Dallas Stars Power Rankings For Month Of December

Blackout Dallas brings back its monthly power rankings with a rundown of the best Dallas Stars in the month of December.

As the season further progresses, the Dallas Stars are starting to show several personalities, both internal and external. To the rest of the National Hockey League, they’re the top-heavy, defensively structured team that will wear you down physically with their depth players, while their top guys skate through and go ballistic on you.

Internally, the Stars have displayed traits individually while trying to mesh as a team. Head coach Ken Hitchcock said it best when he brought up the “passengers and drivers” metaphors, describing that some do the heavy lifting and others watch, struggling to contribute. The “drivers” and “passengers” have sort of allowed the team to shape internal identities.

You have the high-flying top-line of Jamie Benn and crew, as the captain as well as Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov have not only driven well together but separated, which helps balance the Stars lineup immensely. Esa Lindell has taken many steps forward as a sophomore defenseman, thanks in large part to current Norris Trophy frontrunner John Klingberg on defense.

Then you have some guys still failing to meet expectations trying to chip in in whatever way they can. The Jason Spezza and Martin Hanzal types that can not “drive,” so to speak, but our learning to adapt to sitting in the shotgun seat and navigating, metaphorically continuing.

More from Blackout Dallas

• Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
• Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
• Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
• Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
• Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs

They have to be better, but these power rankings become easier to construct when each player shows their true value.

With that, we can jump right in. If you are familiar with our format, then steam ahead! That indicates that you are a regular reader, and I appreciate it. If you are unfamiliar with the power rankings, refer to our past articles on this subject.

Again, we like to have a little bit of fun with these power rankings. Not all of them will be fit with loads of analysis, as some will skew to the humorous side. Hopefully you have your laughing pants on, and if not, slip those and your “swear at us in the comments for having your favorite player too low” gloves on.

Let’s get underway.