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Dallas Stars: Three Takeaways From The 2017 Preseason

By Josh Clark

ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 30: Dallas Stars center Jason Spezza (90) is congratulated by right wing Brett Ritchie (25) after scoring in the 3rd period during the preseason game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on September 30, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Minnesota defeated Dallas 5-1. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 30: Dallas Stars center Jason Spezza (90) is congratulated by right wing Brett Ritchie (25) after scoring in the 3rd period during the preseason game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on September 30, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Minnesota defeated Dallas 5-1. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – SEPTEMBER 25: Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop (30) looks across the ice during the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars on September 25, 2017 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – SEPTEMBER 25: Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop (30) looks across the ice during the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars on September 25, 2017 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Where Is The High-Caliber Goaltending?

The Dallas Stars entered the summer of 2017 with one specific thing at the top of their list of needs. That was a starting goaltender.

Jim Nill hit the ground running and traded for goaltender Ben Bishop in the first month of the offseason.

Upon Bishop’s arrival, it seemed as though the Stars’ goaltending problems had been solved. After years of incompetent backups and inconsistent starters, it was time for a significant change.

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    • Bishop is known around the league as an elite goaltender. He’s a two-time Vezina finalist, led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, and constantly turns in impressive stats on a seasonal basis. So those characteristics are obviously going to translate over to his time as starter for the Dallas Stars, right?

    Well, it’s too early to tell. But if the preseason is any indication of what’s to come, the Stars might be in trouble.

    Over the course of the preseason, Ben Bishop posted a .823 save percentage and 4.15 GAA in three starts. He also posted a record of 0-2-0. Those numbers are less than stellar, but luckily it’s only the preseason.

    Even though none of these games count for much, it’s still a slight cause for worry. It is absolutely crucial that Dallas has a solid presence in net this year. The struggles of the last seven years can largely be blamed on goaltending, and the Stars need a confident no. 1 if they are truly ready to take the next step.

    While Bishop struggled throughout the preseason, Kari Lehtonen seemed to respond well in his own playing time. In 159 minutes of play (the same amount of time Bishop played) this preseason, Lehtonen posted a 2-1-0 record along with a .932 save percentage and 1.89 GAA. This three-game stretch also included a shutout.

    The goaltending looked to be on lockdown going into the preseason. Now, there’s cause for questioning.

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    Was the preseason just a hiccup for Bishop that he can quickly get over? Will Bishop end up paying off like Dallas is hoping for? Is Kari Lehtonen still in the running for at least a dual-starter role instead of being the full-time backup? Should Lehtonen get the start on opening night?

    Ken Hitchcock is known for being unpredictable with his lineup construction, and that leaves plenty to wonder about.

    The Dallas Stars’ crease is set for the 2017-18 year in terms of talent. But how will that talent be used and positioned? The play of Bishop and Lehtonen in the preseason only further fogs up the answer to that question.

    All in all, a 3-3-0 record isn’t great, but it isn’t bad, either. We’ll go ahead and call it an average preseason. A lot of decisions were made and a lot of new developments arose.

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    These three points are just a few of the many new storylines that arose through the 11-day span. Now all that is left to do is see how they factor into opening night.

    Just four more days.

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