Dallas Stars: Cap Space On Defense A Sizable Asset Moving Forward

The Dallas Stars have one of the younger and more talented defensive groups in the NHL right now. And when you look at the blue line’s cap situation for the immediate future, the promise and potential grows all the more.

Not long ago, the Dallas Stars had some serious issues on defense.

When Jim Nill took over as general manager of the team in 2013, there were plenty of problems with the roster that needed fixing. The offense didn’t have impressive balance at the center position nor did it have many long-term scoring assets. And in goal, the team was in the beginning stages of what would end up being an eight-year span of trying to find a capable backup goaltender. In addition, they also needed a new head coach that could get them out of their skid and back into the postseason.

But their defense boasted some of the largest issues. The Stars played a majority of the 2013-14 season with six left-handed defensemen in the lineup. They ended up using 12 different skaters on the blue line that season. And of the 12 skaters used, none were necessarily in an “ideal” situation.

Alex Goligoski and Trevor Daley were quality assets, but neither were seen as “franchise” defenders. Sergei Gonchar was quickly approaching retirement. Brenden Dillon and Jordie Benn were still in the process of getting their NHL careers in motion. Stephane Robidas had been a valuable member (and the only right-handed defender in the lineup), but was 36 and fell victim to a long-term injury in Nov. 2013. Aaron Rome was Aaron Rome. And finally, Kevin Connauton and Cameron Gaunce were trying to establish themselves as regulars on the Dallas roster.

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It wasn’t an ideal setup and there was a lot to fix, but somehow they made it work enough that year to get the Dallas Stars back into the postseason.

But the blue line’s longevity didn’t last. In 2014-15, the Stars posted the fifth-worst goals against average in the NHL (26th overall). Even in the exciting 2015-16 season where Dallas finished first in the Western Conference, the defense finished 19th overall in GA/GP with a 2.78. 2016-17 was an off year for the entire team, but the back end was the primary culprit, finishing 29th in the league in GA/GP even though they finished 12th in shots against per game.

Though the defense endured through some tough times, it was hard to believe that there wasn’t some type of light at the end of the tunnel. Nill continued to express his belief in the young defensive group and continually made moves to improve it. And though it seemed like the blue line was headed for a dead end, signs of success finally appeared in the 2017-18 season.

Under the supervision of new head coach and defensive guru Ken Hitchcock, the Dallas Stars defense jumped from 29th in 2016-17 to seventh overall in 2017-18 in GA/GP. They gave up the fourth-least shots against per game and improved across the board. There were less high-danger chances against, each pairing boasted consistent balance, and Hitchcock’s ideas and theories took hold of the group.

And now in the 2018 offseason, the Stars’ defensive future looks brighter than ever.

Dallas has done an outstanding job at developing young defensive prospects and preparing them for NHL play. They have a proven franchise defenseman in John Klingberg and another one potentially in the making with Miro Heiskanen. Esa Lindell had an outstanding sophomore season at the NHL level and offers a terrific two-way approach. Stephen Johns hit full stride in 2017-18 after a rough 2016-17 season and contributed heavily on both defense and offense. Julius Honka didn’t get much of an opportunity in 2017-18 but still offers plenty of potential. And Marc Methot and Roman Polak should be the veteran glue that holds it all together.

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It’s a young and aggressive bunch that boasts terrific balance throughout the lineup and has set a high ceiling for themselves. Promising times seem to be in store for the Dallas Stars blue line. And when you look at the cap space for their defense, it somehow gets even better.

Right now, the Stars have $15,863,333 of cap space spent on their defense, according to CapFriendly. After factoring in Miro Heiskanen who will likely be in the NHL for game one next year, the number jumps slightly to $16,757,499. That’s spent on seven players, which effectively rounds out the Stars’ defensive lineup for opening night.

As you scroll through CapFriendly, there are only three other teams in the NHL that spend less than the Stars on defense. They are the Ottawa Senators (who finished 30th in GA/GP this past year), Philadelphia Flyers (who finished 14th), and the Vegas Golden Knights (who finished eighth). All three teams finished lower than the Stars in GAA. And though there are still different moves that each team will likely make before the season starts, it’s a fairly accurate estimate for each team’s spending breakdown.

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In other words, the Dallas Stars have it good for a team that finished seventh in GA/GP last year. And while they did lose two of their starters in free agency, they are replacing them with younger players that could potentially boast even higher ceilings. That’s impressive.

But it’s not just for this year, either. With the way the Stars’ cap space breaks down on defense, they look to be set up nicely for at least the next few years.