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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Happy Victory Day!

The Stars got a huge win last night in Edmonton, and look to keep the momentum going in Calgary tonight on Victory Day.

Posted on by George Delanjian
Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Happy Victory Day, DBD! Be sure to tune into Victory+ all day to have the chance to win prizes and cheer on the Texas Rangers as they host the Boston Red Sox for Opening Day, followed by the Dallas Stars as the face off against the Calgary Flames!

While Jason Robertson was the show last night, Stars defenseman Thomas Harley was the star last Saturday when he netted the game-winning overtime goal against the Philadelphia Flyers. Harley has proven he can be a reliable blueline offensive threat, but there have been times when that skill set seems to go dormant. Harley has scored 15 goals in consecutive seasons, and should eclipse that mark by season’s end.

D Magazine‘s Sean Shapiro published a recent article discussing Harley’s scoring ability and its impacts on the team and what the future can hold for him if he continues to showcase this ability. He touches on Harley’s ability to score and how it was a key part in the contract negotiations.

While Harley has proven he can score, there was some concern from the Stars’ front office as to whether this level of production can be sustained, given the goal droughts he can go through sometimes. Both sides met in the middle, settling on a two year “prove-it” sort of contract. Fifteen goals may not seem like a lot, but for a defensemen, that is really good. Shapiro put it in perspective:

Harley scored his 14th and 15th goals of the season on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, including an overtime game-winning goal. With roughly a month left in the regular season, he is tied for sixth among NHL defenders in goals and leads the league with 14 even-strength goals. 

What’s more, Harley’s 15 goals this season are more than the rest of the Stars’ defensive core combined. He’s four goals away from tying Philippe Boucher for the most scored by a defender since the team moved to Dallas and six away from Lou Nanne’s franchise record of 21 scored with the Minnesota North Stars in 1972.

At 23, Harley hasn’t just proven he’s a goal scorer. He might be on his way to becoming the best goal-scoring defenseman this franchise has ever had.

With Miro Heiskanen likely out for at least the first round, it will continue to be on Harley to step in and provide that offensive threat from the blue line. This postseason will be a big “prove-it” moment for him if he wants to lock in a longer and more lucrative deal.

Shapiro shares a lot of great thoughts and statistics in his article, which I highly recommend reading in its entirety here.

Stars Stuff

Robo-mode: ACTIVATED

In the books:

Just the beginning of what will be a very decorated career:

Warm and fuzzy link of the day:

Around The Central

Quite a few Central Division teams are taking the ice tonight:

  • The Utah Hockey Club pay a visit to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning. Utah won their last meeting against the Lightning less than a week ago, 6-4.
  • The Minnesota Wild will look to capitalize the Washington Capitals this evening. Will Alex Ovechkin inch closer to the once considered unreachable 894?
  • Our interdivision matchup tonight will involve the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators. St. Louis is red hot, currently taking a seven-game winning streak to Nashville to face a Predators squad who are likely ready for an offseason reset.
  • The Colorado Avalanche will host the Los Angeles Kings tonight on ESPN. Both teams are riding a winning streak in what should be a very competitive, playoff-esque matchup.

The World of Chel

Stars just keep watering that seed!

Devils got themselves a defensive cornerstone:

How they come up with some of these stats…

Finally

Victory Day is upon us!

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