Dallas Stars: Ken Hitchcock Giving Team Options At Trade Deadline
By Josh Clark
There is still plenty of debate surrounding the Dallas Stars and the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline. The main question is in regards to whether they will be buyers or if they will stay quiet. If they choose to avoid the deadline, they can thank Ken Hitchcock for all he’s done to help that stance.
Rewind really quickly to one year ago. It’s mid-February 2017 and things aren’t looking good at all for the Dallas Stars.
A record of 22-24-10 can get an NHL team a few different things, but what it usually cannot get them is a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoff race. The Stars seemed to have no answer to their season’s woes and had to make some tough decisions. They simply weren’t the team that they had built themselves up to be in the 2015-16 season and postseason.
And so, Jim Nill did one of the hardest things that any general manager has to do: he prepared for his team to be a seller at the trade deadline. He began combing through the roster, marking down each player that could be a potential trade asset. Some common features of trade assets include expiring contracts, a veteran status, or maybe even a big-name player that just doesn’t fit the scheme anymore.
Once Nill had crafted his list of potential trade pieces, he began making and receiving calls. By the time March 1 hit and the trade deadline passed, the Stars had been one of the most active teams in all of the league.
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Dallas sold most of its primary assets, including Patrick Eaves, Johnny Oduya, and Jordie Benn. They traded away veterans for either prospects that were close to “knocking on the NHL door” or simply conditional draft picks.
And now come back to the present day. Here we are almost one year later, and it’s clear that Nill could not have played last year’s deadline much better. He sold off a good chunk of the Stars’ expiring contracts, reassembled the roster, and built it stronger for the future.
After limping to the finish line and entering an early offseason, Nill stepped back and prepared for a big offseason. More offensive scoring power, at least one veteran defender, special teams help, and a solid starting goaltender were just a few of the things on his to-do list.
But the first move he made did not have to do with the players on the bench. Instead, it had to do with the guy standing behind the bench.
When the Dallas Stars hired Ken Hitchcock for a second tour of duty in the middle of April 2017, the reactions were that of cautious excitement. Hitchcock, who is now the third winningest coach in NHL history, is known for being able to turn struggling hockey teams around practically overnight and molding them into contenders.
But at the same time, he is known for being a taxing coach, both mentally and physically. The easiest solution was to simply wait for the season to begin and see how it all unfolded.
And now that they are 57 games into the year, it’s clear that Nill made yet another wise choice. The Stars currently sit with a record of 33-20-4 and 70 points. That’s an impressive mark and has Dallas on track for just shy of 101 points on the year. Considering they finished with 79 last season, that’s a pretty impressive jump.
It’s clear that Hitchcock is getting results. The Dallas Stars have bought in to his system and tactics and are reaping the benefits as a result. They are explosive on offense, focused and structured on defense, and both goaltenders are giving them a lockdown presence in the crease on most nights.
But now we have reached the point of the season where more questions come into play. With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, will Jim Nill make a push? Will he bring in new talent to mix into the lineup? Do the Stars have the space and/or time to incorporate an entirely new player?
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And while most Dallas Stars fans have been in agreement over the past few seasons at this point in the year, there seems to be a sharp split this season. Some are in favor of Dallas going big and acquiring a talented name on the trade market, while others think that staying quiet is the best bet.
If Nill does decide to skip out on this deadline and avoid making any major deals, he can thank Ken Hitchcock for the opportunity.
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That’s because Hitchcock has done something that not many coaches know how to do: he took the talent that the general manager provided him with and made it work at full potential. As a result, the Dallas Stars right now are functioning in all areas with every player making a noteworthy contribution.
At each trade deadline, most teams that are doing well and looking to buy in for a run at the Cup always have a missing or struggling piece. Maybe they lack depth on defense or need some offensive help in the top six. They may even need a reliable starting or backup goaltender. Whatever the case is, the trade deadline helps them build their ideal roster.
Whether you agree or not, this Dallas Stars roster currently has all of the components of a championship-caliber roster. Their blue line (which consists primarily of non-superstar players) allows the sixth least amount of goals against per game of any team in the NHL. Their offense is receiving production and energy from all four lines and all 12 forwards. The goaltending is keeping them in games and buying the team plenty of chances to win. And finally, the special teams is functioning at a credible and well-enough rate.
This team is firing on all cylinders, and Hitchcock is to thank for it. He knows how to get the most out of each of his players and turn them into multidimensional hockey players. They can produce in various areas and situations and help the team reach max potential.
Now, could the Stars add more firepower and be a better team from it? Potentially, yes. If we’ve learned one thing from sports, it’s that there is always room for improvement.
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But this Dallas Stars team could do some damage in the postseason as it stands right now. Hitchcock has the team buying in fully to his system and is getting exciting results.
Want some proof? The Stars have won five of their past six games, including some against playoff-bound teams like Pittsburgh and Minnesota. They won some of those games on short rest, but looked dominant through all of it. Besides a 6-0 “brain fart” game against Vancouver on Sunday, they are playing like one of the best teams in the NHL. The standings are showing that as well.
Ken Hitchcock took a somewhat shaky roster at the beginning of the year and turned it into a potential contender. Every player is pitching in and doing their part in one area or another, and he is managing it effectively. That’s not easy to do for any NHL coach.
If the Stars stick with what they have right now and avoid the deadline, they will still have a solid shot at making an image for themselves in this year’s postseason. That’s due Hitchcock’s hard work with the team up to this point in the year. This team simply knows how to give the extra effort and win games.
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The next two weeks could pose some changes for the Dallas Stars, or they may not. Whatever happens, Nill can rest assured that Hitchcock will take whatever he gives him and make it the best it can be.
When you’re the third winningest coach in NHL history, you probably know how to do stuff like that.