Dallas Stars Daily Links: How Greg Pateryn Found His Way In Dallas

Greg Pateryn has come a long way from a checkered tenure with the Montreal Canadiens to top four in minutes on the Dallas Stars’ blue line. During the 2017-18 season so far, he’s won the trust of his coaches to the point that he leads all Stars defenders for time on ice quality of competition.

Fans may like to mock head coach Ken Hitchcock’s “big” mantra (affectionately or otherwise), but Hitch has reasons other than Pateryn’s 6’3” stature for liking what he has become. Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News writes:

“He’s a really competitive player who has a conscience for the team. He’s one of the guys you can really build around, because he’s such a stable guy. He’s like a coach on the ice,” Hitchcock said.

”He’s got a conscience of doing things the right way, and he’s demanding of the players. He demands it in a different way by asking questions, asking questions that matter to the team. He’s very appreciated by the coaching staff because of that.”

By his own reckoning, Pateryn has managed to stick in the Stars’ lineup by finding a niche and filling it:

“I’m not the flashiest player, but I find a way to get it done out there,” Pateryn said. “I think you do come in and see players who are better than you and tell yourself that you have to find a way to stay in the lineup, you have to do something that they need on the team.”

Mike has more. [SportsDayDFW]

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More Stars

John Klingberg picked up another point in last night’s series-sweeping win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Sean Shapiro puts his scoring streak in context:

But here’s the play you’re talking about this morning: Patrick Sharp crunched Julius Honka right in the numbers, and directly into a turnbuckle. Honka did not return to the game due to an unspecified upper-body injury. He’s scheduled for evaluation today.

Here’s Li’l Murderface thinkin’ about murder on the way to concussion protocol, probably:

Boy, Hitch sure can sum things up some kind of way. Here he is on Blackhawks bench boss Joel Quenneville, via ESPN’s Emily Kaplan:

The Stars are back home to take on an increasingly dominant Evgeni Malkin and the resurgent Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at 7:30 p.m. CST. Mark Stepneski posted a few vital facts late last night:

Tonight’s Stars-Pens game will be a sort of homecoming for Hall of Famer Bill Guerin.

Show up early to Victory Plaza to get in on the pregame festivities. Bring a pair of shoes for Dallas LIFE Shelter and get a free pair of flip-flops in return – they may come in handy if you win that trip to the Florida Gulf Coast.

Around the League(s)

#Murder Was The Case

Sometimes you #MDK, and sometimes you get #MDK-ed:

• Kyle Turris got his tribute, but Mike Hoffman scored his 100th goal as the Ottawa Senators bested the Nashville Predators 4-3. [Silver Seven]
• In more Central-on-Central violence, the St. Louis Blues pummeled the Colorado Avalanche 6-1. [Mile High Hockey]
• And the Arizona Coyotes scored four unanswered goals to shock the Minnesota Wild in overtime, 4-3. [Five For Howling]

Nashville GM David Poile doesn’t intend to lose the Stanley Cup this year – and he’s on the hunt for the trade deadline pieces that will push his team over the top. [NHL]

Alexander Radulov is one of five players – and one of two in the Central – who have started the new year with a resolution to rock.

Roberto Luongo practiced with the Florida Panthers for the first time since his Dec. 4 groin injury – and looks set to return to the net next week. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Elsewhere in the Sunshine State: The Tampa Bay Lightning will retire the No. 4 of Vincent Lecavalier before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. Martin Fennelly has written a tribute to “the most Lightning player in Lightning history.”

In “Hockey Is For Everyone” news: The Washington Capitals reaffirmed a special relationship with the United Arab Emirates women’s team by organizing an incredible big-league experience.

Tough news for Valeri Nichushkin, who lost his appeal – along with 46 other Russian athletes and coaches – to be allowed to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. [BBC]

We may not know why Nuke has been banned, but NHL.com Russia reporter Igor Eronko seems to confirm that doping was not part of it:

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

Have tickets for Saturday’s game between the Texas Stars and the Tucson Roadrunners? Tweet your seat to @TXStarsRingo – you could win a special Valentine’s Day flower delivery, direct from the T-Stars’ mascot.

Arrive early to get your free T-Stars beach towel – because in a cold Texas winter, it’s never too early to start thinking about spring break.

Finally

Stars video coach Kelly Forbes and longtime ice-level correspondent Julie Ann Dobbs are raising a hockey player. Enjoy.