Dallas Stars: Five Players That Could Improve Under Jim Montgomery
The Dallas Stars hired Jim Montgomery to be their newest head coach in hopes that he can create a quick turnaround. And while his style should benefit the entire team, here are five particular players that could turn a corner this year.
It’s a difficult situation for any team when they go through three head coaches in three seasons. The Dallas Stars will get a firsthand look at this challenge when the 2018-19 season commences.
On April 13, 2018, Ken Hitchcock announced his retirement from coaching hockey in a letter. The announcement came as a bit of a shock, but the signs were clearly there for the Stars needing a change.
After seemingly bringing Hitchcock out of retirement in April 2017 to fill the void that Lindy Ruff had left after the Stars parted with their head coach of the previous four seasons, they looked destined to get back to their winning ways. A horrible 2016-17 performance that ended with a sub-.500 record and 79 points brought an end to Ruff’s time behind the Dallas bench.
But with the success that trailed Hitchcock in his long NHL coaching career (including a Stanley Cup championship with the Stars in 1999), things seemed to be going in the right direction.
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That feeling didn’t last long, though. After an average start to the year, Hitchcock found a way to build Dallas into one of the better teams in the league and had them competing for a top three spot in a loaded Central Division by the time March rolled around. But all of that hope dissipated as schemes and poor planning crumbled around the team, bringing them outside the playoff race for good.
And so, that was the end of Hitchcock’s time with Dallas and, consequently, in the NHL.
The reasoning behind the mutual parting was simple: the Dallas Stars have a talented and arguably well-suited roster to play past April and Hitchcock couldn’t get them there.
As a result, GM Jim Nill abandoned his former ways of hiring established veteran coaches and instead went with some fresh blood.
On May 4, 2018, the Stars announced the hiring of Jim Montgomery from the University of Denver. Though he is a veteran hockey coach, he’s never coached in an NHL game in any capacity. He will become just the fifth coach in history to jump directly from college to the NHL. That can be a scary thought at times, but Nill is banking on a new perspective behind the bench to turn the Stars’ misfortunes around and get his impressive lineup back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Montgomery’s perspective is definitely a unique one. For instance, much of his coaching career has involved fostering to players under the age of 22. That shines particularly bright when considering the youth movement that the Dallas Stars are pushing right now.
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In addition, he’s not holding true to coaching strategies that he used 15 years ago. He knows he’ll have to adapt, so he’s bringing a new look to the team and giving them a fresh scheme. Will it work? We’ll have to wait and see. But from looking at his history of coaching, it’s easy to see that winning and success follow him wherever he goes. He knows how to get the most out of his players, to put it plainly.
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But which players will he get the most out of on the 2018-19 Stars roster?
While the hope is obviously for Montgomery to maximize the potential and output of the entire team, there are a few players that might react better than others to a new system. For example, Tyler Seguin and John Klingberg were two players who took a sizable step forward in their own impressive careers under Hitchcock’s supervision last season. And while there’s no doubt that those players could and likely will reach new heights yet again next season, there are other players that could see a more sizable increase in production.
There are always growing pains with a new coach. But in some cases, certain players adapt quicker and easier and even thrive in a new system.
Which Stars might fall into that category? Here are five possible choices. There could be more or there could be less. But these seem like respectable options. Take a look.
1. Jason Spezza
The 2017-18 season wasn’t an ideal one for Jason Spezza. In fact, it was an absolute tire fire of a year, one that very few players of Spezza’s caliber ever experience in their careers.
When Spezza was traded by Ottawa to Dallas in the summer of 2014, the Stars had acquired one of the best centers in the game. He was still in the prime of his career and owned all of the skills of a superstar center. He had an accurate shot, won a solid majority of his face-offs, owned great puck-handling abilities, and was a great setup player for any offense, especially on the second line.
And in his first three seasons, those talents shone through. Spezza averaged almost 22 goals and over 58 points per year from 2014-17.
