Early Returns: 3 Players Impacted Most by DeBoer’s System Changes
3 Players Impacted by DeBoer System Changes: Dessert, Tyler Seguin
The sweetest and most validating of resurgences lies at the feet of the most expensive player on the roster, Tyler Seguin. “He hasn’t been healthy the past two seasons,” we all spoke through gritted teeth with dampened brows, staring down the barrel of a $9.85 million AAV for the next 5 years. I’m being sheepishly facetious, of course, but a healthy Seguin has benefitted from the faster play and open space that his game demands since the years prior to Bowness’ tightening the leash on every line below the first.
Turns out the best way to get depth scoring is to allow your depth players to score, letting things breathe. While this concept may be foreign to some coaches, DeBoer is proving that he knew what he was talking about when speaking on “unlocking the offensive potential” of this team’s key players.
Through 10% of the season, Seguin has served up the second most assists on the team while peppering 2+ shots on net each game. Close to a point per game, Tyler’s newfound chemistry with offseason acquisition Mason Marchment has brought forth a second layer of scoring that has long been absent from this team.
Beyond that, Seguin’s power play positioning has made it possible for Wyatt Johnston to play with a bit more space and cement his position as a lineup regular despite his youth. To top it off, Dellandrea has come into his own right on Seguin’s right side and completed the trio of fresh face facilitation that Seguin’s veteran presence is positively impacting.
When Seguin can play his game naturally, his production goes beyond his individual accolades. Aiding in the integration of Mush, Delly, and Johnny into the lineup holds more value than Corsi or Fenwick can quantify. Quite frankly, the ability to shorten their learning curve makes up and possibly surpasses, the value lost by any forwards that departed the team from last season. I would love for Seguin to keep up the scoring pace that he’s shown to get this season started, but the winning we’ve seen as a result of his play silences any calls for extra effort from those watching through a screen or from the stands.
Resurgence: A Dish Best Served Hot
Each of these players symbolizes a sample of the different ways DeBoer is driving better results from a roster that saw relatively little turnover. Kivi is the face of the depth grinders filling the gaps on the lower half of the roster that can elevate their game in a faster-paced system. Nils shows how the fundamentals of the team’s defensive mindset allow us to maximize our backend talent without sacrificing defensively. The old goat Tyler Seguin shows the return to form that past Stars are exhibiting with a more trusting, cohesive attack from end to end. The proof is in the pudding that the early season success is more than just a flash in Chef DeBoer’s pan.