With six weeks left until training camps get underway, Sean McIndoe ranks how unexpected each team’s offseason moves have been on the Bizarro-meter. A move being bizarre, McIndoe clarifies, doesn’t necessary mean it was a bad one—just unexpeted. Here’s what he had to say about the Stars.
Dallas Stars
The off-season so far: They lost Goligoski and Kris Russell but added Dan Hamhuis, and got the Jamie Benn extension done quickly.
But their strangest move was: Not addressing the goaltending. If anything, by letting Jack Campbell head to L.A., they got even worse.
Bizarro-meter ranking: 6.0/10.
GM Jim Nill keeps saying that he trusts his goalies, but nobody believes him — and this rating reflects that. If the Stars actually open the season with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, bump this score up at least three more points.
Read up on the rest of the league’s offseason moves at the link. [Sportsnet]
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What can we expect from the Dallas defense in 2016-17? [Today’s Slapshot]
The Texas Stars will start their preseason with a home-and-home against the San Antonio Rampage. [Wrong Side of the Red Line]
Mark Stepneski offered this update on Riley Tufte.
Stars prospect Riley Tufte, who injured a wrist Monday, will no longer take part in USA junior evaluation camp for “precautionary reasons.”
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) August 2, 2016
CBS Sports counts down the most important offseason additions so far, which includes Alex Goligoski going to the Coyotes. [CBS Sports]
From Bob Hartley to Sheldon Keefe, five candidates to be the head coach of Las Vegas’ NHL team. [The Hockey News]
At The Players’ Tribune, Gabriel Landeskog wrote about concussions and the impact they have on players.
An urgent message from the @NHL‘s @GabeLandeskog92: It’s time to talk about concussions.https://t.co/SUgohXmw3S pic.twitter.com/9lhhnpWjs0
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 2, 2016
Should a team take a chance on UFA Jiri Hudler? TSN’S Travis Yost says yes. [TSN]
The Coyotes are reportedly planning to buy out Antoine Vermette.
Source: The Coyotes will buy out Antoine Vermette after placing him on unconditional waivers.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) August 1, 2016
The Blue Jackets signed Sam Gagner to a one-year, $650,000 contract, and it could turn out to be a steal for them. [Today’s Slapshot]
And finally, Vladimir Tkachyov, who plays for AK Bars Kazan in the KHL, turned his stick into a javelin.