Dallas Stars: What A Team Without Antoine Roussel Could Look Like
It’s hard to imagine a Dallas Stars team without Antoine Roussel. But after this offseason, we’re all going to have to get a bit more imaginative.
Summer is never a calm or silent time for the Dallas Stars, but over the years, we’ve gotten accustomed to having more things to celebrate than things to mourn.
Well, the story of the Stars’ 2018 offseason so far has been a bit different than the ones we’re used to. While the Stars have been busy bringing in new names early on in their free agent dealings, they’ve also let a few go early on that, regardless of their back story, came as a bit of a shock.
And if you don’t know by now, then spoiler alert (and maybe pay better attention), but Antoine Roussel is no longer a Dallas Star. The issue of Roussel has been one that has divided Stars fans at times, on par with warring opinions about Valeri Nichushkin and even Jordie Benn.
But one can’t argue with the fact that Roussel provided a cornerstone for his team for many years, and was never one to sit down and give up. Now, he’ll be putting in that effort for the Vancouver Canucks.
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For those of us who are on the side of the spectrum that is still upset and reeling from this loss, it’s hard to imagine a Dallas Stars team sans Roussel. In a lot of ways, he was the last player who really fit the bill of agitator for the Stars.
In this end, this may have been one of the things that led to his departure. The NHL is getting faster all the time, and the new speed of the game has coaches leaning away from straight bulk and intimidation and more toward a streamlined, skating-focused approach.
Considering that the Stars’ new coach, Jim Montgomery, is coming up from college level and taking what he’s told the media so far at face value, he is most likely planning on taking the Stars in the speed direction.
We can’t argue with the fact that the Dallas Stars play their best game when they play with speed. So no one can fault the staff for wanting to change things up, especially when it means bringing the Stars up to par to have a chance at winning in a changing league.
But, back to the perspectives of those of us who are still a little shell-shocked. While Roussel did put up his worst career stats yet last season (but hey, with the season the Stars had, I️ can hardly blame him), he has brought more than goals and assists to Dallas since day one.
In a lot of ways, Roussel has been a morale player. The one who steps up to defend his teammates and let opponents know that there will be consequences for any of their less than satisfactory decisions. In fact, a lot of the memorable moments Roussel leaves Stars fans with have to do with fights initiated as retribution of some sort.
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Will the Dallas Stars without Antoine Roussel see fewer fights? Well, yes and no. The Dallas Stars fight less during seasons that end in playoff runs. In the 2015-2016 season, they tallied 21 fights during the regular season, and in 2013-2014, they totaled 25. Compare that to the frustrating and haunting 16-17 season, which ended with 36 total fights. However, the Stars scraped by the 17-18 season, arguably not one of their best either, with a total of 27 fights.
Which one of those doesn’t seem to belong? If you picked this past season’s numbers, then you’d be right. The Stars fought less last season in comparison to their trends in past seasons. One reason for this could be the decline of the rough and tumble style of hockey that had served them well in the past. But regardless of the reason, it’s clear that perhaps the special spot that Roussel had carved out for himself with the Stars has been inching closer to becoming null and void long before this offseason.
So a Dallas Stars team without Antoine Roussel will most likely be one that fights less. He’s been the Stars’ fight leader on and off (although remaining high in the standings) since joining the Stars in 2012. Add to that the fact that the kid who has been his close second for several seasons, Curtis McKenzie, is now gone as well, and the equation equals out to less fighting.
But the equation was heading to that answer on its own, with or without the heartbreak of seeing Roussel trade in his victory green. The cold, hard truth is that the Dallas Stars are looking to break out of a losing culture, and are turning over every stone in order to do it.
One of the chief things this means for Dallas is redefining their style and identity as a team. It was Ken Hitchcock’s goal to get them back to the glory days of the 15-16 season, which was one of their speediest skating years yet. With that goal unrecognized as of yet, we can bet Dallas will be looking for different routes to the same destination.
Next: Antoine Roussel's Greatest Moments With The Stars
And although that means losing a part of the team that many of us have come to know and love and see as synonymous with the Big D, that’s oftentimes the price of victory. What is it they say- no pain, no gain? Well, we’ll have to wait and see if the end gain is worth the current pain.