Good morning, Stars fans. Are you still out there? Still hanging on? T-minus 34 days until what I am calling the resumption of hockey activity, September 10th (being the Dallas Stars ice-breaker event at the Galleria and the start of the Traverse City Prospect tournament).
Though the summer wears on, the number of former Stars still in search of work stagnates rather obstinately. Brian Sutherby, Jeff Woywitka and Brandon Segal still seek a call, Jason Williams managed a contract, Karlis Skrastins went to the KHL, Brent Krahn remains unsigned... And then there are former Stars removed a year in Mike Modano and Marty Turco.
Everyone thinks they know what's happening with Mike, but what about Marty? Puck Daddy brought it up here over the weekend, noting the extreme lack of jobs currently. His agent is on record saying that he will play hockey next year, but it's unclear which league. There will be injuries in camps and opportunities may come about that way, but in the mean time one wonders about his on-air career began on NHL network this spring.
For Stars fans, the rapidity of his fall from the supposed NHL goaltending elite has been both horrifying and fascinating to watch. It was only three calendar years ago that he backstopped Dallas magnificently to the WCF against Detroit. His wait this off-season is a stark contrast.
Two great playoffs in a row followed by two seasons of seemingly bad luck where the defense was disassembled, getting younger, and crumbling around him made for an awkward dismount from Dallas. Is his legacy here exposed to revisionist history given the events of the last 15 months and the possible ending of his career on a sour note? It's probably a question best debated five years from now but his summer makes you wonder...
- Jamieson Oleksiak made quite an impression over the weekend with those attending the Team Canada world juniors camp and the red/white scrimmages. He scored a goal and assisted on another Saturday night and was his size was all the rage on Twitter. [Pro Sports Blogging] [ESPN Dallas]
- Stars second round pick, power forward Brett Ritchie, scored twice in lesser scrimmages on Thursday [Pro Sports Blogging]
- Steve Ott is working out back home in Canada and some media caught up to him in Windsor, where he opined on the changing Stars, how the first half off the season last year was the real team, and how he is going to be expected to compete for a top-six role. [Montreal Gazette]
- There's still a smidgeon of hope that Teemu Selanne will not play hockey next year. He's going to decide in September. Just a smidgeon. Don't get your hopes up. [NHL.com]
- Apparently you can rent Marty Turco's Chicago house for $10,000 a month. [Chicago Tribune via Puck Daddy]
- Stephen looks at the forward group for the Texas Stars at Hundred Degree Hockey. It's looking like a pretty salty group from top to bottom. [Hundred Degree Hockey]