Heading into tonight’s game against the Blue Jackets, the Stars are averaging a league-best 3.37 goals per game. But is Dallas’ high-powered offense enough to carry them in the playoffs? CBS Sports’ Adam Gretz asks whether the team is “too one dimensional” to be a true Stanley Cup contender.
They seem to have embraced the fact that they have assembled an incredibly talented group of forwards, many of which are just now starting to enter the prime of their careers, and play a style of hockey that matches that skill. It is a constant rush of offense where they simply try to score as many goals as humanly possible, an approach that seems to run counter to nearly every other team in the league that tries to win games by smothering offense and grinding out 2-1 or 3-2 wins every night.
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But even with their early season success there is still a pretty big question that hangs over the Stars: Is it actually possible for a team to win a Stanley Cup playing like this in an era where defense and goaltending rules all?
To illustrate his point, Gretz compares the Stars to recent Cup winners, which makes Dallas’ problem areas—in this case, mainly goals against and save percentage—more apparent. And yet…
If there is a team in the league right now that can score its way to a championship, these guys are going to be the ones to do it. They have two of the best players in the league in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn that are just now entering their peak years in the league, while veterans like Patrick Sharp and Jason Spezza are still capable of playing at a high level. Klingberg is as talented as any defenseman in the NHL not named Erik Karlsson.
For more on whether the Stars are for real, head to the link. [CBS Sports]
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Tonight, the Stars return to the AAC to face the Blue Jackets and Torts at 7:30 p.m. [Stars]
Mike Heika held his weekly Stars chat yesterday, and he answered questions on everything from the team’s plan for Brett Ritchie to the toughest thing he’s covered as the team’s beat writer. [SportsDayDFW]
Razor shares with us extra tidbits and facts that he hasn’t managed to sneak on air this season. [Razor with an Edge]
Former Stars defenseman Trevor Daley is once again on the move.
The #Pens have acquired defenseman Trevor Daley in exchange for Rob Scuderi. https://t.co/jRgcDwBcS6 pic.twitter.com/3aCBxiK3cu
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 15, 2015
The Penguins are also retaining a third of Scuderi’s salary in the trade.
Scuderi has AAV of $3.375M this year and next. So PIT retains $1.125M in cap hit. Daley has AAV of $3.3M this season and next.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 15, 2015
And, as it turns out, the trade was one that Daley requested.
Daley asked the Hawks to move him, though he loved his time in Chicago. But he said “I have more to give than they allowed me to do” -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) December 15, 2015
Puck Daddy counts down the 10 best players so far this season, and Tyler Seguin snags one of the spots. (Just pretend we’re counting up from 1 to 10.) [Puck Daddy]
The Stars have been emphasizing repetition and consistency on the power play in the hopes of sparking special teams production. [SportsDayDFW]
Facing the Blues in the second half of a back-to-back is just the start—the Stars’ schedule isn’t getting any easier in the coming weeks. [The Hockey Writers]
Also at The Hockey Writers, DBD’s Derek takes a look at how the Stars’ depth has led to success this season. [THW]
The Penguins thanked Pascal Dupuis for his time in Pittsburgh with a video tribute.
Former Minnesota North Stars coach Glen Sonmor died on Monday at age 86. [NHL]
From Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler to Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec, the hardest players to trade on each team. [Sportsnet]
Wouldn’t it be nice to be back in the Pacific? The Canucks, who have just 10 ROW, are probably pretty happy that’s where they are. [ESPN]
The Ducks will spend a trio of games without Nate Thompson in the lineup.
Anaheim’s Nate Thompson has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Carolina’s Justin Faulk. https://t.co/s46gVVKXEp
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 14, 2015
Next year, the KHL will expand by adding a team in Beijing. [The Globe and Mail]
Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, and Jacob Trouba requested a combined $152 million in contract extensions, although Trouba’s agent has called that information “incorrect.” [The Score]
Rangers forward Jarret Stoll and Ducks goalie Anton Khudobin were placed on waivers by their respective teams. [Sportsnet]
And finally, everyone’s favorite fighting Frenchman takes us behind the scenes on a recent road trip.