Dallas Stars Mailbag: John Tavares, Free Agency Frenzy, Backup Goalies
The crazy part of the NHL offseason is just hours away. With that being said, we knew you’d have some questions regarding the Dallas Stars. After collecting a few over the past couple of days, we answered some of them below.
June 30 is always an interesting day in the typical NHL offseason. I like to think of it as that split second where you take a deep breath in and hold before jumping into a pool or lake.
That’s because it is the final day for teams to make last-second adjustments before its too late. This might include signing RFAs and UFAs to new contracts or finalizing talks with other free agents on the market.
But on July 1, the doors open. And when they open, it will be a scramble for the Dallas Stars and the other 30 teams.
The Stars have been linked to several names on the free agency market. On top of that, they are still considered in the hunt for forward John Tavares. But they have other problems with their roster that must be fixed if Dallas wants to return to the playoffs next year.
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With all of this information cascading down, it’s okay to feel confused or uncertain about things at the moment. We all are. That’s what the offseason is all about.
A few days ago, we put out a post on our Facebook and Twitter profiles asking for any questions that our followers might have regarding the Dallas Stars’ offseason plans. We got some really good responses, and we answered some of the best ones below.
If you submitted one, check for an answer below! And if you didn’t, read up and expand your knowledge. It’s only beneficial at this point. We will be having another call for mailbag questions in the near future, so if you missed out on this one, be on the lookout for the next call!
Question #1: How’s the Stars day been going so far? (submitted by @Stryker_Stars91)
Answer: This question was submitted on Wednesday, so I can only assume that it was in regards to the Stars’ scheduled meeting with John Tavares.
As part of his decision-making process, Tavares scheduled meetings with six different teams at his agent’s offices in LA. The Stars were the only team to make the cut that didn’t make the playoffs last year, so that definitely says something about how the superstar center views this team.
I was not in on the meeting and don’t have a direct line to Jim Nill, so I cannot necessarily answer on how the meeting itself went. But from the sound of it and the rumblings that I’ve heard, the meeting went well and Tavares was impressed by the Stars’ pitch. But he was impressed by the other pitches, too.
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His decision should be coming in the next few hours, so keep your eyes peeled.
Question #2: What number is Tavares going to wear in Dallas since Seguin wears 91? (submitted by @Mistermoon)
Answer: Well, Tyler Seguin is 91 and Bill Masterton‘s no. 19 is retired. He’ll likely wear no. 20 since that is the number he wore for Team Canada. It also happens to be his birthday.
But that’s ONLY if he signs with the Dallas Stars. Don’t forget.
Question #3: Heard Dallas offered Anton Khudobin a 2 year deal, any truth to this? (submitted by @grey_zayne)
Answer: That’s a good question. Up until now, I hadn’t heard any reports on their backup goaltending plans because the team seems focused completely on the Tavares decision right now. But they still do need a backup.
Khudobin is one of the older options on the market but proved his longevity and reliability in Boston this past season. He could definitely be a good add for a Stars team that needs a backup that can play in 25-30 games each year. A two-year contract would also help in giving them breathing room for once their college goaltending prospects are ready to make the jump.
Question #4: Who can you compare our 2018 draft picks to? (submitted by Rishi Trikha)
Answer: That’s a good question considering a lot of the draft is like a crapshoot in the fact that you never know which prospects will pan out. Even Joe McDonnell, the Stars’ director of amateur scouting, said following the draft that he hopes 2-3 of these picks make it to the NHL someday. That’s just the reality of the draft. Many of the players selected this year will never skate in an NHL game. It’s just how it goes.
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But some of these picks are solid. I would honestly compare this draft class to some of the Stars’ last few classes. There may be a few picks that were considered “reaches”, but Dallas is confident in their selections and some of the players are showing serious upside.
Question #5: If we don’t land JT where do we look for top six help (submitted by @robtm004) / If we do NOT sign JT, who are you hoping we target in the FA/Trade market for second line scoring depth? (submitted by @SpinnerHall)
Answer: These two questions almost went word for word, and for good reason. This is probably the biggest question on the Stars’ plate in the upcoming free agency frenzy.
If Dallas doesn’t land Tavares (and I don’t think they will), they will need to find at least one forward to add into their top six lineup. I wrote an article that published on Friday morning about five free agency options for the Stars. You can read it here.
Personally, I would love to add James van Riemsdyk or Michael Grabner. Both fit the Stars’ needs well and can slide into the top six nicely as veteran options. On top of that, they would both be affordable.
In the trade market, there doesn’t seem to be any obvious option. If Montreal is still looking to trade Max Pacioretty, that’s definitely an option (if the price is right). But the free agency market could fill the Stars’ needs nicely.
Question #6: All the talk is that Kari won’t come back, any idea about backup goaltending? which direction do you think the Stars will go: free agents or developed from within the organization? (submitted by @shinywhimsy)
Answer: The development is happening at the moment, but no player will be ready for next year in the Dallas Stars system. They will have to go the free agency or trade route.
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I made a slideshow of viable goaltending options on the free agent market that could fit the Stars’ needs about a week ago. Some of them are already leaning in the direction of certain teams, but there’s a chance Dallas could still be in on them. Jonathan Bernier and Carter Hutton are the top two options. But if the Stars go after Michael Hutchinson or Andrew Hammond, that could work too. It just depends on where Jim Nill is looking and how aggressive he gets.
Question #7: I know I’m a little late, but does Monty have a “type” of player he likes in his system? From his comments, he wants to pressure the puck in the D zone and “let his players make plays.” (submitted by @jtraviss09)
Answer: Montgomery is very insistent on playing a possessive and relentless style, so that’s the direction he will take the Dallas Stars.
And with that being said, it seems as though the younger guys that play with a lot of energy and have a finishing touch should with really well in his system. It’s hard to say considering we haven’t seen him coaching the team yet, but that’s a fair guess. He loves energy and consistency.
Question: #8: Is Montgomery a good fit with our team? Or should we have gotten Sheldon Keefe with his recent AHL championship? (submitted by Rishi Trikha)
Answer: I think he’s a great fit with the Dallas Stars. They needed to change up the pace and go with a younger option, but that could’ve been the same way with Keefe, too.
But Montgomery checks a lot of boxes for the Stars. He plays a possessive and relentless game and balances overpowering offense with solid defensive structure. And like I said in the last question, there’s not much to say until Montgomery and the Stars take the ice in 2018-19. But for now, he looks like an idea add and could be a long-term option for Dallas in the future. That’s the plan.
Question #9: How will Val fit into the lineup? The team has changed a little bit since he was here. (submitted by @JPBaker23)
Answer: The Dallas Stars have changed a significant amount since Valeri Nichushkin played his last NHL game in May 2016.
At the moment, his skills and role would likely fit well with the Stars in the bottom six. Filling him in at right wing on the third or fourth line seems like a good place to start. And if he shows a new skill set that he picked up in the KHL and can provide consistency, maybe Montgomery adds him into the top six.
But if Dallas doesn’t go after a right winger for their second line in free agency, that might indicate that they are ready to put Nichushkin in the top six.
Wow, what a mailbag. Those were some excellent questions. Thanks to all the Stars fans who submitted and I hope I was able to help clear the air. If you did not ask your question this time, look for another mailbag tweet in the next few weeks after the free agency frenzy has gone down and we have a better look at what the Stars will look like on opening night.
Next: Why The Stars Must Make A Big Splash This Offseason
Until then, keep a sharp eye out. Only a few hours before the offseason hits a new speed.