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Dallas Stars Can Use Golden Knights’ Structure as Inspiration

By Allison Scott

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 9: Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights readies for a face off against Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on December 9, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 9: Cody Eakin #21 of the Vegas Golden Knights readies for a face off against Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on December 9, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It’s an interesting era for the Dallas Stars. They have an unknown identity in the league and don’t quite know where they’re going just yet. While that’s a daunting reality, it proves to be a great advantage in that they can restructure with an existing core that’s strong.

With the Stanley Cup Finals underway, it’s hard to talk about anything else — even if you’re not particularly fond of either team suiting up. Odds are, you might be bitter that your favorite players are on beach vacations and not fighting for the most coveted trophy in all of sports. We get it.

But it’s always interesting to see how the two teams that find themselves battling for the ultimate prize got there. And the Las Vegas Golden Knights in particular prove to be inspiration for the Stars.

All-in Mentality

The Knights are lucky to have had as much chemistry as they do. Honestly, it’s unheard of. They’ve made it work nonetheless.

And it’s because of their approach to the game. They leave everything on the ice and have found a way to win countless times in games they had almost no right being in. Goaltenders can have a bad game and still Vegas finds itself able to come out on top.

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That, of course, is easier said than done. Still, the players are so set in their system that they’ve found a way to overcome adversity (as cliché as that may be to say) and be victorious.

Dallas should be taking notes. That quality is never something to overlook because it sprouts from true, uninterrupted talent. These players are strategic in their movements and it’s because of their system’s structure that they’re able to do it.

Flaunt What You’ve Got

The Dallas Stars have a roster that is impressive to say the least. There are 30 other teams in the league who would kill to have Jamie Benn or Tyler Seguin or John Klingberg in their line-up. That’s not something you can say about a lot of players, but Dallas has a handful.

Unfortunately, they’re still in the process of figuring out how to best take advantage of them. Vegas (again) proves to be a great example.

They worked their system around the players they have. Their personnel drove the style, structure and pace of their play, which is undoubtedly something the Stars should copy.

Last season, Ken Hitchcock tried to make Dallas have a new identity; however, it wasn’t even in the same universe as what the roster at hand was capable of doing. That disconnect coupled with injuries proved to arguably be their greatest downfall.

Bottom Line

Whatever the Stanley Cup Finals yields will be fun to watch, but there will still be next season. After its conclusion, the Stars will have to shift their focus to drafting well and preparing for the upcoming year of festivities.

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That means taking a long, hard look at the team and evaluating as necessary.

It won’t be an easy task, but the Stars have to find a way to take advantage of the players they have while they’re still young and in their respective prime windows. Failing to do so could leave a lot of regrets.

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