Dallas Stars: Things We Shouldn’t Shrug Off From 2017-18 Season

While the Dallas Stars 2017-18 season left a lot to be desired, it wasn’t a complete waste in all areas. That being said, don’t forget about the high points.

Now that the Dallas Stars 2017-18 campaign is spent and we’re facing down a long and unsure off season, it’s easy to see the season as a waste. As time we’ll never get back. In reality, it’s just another chapter in the Dallas Stars story, full of its ups and downs and pros and cons, just like any other chapter.

While our expectations for a straight path to success may have done us in here, let’s not miss the opportunity to see the pieces that did come together this season. We have all summer to commiserate over the negatives and beat that horse even deader.

When I️ mention the idea of positives during a season like this one, I’m sure everyone has at least a few things that spring to mind. In truth, we’ve all probably got some major overlap. The trick here is to put all those pieces together and see them as bigger than they would be on their own.

One of the first things that might have popped into your mind is John Klingberg. If he didn’t come to mind at all, then for shame. As do all mortals, Klingberg had his own highs and lows, but during a season that put him dangerously close to leading the NHL in scoring when it was all said and done, no one can say that he was anything but a pro during a season wrought with cons.

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Since we’re already talking about the Stars’ big-name players, we might as well get several more out of the way on our silver-linings list. Tyler Seguin notably flourished under Hitch’s system, and although he was perhaps held back and overworked because there weren’t more in that camp with him, his growth was apparent and carried an on again, off again Stars offense.

While we’re talking rays of hope within the Stars’ offense, can anyone say Alexander Radulov? Really, that’s all you need to say. I’m just going to leave this one right here.

Jamie Benn, in kind, put up some stats on the upper end of his spectrum, ending out the last week of season in a fireworks display of hattricks and classic Jamie Benn-style goals. While he’s received some criticism about his leadership style and his production this season, his presence and performance this season was a pro in my book.

Another matter that proved controversial down the home stretch was the Stars’ goaltending. While it’s fair that injuries and some bad luck plagued the Stars’ crease at the end, it’s also important to remember that this season saw some of the most efficient and consistent goaltending efforts the Stars have made in years.

The addition of Ben Bishop truly helped set in motion an effective goalie system that for the most part served the Stars well. Whether or not we’ll see Kari Lehtonen, whose value and longevity has been hotly debated, return for another season is yet to be seen. But we can be sure that his presence as Bishop’s backup this season kept the Stars in the playoff run, right up until their meltdown.

So when viewed altogether, the Dallas Stars really did make some important strides this season. It’s fair to say that their often impressive offense was held back and stunted to an extent by a new system that failed to give the offense its head, so to speak.

However, the Stars are on the learning curve and while they didn’t achieve what they wanted to this season, they did learn more about their shortcomings and the quirks that hold them back. Still, they’ve had a lot of learning seasons, so it feels almost inescapable that there will be some big changes made this summer.

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That being said, there will be plenty of time to see, process, and accept whatever comes the Stars’ way this offseason. For now, it’s probably best for our mental and emotional health to start things off with an attitude of gratitude and try to dwell on the good.

I️ find that my consolation/therapy ice cream binges taste better that way.