, Radek Faksa, Jamie Oleksiak, Philippe Desrosiers
Don’t worry about Faksa, seriously, don’t, he’s an unbelievably talented player with a Selke Trophy ceiling, he just looked a little off. The Czech was slipping up everywhere and making some lousy passes, but he looked exceptional yesterday and is a sure thing to bounce back.
Philippe Desrosiers let in a few goals he really should have had, bringing with him a flashback to last season’s abysmal performances from the former QMJHL champ. Umberger looked slow and out of place, something that shouldn’t change over time (he’s old).
Jamie Oleksiak didn’t look horrible, but Nemeth and Pateryn had far better performances and you’d like to see more out of a guy who’s competing for the same spot on the team as those two.
On Sunday, the Dallas Stars won’t be holding any conventional drills or rushes. A “veteran’s practice” will begin at 9:00am (for which fans can start entering the HEB Center at 8:45am), followed by the Dallas Stars Future Prospects Scrimmage at noon.
Fans with tickets to the previously announced full-team scrimmage are invited to both the practice and the scrimmage tomorrow.
Next: Training Camp Thoughts From Day One In Cedar Park
To stay in the loop, hit up Blackout Dallas on the web and on social media with photos and updates throughout the remainder of training camp.