Dallas Stars: Ranking Each Of Their Major 2018 Offseason Signings

The Dallas Stars avoided spending big in the 2018 offseason but still made some noteworthy additions. How does each one rank in terms of the significance they could potentially play with the team this year?

It’s tough trying to imagine the Dallas Stars not being at the center of offseason and free agency action.

Ever since Jim Nill took over as general manager in 2013, the Stars have been at the center of the NHL universe when it comes to offseason acquisitions and blockbuster deals. Whether it’s Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Antti Niemi, Patrick Sharp, or Alexander Radulov, Nill has built up an extravagant list of talent over the years.

Those significant changes bring sizably new lineups and outlooks with each passing season. And while that can sometimes result in a significant upside, it can also come with a certain amount of growing pains.

The last few years have brought about an inordinate amount of growing pains. In 2016-17, the Stars had to adjust after losing some of their regular starters and staying quiet on the acquisition front.

In this previous season, Dallas once again had to adjust to a brand new setup. With a new head coach, new starting goaltender, and new players throughout the lineup, another shift occurred. And while it looked promising for a while, it didn’t last. The Stars slipped up in the final month of the season and once again saw their offseason plans bottom out.

So, as they approached the drawing board in the beginning of the 2018 offseason, Nill took a bit of a different turn. Instead of taking the lack of playoffs as a sign to do another overhaul, he sat back and took a deeper look at his team. He added a new head coach in Jim Montgomery that should complement the Dallas lineup rather nicely and spent his first day of free agency in a somewhat conservative manner.

While he did spend close to ten million dollars on free agents, none of them were necessarily “blockbusters.” The Dallas Stars signed forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Blake Comeau, defenseman Roman Polak, and goaltender Anton Khudobin to add to their NHL roster in preparation for the 2018-19 season.

That left a lot of Stars fans confused, especially after the typical trend that the team follows after missing the postseason.

But now that the offseason is just about over and the Dallas Stars don’t seem as though they will be pulling the trigger on any other acquisitions, it puts things into perspective. Was this offseason a way for Nill to show his confidence in his current roster? By only adding minor pieces that should potentially “round out” the roster, is he under the impression that his team is ready to compete as is?

There’s a debate to be had in both directions. But the four major additions in the 2018 offseason might end up playing rather significant roles in terms of determining how successful the Stars are this year.

So, how influential will each signing be to the team ‘s success this season? Let’s try and rank each of the four.

1. Valeri Nichushkin

As funny as it may seem, the player that will likely play the most influential role of all newcomers for the Dallas Stars this season isn’t even a true newcomer.

Just a little over two years ago, Valeri Nichushkin was skating in game seven of the Western Conference Semifinals as a member of the Dallas Stars. And at the time, there was no thought of him leaving the NHL to return to Russia, especially considering he was only 21 at the time.

But that’s what happened. After three seasons with Dallas, Nichushkin became an RFA and was unable to come to terms on a new contract with the team. As a result, he signed a two-year deal in the KHL and left the Stars just weeks before the start of the 2016-17 season. And while he wasn’t one of the team’s superstar players, he was definitely missed in the offensive ranks. It’s also never easy watching one of your first-round picks voluntarily leave the team.

Nichushkin returned to Russia and played two years in an effort to further develop his skills and prove his value to the Stars organization.

It seems to have worked. After months of reports and rumors, Nichushkin officially signed a two-year deal with Dallas on July 1. The deal carries an AAV of $2.95 million and ended up being the Stars’ biggest acquisition cost-wise on the opening day of free agency.

So why should things be any different? When Nichushkin played his first stint with Dallas, injuries and inconsistencies contributed to the young winger falling from a productive rookie season into a serious funk. Is he really going to be any better?

He very well should be, and the Dallas Stars are counting on that happening.

The reason Nichushkin will have such a significant impact on the Stars’ success this year is because he was brought in to fill the team’s biggest hole from the 2017-18 season.

After avoiding any big name acquisitions though trade or free agency throughout July, the assumption is that Nichushkin will slot in as the right winger on the second line to start the season. That’s where some of the Dallas Stars’ biggest question marks lie going into next year.

Last season, the second line became a liability for Dallas. While their first line was dominant and their bottom six did alright, their second line lacked the necessary talent and production that teams need in order to be successful. As a result, their offense stalled down the stretch and turned into a primary factor in Dallas missing the postseason.

Many thought that Nill would go out and land a superstar player to slot in the top six in free agency, but he settled instead with bringing Nichushkin back.

That’s definitely a high risk, but could also come with a high reward. In Jim Montgomery’s new scheme and with a more developed Nichushkin, the Stars’ second line could be in good hands. But a lot will rely on how quickly Nichushkin can acclimate back to NHL play and familiarize himself with his teammates and with the new system.

“Val’s a top-10 pick in the NHL, played in the NHL when he was 18, and was a very effective player,” Nill said shortly after making the signing official on July 1. “He missed one full year because of hip surgery and because of that, he probably had a little bit of a frustrating, slow start to the next year. And then, unfortunately, because of contract situation or wanting to go play back home, he did that.

