Stargazing is a daily assortment of Dallas Stars news, as well as a look at what's happening around the Pacific division and the rest of the NHL. Stargazing will run on Mondays and Thursdays, becoming a daily feature once the preseason begins.


Another Monday morning, another week down. The hockey starved Stars fan has 53 days to wait until training camp begins and we want you to spend it with us as we scrape all the news together we can find and hopefully have some fun along the way. Today: Forget about Tiger Woods, Mike Modano and Brett Hull played some golf this weekend and did quite well. Dallas Stars.com checks in with Jamie Benn and Trevor Daley, and the Sharks pretty much have to make some moves, right? When are they going to get going?

Stars News and Notes:

Mike Modano and Brett Hull played last week in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, and both did quite well, placing 9th and 11th respectively. After play on Saturday The Golden Brett had a lead on Mike but was unable to keep pace on Sunday when Modano out-played him, as well as Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo. Charles Barkley, predictably, finished last. Now you tell me, what would have made more compelling national television on Sunday? That, or the British Open?

Dallasstars.com asked Trevor Daley about the new faces on defense, and about Stars draft pick Scott Glennie...

What do you think about Karlis Skrastins and Jeff Woywitka joining the Dallas Stars?

Daley: "It’s exciting to see a couple new faces on the defensive side of things. I was actually roommates with Woywitka at World Juniors playing for team Canada, so I know him pretty well. He is a good player."

What do you think about the Stars draft picks? Scott Glennie- Brandon\Alex Chiasson- Des Moines.

Daley: "Scott is a good kid. We have been working out in the group together this week with the other young kids. I am obviously not a scout or anything but they chose the best available player at the 8th pick in the draft with him and I think he could live up to those expectations."

Les Jackson was asked about Jamie Benn's likely assignment for next season:

"It’s hard to say, he’ll answer those questions as we go ahead," said Stars Director of Scouting and Player Development Les Jackson, regarding Benn’s likely destination for 2009-10. "He’s coming off a real good junior career, so he’ll have an opportunity to make our team and if he’s not quite ready, we’ll send him to Austin."

Personally, I'd like to see the young man in Austin for a while to start the season so we can see if his game remains consistent with different competition. Dallas has consistently had a need for multiple call ups during the season (see Chris Conner) and chances are he'll get his chance with the big club sooner rather than later. If he forces is way onto the lineup somehow, what do you do with your glut of left wings?

Razor pays tribute to outgoing Stars assistant Mark Lamb. The two were apparently traded for one another once upon a time:

Massive tough guy named Glenn Kulka and myself were swapped for Mark in a deal between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Nanaimo Islanders. Without question the Tigers got the best of the deal. Chopper challenged for the league scoring title with 136 pts in 72 games while Kulka brawled his way through the "W" and had a brief stint in the WWF following a post-hockey career in the CFL. Interesting guy. I never played for the Islanders, instead remaining in Tier II until a deal to The Great Kamloops organization materialized.

Around the Pacific:

Let's take a look at the Sharks today. Their cap situation is less than ideal, they were told to expect some moving and shaking this off-season but so far have seen none. The restlessness is starting to set in...

• Doug Wilson doesn't care what his Shark players are dealing with this summer:

"If they’re uncomfortable, then so be it," he told the paper. "They can expect to continue to be uncomfortable. A lot of players told me what they intend to do after last season. But I don’t want to hear any more talking. I want to see it. If our group is uncomfortable, I say deal with it."

• Mercury News keeps fans company while outlining their long summer of waiting
• Fear the Fin bets there's a trade coming, but says the Sharks could get fleeced in the process.
• And word comes down that Marleau and Wilson have spoken about whether he should continue to captain the team

It's hard to feel sorry for the Sharks, who figure to continue their winning ways next season, but there's definitely reason for frustration in the Bay Area.

Around the NHL:

• The Wild are all set in goal now with the acquisition of Dubielewicz. I'm sure the Wild bloggers will have fun spelling that one.
  
• Kings re-sign Jack Johnson to two year deal
  
• Flames acquire defenseman Seabrook from Washington
  
• And one fan thinks that the shootout should be incorporated into EVERY GAME. What do you think about that? I know, hardly news, but the premise gave me nice fit of laughter.