Dallas Stars Daily Links: An Inside Look at Benn’s Captaincy

With the Dallas Stars currently riding an eight-game losing streak, fans have blamed just about everyone in the organization for the collapse at one point or another.

Out of the players, the one who is arguably receiving the most heat is the captain, Jamie Benn. Many fans have called for him to be traded and/or stripped of his captaincy, as they feel that he hasn’t been a good enough leader to pull the Stars out of this slump.

So Sean Shapiro decided to ask the players themselves about what kind of leader Benn is:

“He is an action-first leader that’s gotten more vocal as the year’s gone on now,” Tyler Seguin said. “He talks, but he puts his actions first, and leads in that regard. As of the last few years, he’s also gotten more vocal, so definitely becoming the ultimate leader.”

Every single player interviewed had Benn’s back, with many surprised his leadership was even being called into question. And throughout the interviews, one word seems to stick out: “best.”

“For me, he’s the best captain I’ve ever had,” Tyler Pitlick said.

“He’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever played for, no question,” Devin Shore said.

Marc Methot said... “I mean he’s got to be one of the best captains I played for, really.”

You can read more at Sean’s place here.

---

Stars Stories

Dallas looks to break its losing streak against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight. Mark Stepneski provides the official game preview. [NHL]

All Stars fans are upset for one reason or another, and they might all have a point:

With the NCAA hockey season coming to a close, Dallas is looking hard at adding some undrafted free agents. [The Athletic]

They’re not just pipe dreams either:

---

Central Census

Busy day yesterday in the NHL, but only two other Central teams took to the ice:

• The Colorado Avalanche lost 4-1 to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who have now officially clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs. [Knights on Ice]
• The Chicago Blackhawks meanwhile lost in shootout 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks, who won their eighth game in a row. [Fear the Fin]

After plummeting out of a playoff spot before the deadline, the St. Louis Blues have bounced back tremendously, and Jake Allen is a big reason why:

Here’s your (almost) daily reminder that the Nashville Predators are about to somehow get even better, thanks to Eeli Tolvanen. [NHL]

---

League Links

The Blues aren’t the only team on fire since the deadline. The Sharks have gone from playoff bubble team to potential contender. [The Hockey News]

Team Canada have announced their GMs for the World Championship:

Andrew Ference is working hard at expanding the NHL’s fanbase to a more diverse group of people. [ESPN]

Who are the some of the worst NHL teams in recent memory? You probably won’t be taken by surprise:

Down Goes Brown discusses whether the Calgary Flames should give the Colorado Avalanche their first round pick this year or next in his Weekend Wrap. [Sportsnet]

Connor McDavid is about to crack 100 points, yet the Edmonton Oilers were eliminated from a playoff spot long ago:

Yesterday was apparently National “Sign Everyone to Their ELC” Day:

• The Vancouver Canucks signed 2015 fifth-rounder Adam Gaudette. [NHL]
• The Florida Panthers signed 2016 first-rounder Henrik Borgström. [NHL]
• The Anaheim Ducks signed 2015 fifth-rounder Troy Terry. [NHL]
• And the big one: the Buffalo Sabres signed 2017 eighth overall pick Casey Mittelstadt. [NHL]

Mittelstadt’s case is a very interesting one:

Lias Andersson, meanwhile, signed his ELC the other day, and has already reached his first milestone with the New York Rangers:

---

Finally...

Of course, even if Mittelstadt and Andersson are making their NHL debuts, I still love Miro Heiskanen above all else: