Dallas Stars: Five Things To Watch In 2018 Training Camp

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Head coach of the Dallas Stars Jim Montgomery chats prior to the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. It’s Monty Time

The Dallas Stars hired their third head coach in 13 months this past May. That’s not a good streak for any professional sports team to carry.

But with the hiring, the Stars feel as though they have finally found a solution and have their head coach of the future. That head coach is Jim Montgomery.

Fresh off of a five-year stint with the Denver University Pioneers that included a few trips to the Frozen Four and a national championship, Montgomery will step into his first NHL coaching gig this season. And in year one, he will try to turn around the Stars’ recent misfortunes and spark the team back into the postseason. That’s a pretty tall task for a guy with no NHL coaching experience.

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But Montgomery sounds eager and ready to make a quick impact. His relentless style that thrives on puck possession and offensive dominance should suit the Stars well. On top of that, the roster is currently well-stocked and equipped to adapt to Monty’s ideas.

These next three days will be his first opportunity to get on the ice with his entire team. Now, there may be 30 or so extra players that he won’t see in Dallas this season, but the rest of the players are all there. This is his first chance to skate with the entire team, survey the entire team, and begin building chemistry with the entire team.

It will also be the team’s first chance at playing according to Montgomery’s style and scheme. Players will get their first taste of what Montgomery wants and how he expects the team to skate and compete.

Training camp will be a first opportunity to see what the Jim Montgomery Era could look like. Will that be a good look? We’ll see starting today.

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