It’s a brand new season for the Dallas Stars, and also for us at Defending Big D. With luck, previews, recaps, daily links, the Stargazing podcast and a plethora of hot takes are back.
The Dallas hockey media landscape has changed – drastically – since last year. The Dallas Morning News has Lia Assimakopoulos on the job, mostly full-time (if you don’t mind some SMU news in your feed). D Magazine continues to drive thoughtful content with David Castillo, Robert Tiffin and Sean Shapiro taking turns throwing out quality insights – not just through the magazine, but also with their personal substacks. Mike Heika and Josh Clark are there with the inside scoop – and the new kids on the block, DLLS Stars are providing daily content, as the All-City Network has expanded into the Metroplex.
There are others putting out good content, but my point here is that the Dallas Stars have arrived. Teams don’t pull this kind of hockey coverage, especially in Dallas, unless there is a story there – and the story is that our Stars are good. Not just top 10 good, but a Stanley Cup contender and perhaps even a favorite to win it all good. Who knows, maybe if the team does this for a few more years, they may even get a beat reporter for The Athletic back?
That said, there are a few new wrinkles to the Dallas Stars team for the upcoming year. Logan Stankoven joins full time, while Colin Blackwood replaces Craig Smith as fourth line stalwart. Mavrik Bourque is also with the team, but he’s nursing a minor injury, so his season debut will have to wait. That does leave room for Oskar Bäck, who earned a spot with Dallas after several productive years with the AHL affiliate Texas Stars. Bäck fills the roster slot of Radek Faksa – and you can expect him to play a similar game: defensively responsible, limited offense (although he has historically been good at passing after winning wall battles) and a monster on the faceoff dot.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Logan Stankoven (11)
Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Sam Steel (18) – Oskar Bäck (21) – Colin Blackwell (15)
Miro Heiskanen (4) – Matt Dumba (3)
Thomas Harley (55) – Ilya Lyubushkin (46)
Esa Lindell (23) – Nils Lundqvist (5)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Casey DeSmith (1)
Head coach Pete DeBoer likes to roll lines, and early indications have Stankoven with the top line, allowing Johnston to center Benn and Dadonov. All three top lines have offensive weapons, with at least a modicum of defensive responsibility.
The fourth line is a bit of a mishmash, but Steel has proven that he can produce throughout the lineup and Bäck and Blackwell can both hound the puck on the forecheck. If nothing else, its a trio that should be tough to play against.
Nashville Predators Lineup
Filip Forsberg (9) – Ryan O’Reilly (90) – Gustav Nyquist (14)
Steven Stamkos (91) – Thomas Novak (82) – Jonathan Marchessault (81)
Luke Evangelista (77) – Colton Sissons (10) – Philip Tomasino (26)
Mark Jankowski (17) – Michael McCarron (47) – Cole Smith (36)
Roman Josi (59) – Dante Fabbro (57)
Brady Skjei (76) – Luke Schenn (2)
Jeremy Lauzon (3) – Alexandre Carrier (45)
Juuse Saros (74)
Scott Wedgewood (41)
Matt Murray (32)
Nashville is doing everything that they can to make sure that Dallas is comfortable for the season opener. With Saros potentially out, the net could easily fall to Wedgewood – giving him an early season option to take it to his teammates from last year. The Predators also called up Matt Murray (the ex-Texas Star, not the other guy) from Milwaukee just to make sure that the reunion is complete.
The Predators have two top end lines that are veteran heavy and could be dangerous. Newcomers Stamkos and Marchessault join Novak on the second line that has the potential to work, but the third line is marginal and the fourth line is fleshed out with extra large journeymen.
The aging curve will likely not be kind to Nashville. The team has wagered big on multiple long-term contracts for guys on the wrong side of 30. Their AHL squad has been competitive over the last few seasons, so there could be some help on the horizon – but it isn’t NHL ready yet, and in the meantime, if the top six doesn’t produce (and Saros doesn’t stand on his head), this is an average team that will likely be a borderline playoff contender.
Keys to the Game
For now, get Jason Robertson up to speed, roll four lines, let the new defensive pairings start to settle in together and let Jake Oettinger see the puck.
Otherwise, kick back and enjoy the beginning of what should be a great season of #TexasHockey.
And, a reminder, this is a national game, so it’s ESPN+/Hulu for your viewing pleasure.