Dallas Stars Need Good Draft With Future Of Roster Uncertain

The Dallas Stars are about to enter the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as the host of the event. While that is something to be excited about — it brings in a lot of people and buzz around the metroplex — there’s also a lot of pressure that accompanies it.

It’s more important now than ever for the Dallas Stars to be successful. They need to approach this entry draft differently than those of the past. Despite previous drafts being important for building the future, this one comes with extra expectations.

And there’s more on the line this year than ever before.

The Prime Approaching

There hasn’t been enough of a conversation surrounding the Stars players with their prime years running low. Although they have a few seasons left before their primes are definitively in the past, now is the time to capitalize.

Really, it’s Jamie Benn‘s time to shine. He has nine seasons in the NHL under his belt, and at almost 29 years old, his prime may catch up to him in the next few years. It’s important to remember we’re talking about the man who has proven able to defy all odds and surpass anyone’s expectations of what he’s capable of; however, he isn’t invincible.

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In recent season, Benn has shown wear and tear on his physique which has subsequently influenced his play. From hip injuries to shoulder problems, No. 14 has had no shortage of hospital time in the past few seasons. Unfortunately, that all takes a toll on the mind and body of a hockey player, making him less able to perform on the ice.

Dallas needs Benn to be at his best for the team to be at its best. The two are intertwined because of his undoubted leadership and ability to take control in games. If he fails to do so, the Stars could be in trouble.

Future With The Team

In a similar boat is Tyler Seguin. While he’s a few years younger than Benn, his prime playing time will also have an expiration date. That, however isn’t the concern with the former No. 2 overall draft pick.

His contract extension conversations have been anything but mentioned of late. While that’s likely because of the buzz from the Stanley Cup Finals and preparation for the draft, it’s concerning that Jim Nill has mentioned more of Valeri Nichushkin than the star center for Dallas. Still, the negotiation path seems to be trending in the right direction.

Seguin will be an expensive investment the Stars have to make, but he’s a key piece to the line-up. They could certainly be successful without him, but there’s no doubt a guy like No. 91 is an immeasurable advantage for any NHL team.

Draft Pressure

These concerns make drafting an even more important aspect of the Stars’ future. They simply can’t afford to sign the best in the league — they have to draft it and build from there.

Of course, the success of the Texas Stars of late proves to be a great advantage. Their run at the Calder Cup has been nothing short of impressive, and it shows the potential the Dallas Stars have moving forward.

Next: Dallas Stars' Future is Bright with Texas Stars' Success

To keep that up, though, they’ll have to use their picks intelligently in a few months.