Dallas Stars Daily Links: Offensive Woes Mean Fraser May Get His Shot

by Erin Bolen on Jan 23, 2012 6:01 AM CST in Dallas Stars Daily Links

Three weeks ago, it was pretty certain that Matt Fraser would spend the entire season with the Texas Stars.

Boy how times have changed.

Fraser's strength as a power-play specialist and top-six scoring winger limit the role the Dallas Stars really want to use him in up with the big club, and when most of the scoring forwards were healthy, it didn't make sense to bring him up and only use him in a fourth or third line role.

But the recent loss of Mike Ribeiro and Jamie Benn to injuries has stifled the Stars offense over the past four games, so Fraser was called up Sunday and may very well make his NHL debut Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks if the coaching staff looks for further lineup shakeups.

There are certainly some flaws to his game, as a 21-goal scorer isn't minus-12 for no reason, but the Stars have score five goals in the last four games and are desperate for someone, anyone to put the puck in the net.

That's all the 6-foot-2, 207-pound winger has done over the past three seasons. And if you need any further reason to root for him, know this: He's trying to make a professional hockey career while his mother battles a relapse of thyroid cancer back home in Canada.

"It is definitely tough," adds Fraser. "I mean, it’s not easy anytime there’s any health problems in the family. Luckily, [my mom] survived [cancer]. And then in 2008, she was re-diagnosed with it again. You know, she’s still here today which is good. She’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met."

Matt raised about 18-thousand dollars for cancer research with his junior hockey league team in British Columbia.

After the jump, a slow news day in Stars world, more headshots than the league suspended in all of the 1980s and what happens when a fanbase turns on one of their team's players.

Dallas_stars_news_and_notes_medium_medium_medium

Remember when the Stars were finding ways to win? That's not happening so much right now, details Mike Heika in this paywalled story. [DallasNews.com]
Stars general manager Joe Nieudendyk did a good deed Saturday when he went to visit paralyzed teenage hockey player Jack Jablonski before the Stars took on the Minnesota Wild. [DallasStars.com]
Remember when Nico Sacchetti was supposed to be the Stars next hig- school drafted prospect from Minnesota, following in the footsteps of Matt Niskanen? Well he's had a rough go of it since starting college but has a made a positive impression on his coaches recently. [Fox Sports North]
So many questionable hits on Sunday, so little room on the Wheel O' Justice. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek each have hearings with the league Monday for hits in their games against each other, Ovechkin a charge and Michalek an elbow. And those poor, maligned Boston Bruins were up in arms about a hit Tom Sestito of the Philadelphia Flyers threw on Nathan Horton. [NHL.com/NESN]
And as for Saturday's dirty hits, Henrik Zetterberg did not receive any additional discipline while Andy Ference of the Boston Bruins was handed a three-game suspension for boarding. [The Detroit News/NHL.com]
Meet the enemy: For once, the Stars are about to play a team on a winning streak, and one that did them a standings favor on Sunday. The Anaheim Ducks have taken their newfound skills and used them to beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 for their fifth win in a row. [Los Angeles Times]
Around the Pacific Division: More from Anaheim, this time from our friends over at Anaheim Calling, where they talk about for all the good the Ducks have done recently, they're still completely out of the playoff picture at the moment because of the horrid start. [Anaheim Calling]
The fun thing about being a professional athlete is, well, you're a professional athlete. But the downside is you're under a microscope every minute you're out in public, even more so in some towns, and even completely bogus rumors can take on a life of their own. Evander Kane of the Winnipeg Jets is finding this out the hard way. [Puck Daddy]
So much optimism in this most recent Stars Insider, and it was only from six days ago. I like to use things like this as a reminder that as bad as things seem right now, the season is one heck of a roller coaster and there's still a good chunk of it left to play out.

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Comments

I hope Fraser does get a chance tomorrow.

And hopefully it will be on 1 of the top 2 lines where he has the best chance to succeed. I know his plus minus isn’t the greateast, but coach could help that by putting him on a line with a good defensive player like Eriksson or Ott.

"The Dallas Cowboys announced they have released Jerry Jones."

by T-rom on Jan 23, 2012 7:41 AM CST reply actions

Also it makes me sick how well Anaheim is doing and at the same time how bad the Stars are doing.

"The Dallas Cowboys announced they have released Jerry Jones."

by T-rom on Jan 23, 2012 8:41 AM CST up reply actions

+1

by jabudi on Jan 23, 2012 8:42 AM CST up reply actions

I don't see why he should get a top 6 shot before Vincour.

And he isn’t going to be effective in a bottom 6 role.

