This evening the Dallas Morning News (Mike Heika) reported that the Dallas Stars are foregoing their published training camp schedule of Group A and Group B in favor of a NHL and AHL grouping.

Which is to say that quite frankly, the b.s. has been cut out of the conversation. The NHL players will practice together, and the not-so-much players will practice together. We don't know how this will affect pre-season game rosters, but the message is crystal clear: One pre-season loss and lackluster performances from NHL veterans has spurned the coaching staff to adjust the schedule accordingly.

Time is short. It's time to get serious.

Take the pre-season with a grain of salt if you will, but the Stars clearly feel like it should be paid attention to quite a bit more than last season. With Kari Lehtonen already scheduled to get 3 starts (whole-game), it was clear that this time was to be used for important business. This latest roster split is further reinforcement.

Not all Dallas Stars fans like being equated to Dallas Cowboys fans, but it's worth saying here that a lackluster pre-season for the football team seems to have spread into the regular season. You can say it about many other teams in many other sports. The Stars, having witnessed a couple of disappointing pre-seasons leading into this year, are apparently taking precautions this go-around.

So the schedule this morning...

Thursday, Sept. 23

Practice Group A
9:00 – 11:00 AM Practice (Frisco)
11:15 AM – Noon Off-Ice Workout

Practice Group B
10:00 – 10:45 AM Off-Ice Workout
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM Practice (Frisco)
Crawford Media Availability at Approx 11:00

... Who knows where that stands? Group A and B don't seem to exist any more.

I'll be out in Frisco in the morning and will report back ASAP.

Reading in the mean time...

• Heika on the roster split.
• Follow up on the news of yesterday. Sale could drag on into next (calendar) year. Yeah.
• Razor's "2 of 3" theory. He's being kind here. Don't you need all three?
• Mark Stepneski talks to Aaron Gagnon.