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But under Ken Hitchcock, his production hit a wall. The 35-year-old had his average ice time cut by over three minutes, was stretched throughout the lineup, and played heavily on the wings instead of at his natural position. He lost valuable minutes on the power play and was primarily paired with young forwards that lack the necessary scoring capabilities.
Now, part of the decline was on Spezza. He looked slower on the ice and his shooting percentage fell to 5.8 percent, the lowest of his career. Frustration settled into his play and contributed to his overall decline.
But Hitchcock did no favors in helping him adjust to a new, more defensive style. Spezza turned in some of the worst numbers of his 15-year career, scoring eight goals and tallying 26 points in 78 games. On exit interview day, he talked about how he still felt good physically and was ready for the seasons to come.
“I feel good physically,” said Spezza. “I played the whole year relatively injury-free right up until the end. I feel like I got a lot of good years left in me. Mentally, I love the game and I enjoy coming to the rink every day. It’s not a burden for me to practice or do anything. I’m optimistic about the future for me. I just have to learn from how things went this season and move forward, and that’s part of being a professional.”
He also talked about how he thinks that he needs more of a defined role in order to succeed. His roles varied greatly during the 2017-18 season, which could have contributed to his shortcoming.
But that shouldn’t happen in the 2018-19 season. In fact, Spezza should find a way to well surpass his ugly totals from last year.
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That’s because Montgomery is known for focusing on puck possession, offensive dominance, well-timed passes, and wearing down the opposition before finding an open shot.
Consequently, that’s how Jason Spezza plays his game. Of the Stars players that skated in more than 10 games last season, Spezza had the fourth-highest Corsi (possession) rating at 53.2 CF%. His game isn’t built on speed and quick transitions, but instead on possession and offensive playmaking.
Spezza will likely start the year on the second line at center, which is his natural position. He won 55.8 percent of his face-offs last season, so the results are still there. And considering Montgomery preaches using all four lines, he should get an extended opportunity both at even strength and on the power play.
It may seem unlikely after last season, but Spezza still has a lot left in the tank. He’s 35 years old, has a superstar career trailing him, but has yet to win a Stanley Cup. His window is closing quickly, so he needs to make the most of it.
As Montgomery said back in May, there’s a fire burning inside Spezza’s belly.
The love of puck possession that each side holds should give Dallas a revitalized Spezza that can fill a second line role nicely and put his offensive skills on full display.
He probably won’t be a 30-goal scorer or 60-point player, but if he claim the opportunity of playing bigger minutes and in the right situations, there’s no reason to doubt that Spezza couldn’t flirt with 25 goals and 50 points. Keep an eye out for no. 90 in the new system.
2. Julius Honka
Much like Jason Spezza’s situation, Julius Honka was treated as a bit of a castoff in the 2017-18 season. If he wasn’t, there wouldn’t have been fans chanting “Free Honka” and creating signs and hashtags for the movement.
It was a frustrating season for both Honka and the Stars fans that were eager to see him become a regular on defense.
After a respectable 16-game rookie campaign in 2016-17 that included one goal and five points along with some incredible possession numbers, he seemed like a lock to be in the starting roster on opening night 2017.
But he wasn’t. And as the season went on, it was clear that Honka was nothing more than a “last resort” of sorts to Ken Hitchcock and his defensive system. That was painful to watch for many Dallas fans.
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The problem was that Hitchcock has always built his defenses on size and physicality. His defenses tend to produce solid results, so it’s hard to argue with his theory. But that didn’t take away the disappointment that came with seeing Honka sitting in the press box on most nights.
By the time it was all said and done, the 22-year-old Finn had played in 42 games for the Dallas Stars. He had one goal and four points, even after having almost four minutes of average ice time subtracted from in his rookie year.
Honka’s down year disappointed all who were expecting him to be the first-round talent that they had expected so much from. But it’s not all doom and gloom.
On the bright side, he’s only been at the NHL level for less than two years. There is still plenty of time for Honka to grow, develop, and show off his natural talent. Fans have seen glimpses of Honka being a dominant offensive defenseman, but haven’t seen it at the NHL level enough.