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by Josh Lile on Jan 23, 2012 9:03 AM CST up reply actions

"I don't see why he should get a top 6 shot before Vincour."

What’s the worst that could happen? Fraser doesn’t score? Fine…then we’ll demote him to the 4th line or back to Austin. But what if it works out?

At this point, I don’t mind playing mad-scientist with line-combos.

by Dallas_Stars74 on Jan 23, 2012 9:13 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

by jabudi on Jan 23, 2012 9:30 AM CST up reply actions

If you thought Fraser was a better player/more NHL ready then he should have come up before Vincour.

Vincour has been with the big club, and played well lately. He deserves a shot first.

by Josh Lile on Jan 23, 2012 9:43 AM CST up reply actions

"If you thought Fraser was a better player/more NHL ready"

Why would you think that I think Fraser is “better/more NHL ready” than Vincour when I didn’t say that at all? Also, where is the evidence that Vincour is better player/more NHL ready than Fraser when you haven’t seen the latter play in the NHL?

“Vincour has been with the big club, and played well lately. He deserves a shot first.”

I don’t buy putting Vincour in the top six when it’s clear he doesn’t have the scoring skills. With Fraser- you’ll never know until you try.

by Dallas_Stars74 on Jan 23, 2012 10:04 AM CST up reply actions

I agree.

Give Fraser a shot. We’ve lost 5 straight games. If ever there was a cray to shake things up, that’s it.

by cms1171 on Jan 23, 2012 10:10 AM CST up reply actions

Josh, you do a really great job here

but there’s no poster here I AGREE with more on some things and DISAGREE with more on others.

Vincour has had some shots in the top 6. I really like him, I’m hopeful he turns into a top 6 player. But I see no reason not to give Fraser a shot in the top 6 just as Vincour got last year. He should get a shot because the way he is scoring in the AHL is pretty rare for a rookie, and when you do it, you get a chance with the big club. He should get a shot because he’s a natural goal scorer on a team that CAN’T SCORE.

by StarzenheimerSchmidt on Jan 23, 2012 10:33 AM CST up reply actions

To look on the plus side

Last year the Stars were rocking at this time and promptly fell from grace. We’ll get both of our offensive studs back shortly after the ASG; we could bounce back and have a 10-11 New Jersey type 2nd half of the season. Just trying to stay optimistic.

by LilEagle on Jan 23, 2012 7:53 AM CST reply actions

Dual purpose

Starting Fraser hopefully will open up the Stars offense while also sending notice to others that if you are not giving your best than Joe will find others who will.

by deerslayertx on Jan 23, 2012 8:39 AM CST reply actions

I'm getting a little sick of hearing about injured guys

Being the reason the Stars have fallen so much lately. Every team has injuries. Ribs was on a streak before he got injured, but he wasn’t outstanding the rest of the year. This team is apparently not deep enough currently to contend if other guys can’t step up.

I realize that losing 2 major centers is a big hit, but how can we take the idea of playoffs seriously if literally no one else is going to score? And does anyone really care about making the playoffs if we win 1 or 2 games and go home?

Like everyone else, I really want to see what this team CAN do, but it seems like they’re just not doing it. There are moments of absolute brilliance but there is an awful lot of mediocrity too…just like most of the other non-playoff teams.

I can’t even bring myself to spend money right now to get good seats at a Stars game, because you just don’t know if they’re going to bother to show up. That’s pretty bad for home games. I don’t care if you lose, but at least make it fun to watch.

And yet, the difference between “decent” teams and great teams are often a couple of guys. So is this an overreaction to recent events?

I can’t help but feel that some of this is that the rest of the league has adjusted to their playing style and it’s too routine now. And no, that doesn’t mean I want anyone fired or replaced- just need to mix it up IMO.

by jabudi on Jan 23, 2012 8:41 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Stars lack of offense "because we have key players injured" is a load of BS.

Its almost like they have an excuse not to play well because Ribs and Benn are out. Their efforts against Lightning and Wild were horrible.

by iHorses on Jan 23, 2012 9:32 AM CST reply actions

my sentiments exactly

But I don’t know if it’s an excuse, or just a “mental blow” to the team? I agree, these last 2 games were absolute crap against very beatable teams…even shorthanded as they are. At this point I’m expecting (certainly not hoping for) a loss to Anaheim tomorrow. And at this rate, Anaheim could lap the Stars by the end of the season with the way they are playing…and also the effing Flamers are ahead in standings, YUCK!!

by rpm0003 on Jan 23, 2012 11:45 AM CST reply actions