Dallas Stars Must Set Focus In Final Month Of 2018 Offseason

In one month, the Dallas Stars will usher in another new era as they begin their 2018-19 regular season campaign. And in the next 30 days, it will be up to them to focus in and set their sights for the year ahead.

A lot can happen in one month. Need proof? Let’s rewind to March of 2018 and take a look at the Dallas Stars.

The month of March served as the ultimate and unfortunate undoing of five months of progress for the Stars. After starting off their 2017-18 campaign on a shaky note while also trying to usher in another new era of Dallas hockey, the Stars hit a hot streak. From late November to late February, they looked like one of the best teams in the NHL.

And then March rolled around. With the arrival of the final full month of the regular season, the wheels fell off completely for Dallas. The Stars endured an almost unimaginable 0-6-2 skid and watched as the rest of the Central division and Western Conference passed them up. They fell from third in the Central down to the West cellar, missing the playoffs for the third time in the past four seasons.

Once again, things simply didn’t work out. Even after bringing in a new head coach and “winning the offseason” by signing a number of talented additions, the Stars couldn’t get things to click in the right place. And, as a result, they entered yet another early offseason awaiting more change.

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That offseason, whether you’ve seen it as fast or slow, is rapidly approaching its end. As the month of September enters into full swing and August disappears, hockey season is on the horizon. Prospect tournaments, training camp, and the preseason are all slated to commence over the next two weeks, creating a proper buildup to the beginning of the regular season.

Today is the one-month mark between the Dallas Stars and opening night. The Stars will welcome the Arizona Coyotes to Dallas on Oct. 4 for game one and spend it trying to acclimate to a new style, lineup, and outlook.

It won’t be an overnight transition, though. Whenever a new coach is brought in (especially one with no prior NHL coaching experience), there is a growing process that must occur. In 2013, the Stars started out slow under new coach Lindy Ruff before picking up speed. In 2017, they were riding the .500 line until mid-November with Ken Hitchcock behind the bench.

With new players filling in the lineup to replace those that departed in the offseason and Jim Montgomery preaching a new strategy, there will certainly be a need for time to adapt. How long will that take? It’s uncertain at this point.

But that’s why this next month is so critical.

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The final 30 days separating the Dallas Stars from their season opener gives them an opportunity. That opportunity has to do with setting their focus and vision for the year ahead.

It’s imperative that the team knows where their new head coach is coming from. But it’s also important to set some goals and objectives that they want to compete in 2018-19. And that goes well beyond winning the Stanley Cup.

This is another new era of Dallas Stars hockey that we are talking about. It involves new coaching, new schemes, and new situations. In addition, it also carries some big storylines like the lingering Tyler Seguin extension and the Stars’ need to avoid going three straight years without playoff action.

There’s a lot riding on this 2018-19 campaign, and that’s why this next month is important.

Through training camp and the preseason, it’s up to Jim Montgomery and the rest of the team to set their goals for the year. It could involve any number of things, but Dallas must be on the same page.

This month will give the Stars a decent sampling size to see where they are at. It will be a dress rehearsal, giving them a chance to work through some substantial changes and decisions and see what it looks like when it’s all put together. It’s imperative that they don’t waste any of the time given.

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As players begin to arrive back in Dallas and get on the ice together, there’s a feeling of excitement. But there’s also a feeling of unfinished business.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to put the skates back on,” said Stephen Johns back in June. “We have a big fire in our bellies right now and I think we’re all really excited to get back in camp and get back together.”

That feeling cannot be taken too lightly or heavily. The Dallas Stars know where they stand and know what they are up against. It looks as though it will be their toughest road through the Central division since realignment in 2013. With that being said, they must be structured and focused. That all begins in the month ahead.

It’s been a long road from April 7 to now and the Stars have changed a great deal since then. But that change has to be met head-on with focus and adaptation so the entire team can be on the same page for the year. Otherwise, they might not get off the ground before it’s too late.

One month remains between the Dallas Stars and yet another new journey. If they can spend that month wisely by creating their outlook, the 2018-19 year just might be a special one.