That could change this year with Jim Montgomery’s scheme.
As we mentioned, Monty plays a possessive style of game that thrives on playing in the offensive zone. But what happens when they get in the defensive zone? Well, it’s a five-man effort, which is good. Once they force a turnover, though, the defenders are given a large role.
Under Hitchcock, the Dallas defensemen were expected to make an outlet pass from the defensive zone and let the forwards take it from there as they transitioned to an offensive attack.
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With Montgomery, however, small and smooth-skating defenders are given an opportunity to show off their speed and skating skills. That’s where players like Honka fit in.
Last year, Honka seemed to lose a lot of the confidence and determination he had showed in his rookie campaign. That’s because his skill set demands using his skating, speed, and puck-handling skills to his advantage. If he can carry the puck out of the defensive zone and even get it into the offensive zone to generate a chance, he should be able to do it.
Montgomery encourages that style of play from his defensemen. If the forecheck is heavy, making an outlet pass to a forward is the most sensible option. But if there is open space, the defender can take advantage of it.
Honka wants to be involved in the offensive push and doesn’t like being flat footed. He likes to be moving and making quick transitions as well as sustaining possession. The fact that Montgomery’s style thrives on that kind of play is a very good thing, at least for Honka’s sake. His third year should boast a significant “bounce back” vibe if he can pick up where he left off in his rookie year and continue showcasing his strengths. Just letting him play his style of game should pay dividends.
And speaking of small, young, puck-moving defenders…
3. Miro Heiskanen
The Dallas Stars also have Miro Heiskanen coming to their blue line.
As the no. 3 overall pick and first defenseman selected in the 2017 NHL Draft, the expectations are incredibly high for Heiskanen to be a talent and potential franchise player for the Dallas Stars.
And in his first year as a member of the organization, he didn’t disappoint by any means.
The 18-year-old returned to his home country for the 2017-18 season and competed with HIFK in Liiga (the top league in Finland). In 30 games, he scored 11 goals and tallied 23 points while also putting up an impressive +17 rating. His numbers in the postseason were just as good, with three goals and nine points in 14 games.
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If you read any of the scouting reports on Heiskanen, there’s barely ever a negative comment to go around. One of the only things he’s truly lacking is size (he’s 6’0, 170 lb.), but that’s not necessarily a requirement in today’s NHL and can be worked on through training.
But that’s about it. Heiskanen’s hockey IQ is off the charts for a guy who hasn’t even celebrated his 20th birthday and he has proven that he can compete and outdo players that are twice as old and experienced as him. He’s quick and smooth in his skating, has a lethally accurate shot, knows where to be on the ice at all times and can run an offense/power play and set up scoring chances. He sees the ice well and shows confidence in each of his moves and decisions.
And that’s why the Dallas Stars are bringing him to the NHL for the 2018-19 season. Heiskanen looks like one of, if not the top defensive prospect in the NHL right now. And yes, that even rivals Rasmus Dahlin. He’s a confident skater that thrives in the offensive zone and skating in transition along with playing a strong possession game and being just plain crafty.
So, like Honka, he should fit rather well in Jim Montgomery’s scheme. It’s still uncertain how quickly Heiskanen will adapt to the pace and style of the NHL considering he will be a rookie. But once he gets his feet wet and gets acquainted, he should have no trouble putting together an impressive campaign that will set the stage for a big future.
Stay tuned.
4. Brett Ritchie
The 2016-17 season was a breakout year for Brett Ritchie in his first full season with the Dallas Stars. The 2011 second-round pick had spent the previous few seasons tearing it up in the AHL and had received some chances at the NHL level, but nothing extensive.
In 2016-17, that all changed. Ritchie skated in 78 games for Dallas, scoring 16 goals and tallying 24 points along with a +11 rating and 153 hits. When you consider that he skated for an average of 12:54 per game, those numbers look really good for a 23-year-old. They were also good enough to earn Ritchie a new contract in the offseason.