“But he’s a player. He’s been playing on the Russian national team, which is one of the top teams in the world. We’re getting a better player back and he’s excited to be coming back. He’s 6’4, he can skate, and he’s a bull on the puck. So, we’re looking forward to his addition.”

Though there’s an argument for a few of the new players, Nichushkin is probably the team’s most important offseason acquisition. He will play a significant role in helping get the offense back on track. The real question is whether he will be able to follow through.

3. Blake Comeau

When the announcement first broke that the Dallas Stars had signed Blake Comeau to a three-year deal, it came with a fair amount of skepticism.

For one, the expectation was for Dallas to bring in a big name as they always seem to do. Comeau’s known more as a depth forward that can use his size and scoring instincts to serve as a solid option for the bottom nine.

In addition, it was also weird seeing the team sign him for three years. At the age of 32, Comeau isn’t necessarily in the prime of his career. But he still earned the longest term of any of the Stars’ free agent additions.

And finally, seeing Comeau on the roster for the next three years raises some question marks about the Stars’ prospect pool. After all, if Dallas keeps filling their holes with veteran free agents, how will the young players ever get a chance to break into the lineup and earn a full-time spot?

But there’s a good reason why the Dallas Stars signed Comeau. The Stars brought Comeau in to give them two things that they lack in their offensive depth: leadership and flexibility.

When looking at the projected starting offense for Dallas, one thing stands out about their bottom six: it’s a predominantly young group. Not many of their starters have more than two or three full years of NHL experience and that brings a bit of a learning curve with it.

That’s one area where Comeau will be able to step in. Being a veteran leader and depth player for the Dallas offense should give them a sizable advantage when trying to flex all four lines in a game.

But he should also give the team a fair amount of flexibility when crafting the offensive attack. Comeau can play both wing positions on offense, is a talented penalty killer, and can play both as a scorer or as a grinder, depending on the situation.

That should give Jim Montgomery a fair amount of flexibility when crafting his lineup. He could virtually stick Comeau on either wing on any of the four lines. Whether he needs Comeau scoring in the top six or playing a physical, “wear down” style in the bottom six, he can check most of the boxes. That level of flexibility could be a major key in generating and balancing out the offense.

“He’s a great veteran presence,” Nill said of Comeau on July 1. “He’s had a strong career and has done a good job in Colorado the past couple years and played well against us. He’s a very versatile player. You can play him first line, play him on third line, left side or right side. I like the veteran presence in the dressing room.”

Comeau may not seem like the most necessary option for the Dallas Stars to bring in, but his presence should benefit both their offense and special teams.

4. Roman Polak

And finally, we have defenseman Roman Polak. But just because he’s ranked fourth on the list doesn’t mean he won’t turn into a worthwhile addition.

Of all of the Dallas Stars’ 2018 offseason additions, the signing of Roman Polak definitely raised the most eyebrows.

After putting together a impressive turnaround in the 2017-18 season and turning into one of the best groups in the NHL, the Dallas defense looked set for the future. A young core brimming with talent mixed with financial stability had the Stars blue line looking bright for 2018-19 and the many years to follow.

But then they brought in 32-year-old Roman Polak. And while the move wasn’t a burden on their cap space considering he’s only signed for one year at $1.3 million, it was still uncertain as to why they made the move.

With Esa Lindell, John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen, Stephen Johns, Marc Methot, Julius Honka, and Dillon Heatherington as a seventh option, the Dallas defense looked set and ready for the season ahead as they entered the 2018 offseason.

So why add a big-bodied, veteran depth defender to the mix? Well, because he’s a big-bodied, veteran depth defender.

While it is promising to see all of the skill and talent that the Dallas defense possesses, it’s important to remember that they are still young. And whether you know it or not, veteran leadership in the locker room and on the ice pays dividends in hockey.

Polak will be the second-oldest member of the Stars defense this season and will therefore have an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the group around him.

In his 12-year NHL career, Polak has thrived on being a stay-at-home style of defender, using his size and smarts to disrupt offensive attacks and turn the play back around. He’s a big body at 6-2, 235 lb. and can be a physical presence when prompted. He’s not known for being an offensive asset and has a bit of an injury history. But he plays with confidence and intelligence, and that usually gets him far.

His value to the Dallas Stars lineup is that he can fill in for certain situations on a game-by-game basis. If the Stars need a bigger guy to give them an extra dose of physicality in a contest, Polak can be that guy. In addition, they also have him to use as a blue line leader in the locker room.

At the same time, though, he’s also projected to be the seventh defender throughout the season. He’ll likely only play in a handful of games for Dallas this year, but should be an asset whenever the Stars call on him.

“You look at our defense,” said Nill on July 1. “We’ve got the Honkas, the Heiskanens, the Klingbergs. It’s nice that he’s a big, heavy body and he’s got great experience and just brings another veteran presence to our dressing room.”

The Dallas Stars made a handful of seemingly insignificant additions to their roster in the 2018 offseason. In all actuality, however, the moves should benefit the Stars lineup and help them further round out their roster.

We’ll see how things pan out by the time October rolls around.