Dallas Stars: A total shakeup to rectify Stars struggles.
Following a 4-3 shootout loss to Winnipeg, the Dallas Stars are 3-4-2. That record is not exactly what I would call following through on the offseason moves meant to move us back into contention. This record is especially daunting when you consider the fact that exactly 0 of those wins came in regulation. The issue at hand is that the Stars are basically a free point for any team on the schedule right now. The peak of the Stars struggles would have to be losing 4-1 to a Senators team. The same Senators who turned around and lost 5-1 to an abysmal Chicago Blackhawks team, giving them their first win of the season. The Dallas Star’s struggles so far can be attributed to leadership, from top to bottom. Jim Nill’s inability to guide from the top, Rick Bowness’ favoritism and old school style, and the team leaders failing their teammates
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 23: Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning meets with Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Dallas Stars Issues: Jim Nill’s inability to guide from the top
Since becoming the General Manager of the Dallas Stars in 2013, the Stars have made the playoffs 4 times. (’14, ’16, ’19, and ’20) while also having some of the oldest coaches in the league with Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock, and now Rick Bowness. The signing of Ken Hitchcock was a beautiful setup for Jim Montgomery as the Lindy Ruff era had the Stars averaging roughly 3 goals per game but felt like they gave up 4 per game that they lost. Hitchcock came in to establish a Defense, bringing the average down under 3 goals against. Enter Jim Montgomery the following year, who in his first season in the NHL brought the goals against average down to 2.44 while leading Dallas back into the playoffs. This year under Bowness it’s back up to 2.78 while goals for is down to 1.89. Jim Nill, like the coaches he tends to employ, is playing a game that no longer exists. These are no longer the days of the Russian Five that Nill helped create. We adapt or we go extinct. The Stars seem to be going the way of extinction. If we want to avoid that, Nill needs to bring in a new head coach who understands the nuance of today’s game.
Dallas Stars Issues: Rick Bowness’ favoritism and old-school style.
Rick Bowness is an old-school coach and the longest-tenured in the league. Spanning 5 decades, his record leaves much to be desired. A career win percentage of .362 with 2 playoff appearances as head coach will tell the tale. While he may have taken both teams deep into the playoffs, Bowness was riding the coattails of coaches that came before him. Boston lost the cup two years prior and lost the conference finals the year before he took the helm. In Dallas, Bowness took over a team that lost in 2OT to the St. Louis Blues who would go on to win the Stanley Cup just one year prior. During the Stanley Cup Finals against Tampa Bay, Bowness really brought his style of play onto the table. Bowness is a dump and chase coach, which is problematic for an injury-ridden team facing a goalie who can play the puck like a 6th skater in Andrei Vasilevskiy. This style of play only leads to offensive chances for the lightning and subsequently, goals scored against. To this day, the dump and chase style of play is prevalent in Bowness’ coaching scheme. It didn’t work then, it doesn’t work now.
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Rick Bowness is a players coach and that works great as an assistant, but being a players coach leads to favoritism amongst the players he’s been around the most. Having worked alongside Ben Bishop in Tampa Bay, you could see how that affected his decisions in pulling Bishop Vs Anton Khudobin, allowing Bishop to dig too far into a hole before trying to remedy the situation. Your Head Coach isn’t meant to be your friend, he’s meant to push you further than you’ve ever gone and shown you just who you can be. Bowness shows that he’d rather be your friend. He is a key contributor in the Stars struggles this season. The stats just go to show he is not Head Coach material. If the Stars want to grow and get out of this slump, they need a new coach with new schemes to match the players coming in.
Dallas Stars Issues: Team leaders failing their teammates
When Dallas Stars Captain Jamie Benn first took the “C” in 2013 he was a young, tough, 5 tool player that would become a top winger in the NHL. Jamie Benn encapsulated the “whatever my team needs” mentality that a Captain has to have. Being a power forward archetype, however, is a grueling task that wears the body down. This is an explanation for what we’ve seen as of late. Benn seems almost passive on the ice, like he doesn’t know how he can find the skill he once had. His play, and subsequently his teammates play has suffered for it. Jamie Benn can still be an asset for this team, he could even wear the “A” for a while, but his days with the “C” should be numbered. The time has come for someone else to take the mantle. We should always be grateful for what Benn has done during his time as Captain, he is one of the best in Stars history. A new Captain, however, would inject life into this team. Losing the “C” would also take the burden off of Jamie and let him play his game again.
The Stars also have an issue with having road and home Alternates, which should be done away with expeditiously. The Stars need consistency in their leadership, which will come with a changing of the guard. There are plenty of eager younger players and some Vets with gas in the tank that will compose the leadership core they need to push for excellence game in and game out. Miro Heiskanen being solidified with his new contract as the future of this organization could step into that role soon, Esa Lindell’s calming presence on the PK as he enters the prime of his career could be an option as well. If the Stars can put these into motion, it could be what shakes the team up and allows our players to get back on track for a deep playoff run. The Stars have their struggles, but they’re always resilient and can bounce back given the proper nudge.