Dallas Stars Afternoon Discussion: What Are Your Expectations?

I’m taking what I get. If we make it great, if not that’s OK too. Since the ownership wasn’t worked out until Nov. our hands were pretty tied and GM Joe did the best he could with the cuffs on. Next year is my personal make or break point.

I refuse to judge anything about the team until it’s had a full year uninterrupted** with the ability to get what they need not what can be afforded. If that doesn’t show some improvement then we’re in trouble. But so far, I see no reason why we can’t fight our way back once we don’t have to do it with both arms tied behind us.

• Looming CBA negotiations cause me some heartburn on this however.

Part of me hopes we fall out of the race so Joe will make a move or two to help the talent restocking process. Morrow would fetch some very nice pieces that could help us for years to come.

I see no reason why we can’t make the playoffs. We started strong and I can’t see why we can’t have another 11-3 run. Our team is completely healthy which is also another reason why. Let’s be optimistic and excited. Show our support and hope they give it their all every game the rest of the way. Were only 3 points out of 8th and we have 2 or 3 games in hand on everybody but the sharks. Let’s go STARS!!

…and I don’t understand why. Ok, they lowered the ticket prices and…….and……nothing else. He has otherwise been non-existent.

He should have come charging in the door with a marketing plan, publicity, billboards, TV commercials…..SOMETHING to get this franchise off the floor and create some buzz. Opportunity missed… EPIC fail.

The possiblity of Grossman going to the Flyers was actually initially (to my knowledge) brought up by someone in the “What about Brayden Schenn” FanPost. However, it was more of a “who could we give them for Brayden?” context. Although now that I think about it, it may have been brought up in the article regarding how Gross fits on the Stars…I can’t recall. Either or, Pierre Lubrun just reported on TSN that the Flyers could actually be interested in Grossman. He didn’t suggest anyone going the other way; rather Gross was just mentioned on a list of defensemen the Flyers may be interested in, but it seems slightly more possible now coming from Lebrun.

That said, I wouldn’t exactly expect Schenn in return, but the Flyers do have some interesting peices so it’s intriguing to think about.

and I’ve thought for a long time. Yes, it’s possible to sneak into that 8th spot, but pretty much everything has to fall our way for that to happen, and I don’t see that occurring. Like, for example, Minnesota is up on Nashville 3-0 right now. That’s sure not falling our way.

The Stars are a mediocre team and I think it’s a long shot for this roster to make the playoffs. I still believe moves need to be made. I think it’s a bad idea to just sit pat with what we have and ride a mediocre roster to a 10th place finish. I think that sends a bad message.

Do I honestly expect us to land Parise/Weber/Suter at the trade deadline? No. But I’ll be pretty disappointed if we just sit back and do nothing.

It’ll be hard to recruit top UFAs if we don’t have a team that can convince them that we will contend soon. Do you think Suter/Parise would want to come to a team that missed the playoffs yet again for the 4th time in 4 years with a roster that had little change? Tough sell.

We’re going to have to put a couple more key pieces onto the roster before we can recruit a big time UFA. For example, if we want Suter, we will have to clear roster space for him, something to the effect of letting Souray walk or trading away Grossman or Robidas and packaging a deal for a good top 6 winger. If we want Parise, we’ll have to have a center for him to play with and a upgrade our D but have a gaping hole at LW.

One concept is to package Morrow and Grossman/Robidas for a Dustin Byfuglien type of player. That would be a head turner that signals that we are shoring up the D, and creates a spot at LW for a Parise-type. Or we could trade Ribeiro + Morrow + pick for a Eric Staal-type player, which would give UFA top 6 wingers a huge reason to want to come to Dallas.

Just my thoughts.

Just my thoughts.

but as this team is currently constructed I can’t see them making the playoffs. If things go right out of the gate then I would like to see Joe make an acquisition or two and go for it; otherwise if we are playing uninspired hockey sell off the assets for younger talent.

break right. Keep healthy and get the pp going and I can see it.

Push for a month and evaluate where you are. If we are still in it be a buyer and get a few depth pieces. If not move some vets for prospects or picks and play the youth. Wait for UFA’s. Not a great UFA summer, but see whats there. Be reasonable and improve the team and move forward.

It’s been three years … but I have to remind myself that we are basically starting from scratch with new ownership and though I feel Joe has done a good job, the cupboards are sparse. If we can fill the holes and get it down to one or two pieces I would be happy.