But in 2017-18, that hype died out. Going into the year, Ritchie was viewed as a potential member of the Stars’ top six. His size and scoring capabilities helped work him into that spot.
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Things didn’t pan out, though. Ritchie suffered through his fair share of hitting posts and putting shots over the net. His production dropped and so did his ice time as a result. He was scaled throughout the lineup and put on different lines in an attempt to revamp his scoring, but it only pinned him further back.
The sad thing is that Ritchie has the tools to be a significant asset for the Dallas Stars. He has the potential to be a middle-six asset on the Dallas offense as well as a depth option on the power play.
His tools include an impressive 6’3, 217 lb. frame that he uses in all three zones. He’s a gritty winger that can get deep in the offensive zone, cause traffic in front of the net, and put home pucks with a fairly accurate shot.
And with Montgomery, he should get that chance.
Under Hitchcock, a lot of the offensive production came from centers like Tyler Seguin and Radek Faksa. Some of the wingers had opportunities as well, but it wasn’t like that throughout the entire lineup.
Montgomery wants his forwards playing aggressive with the puck and forcing offensive pressure. Ritchie is a big body and protects the puck well. Giving him the chance to stay mobile in the offensive zone while a chance develops and potentially use his physicality on the forecheck when trying to potentially regain possession sounds like a terrific usage of Ritchie’s strengths.
Ritchie is a winger with talent, but still has some rough edges that need to be smoothed over. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that he can still be a valuable member of the Dallas lineup at even strength and on the power play.
If Monty wants to play a relentless style and turn it into offensive dominance, Ritchie should be a go-to guy to send over the boards.
5. Valeri Nichushkin
To close out this list, we’ll talk about another big right winger.
Valeri Nichushkin will almost be like a new acquisition the Dallas Stars this season. Sure, he was drafted by the organization and spent the first three seasons of his pro career in Victory Green. But ever since he returned to Russia for a two-year stint in the KHL after being unable to negotiate a new contract with the Stars, things have changed.
For starters, there are only seven or eight players still on the Dallas roster that Nichushkin played with in 2016. Times change and Nill is always making moves. On top of that, the current Dallas Stars have just been through a vastly different coaching experience than Nichushkin was used to when in the NHL. They were taught different skills using different methods and given a new style.
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And to close it out, the word on the street is that Nichushkin has grown and further developed his own play. As a result, the Stars are expecting to get a smarter and more matured version of the winger.
It’s an interesting scenario, but one that should pay off for the Dallas Stars. After all, they are getting back their former first-round pick on a two-year deal and he’s only 23 years old. He’s also 6’4 and 205 lb. and will be one of the biggest wingers in the Dallas lineup.
That’s why Montgomery needs to find a way to capitalize with him.
Like Ritchie, Nichushkin possesses impressive size for a forward and has powerful skating to go along with it. He’s a tough winger that can get physical at times and cause turnovers using his size.
In addition, no. 43 also boasts impressive puck possession skills and combines those with his skating. Puck protection was an issue at times for the big winger in his first few years at the NHL level, but there’s a chance that he improved on that skill among others while in the KHL.
His skills seem to fit Montgomery’s scheme perfectly. Nichushkin is a bear in the offensive zone and is a pretty smart player with and without the puck. He can also play all throughout the lineup and play a depth role on the power play. All he has to do is show some more consistency and a bit sharper hockey IQ that wasn’t present in his first stint with the Stars.
Jim Montgomery has a tall task ahead of him in the 2018-19 season. The expectations are set incredibly high for a first-year coach with no NHL experience, but that’s the situation for the Dallas Stars.
Luckily, Montgomery looks and sounds as though he’s ready for the challenge. His roster is stacked and has the potential to take a big step up. These five players could be just the beginning.
Next. July 1 Moves Give Stars A Chance To Adapt Properly. dark
No more of Ruff’s high-risk offense or Hitchcock’s defensive mindset. It’s time for another new era of Dallas Stars hockey. We’ll see if it’s the right one.