NHL 2022 Offseason Guide: The Dallas Stars
I don’t like the Dallas Stars. Maybe I’m still hurting from the 2020 Game 7 playoff defeat or maybe I just dislike Jamie Benn that much that I immediately also dislike his teammates too. However, I respect the hell out of them and despite a round one defeat to the Calgary Flames in this year’s postseason, I have unwavering doubt this team will be back. How they get back to postseason is what I will look to cover in this offseason guide.
The Roster
Most of the pieces are there for the Dallas Stars thanks to the 2017 NHL Draft. With two picks in the first round, they chose defenseman Miro Heiskanen and goaltender Jake Oettinger, and with their first pick of the second round, they selected forward Jason Robertson. All three played a major part in the Stars’ season in 2021-22 and if the Stars do go on to win a cup with this core, that draft will be seen by many as the game-changer. Sure, you could have picked Stanley Cup Champion and Norris Trophy winner, Cale Makar, at third overall instead of Heiskanen, but no one’s perfect and at least you didn’t pick Nolan Patrick despite scouts telling you otherwise.
The main problem with this team is how are they going to transition from the old guard to the new guard? Robertson needs to be on Dallas’ top line next season despite what the team is paying Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn (which we’ll get to in a bit), and I would even push as hard as to say Heiskanen should have an ‘A’ on his vest. These are decisions awaiting new head coach Pete DeBoer as he prepares to take control after his off-season hire.
Team Needs
… to find another Buffalo Sabres for Seguin and Benn. The two forwards are combining for a cap hit of $19,350,000 AAV (however Seguin’s salary will be $13million … as revealed on the Steve Dangle podcast from the 8:05 mark) until Benn becomes a UFA in 2025. Last season they combined for 95 points. Jason Robertson, earning $795,000, put up 79 points. The old guard (minus Pavelski who has been amazing on that line with Hintz and Robertson) is handicapping the Stars going forward.
This may all be tied together but they also need scoring. They were the only team to make the playoffs with a negative goal differential and in the Central Division beat out only the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes in goals scored. That’s not the sort of company you want to be keeping right now.
Help is on the way in the form of Logan Stankoven. If you remember back to last year when I was speaking about who the Colorado Avalanche should take in the first round, his name came up. His shot is still lethal and he’s coming off a 104-point season in the WHL with 45 goals. It’s fair to say he’s done at that level and if not making the jump to the NHL should be at least talked about for an AHL role.
Cap Situation
A glance at the Dallas Stars cap space heading into the offseason would wrongfully convince you they were in good shape. A bit of deeper digging and all of a sudden you realize why trading a goaltender to the Buffalo Sabres was a must-do business by Jim Nill. As we said in the Sabres’ offseason guide, it was as obvious a cap dump as you could imagine. It meant the Stars went from having just under $15 million in space to just under $20 million. Why is this important!?!
Well, this offseason the Stars have John Klingberg, Alexander Radulov, and Scott Wedgewood as UFA’s to name but a few. However, more importantly they have Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger as RFA’s. Those two are getting paid. Robertson and his linemates Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski at times this regular season looked like the only combination capable of creating anything for the Stars. As for Oettinger, his playoff heroics against the Flames should bump up his contract significantly with talk of him taking over the number one spot next season. There are a few things I’m certain of in life. Robertson and Oettinger getting bank are one of them.
The Draft
With a pick in every round bar the seventh, the Dallas Stars will be hoping for a repeat of the 2017 Draft mentioned above. With the 17th pick in the first round this should put the Stars in the running for Brad Lambert (profiled here) or Conor Geekie, but don’t be surprised if they go off the road most traveled and select Jagger Firkus or Nathan Gaucher given their need for goals. Neither are NHL-ready, but both have shots that can translate to the league going forward.
Depending on the Klingberg situation the Stars may also look towards defense for that first-round pick. Owen Pickering would be the safe choice, but there is no doubt in this writer’s mind that Kevin Korchinski has the higher ceiling. What the Stars have to decide is do they think he can reach that ceiling. Of course, this might not be even a question if Denton Mateychuk falls like it seems one player does every year. The cousin of Owen Pickering is a fantastic puck mover who could be the perfect partner for Heiskanen in the years to come.
Conclusion
The Stars have decisions to make as do every NHL franchise, but with talents like Hintz, Robertson, Heiskanen, and Oettinger they at least have a jumping-off point. Getting the right fit will be something DeBoer has to find, especially with some bad contracts lining the way. If I was to put money on it though I’d say this team is back in the playoffs next year. How far they can go is a different question.
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