Comments / New

Dallas Stars Daily Links: A Slow Start Could Mean a Hot Seat for Lindy Ruff, Says Mike Heika

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

Mike Heika had a busy Dallas Stars chat this week, and the questions covered everything from the training camp schedule to the tandem-goalie arrangement with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi.

Heika gave his opinion on what win-now mode could mean for head coach Lindy Ruff:

Question: If the Stars get off to that really bad start again this season do you think Ruff gets fired during the season?

Heika: He will be on a very hot seat if they get off to a slow start. That said, Jim Nill is a very patient man.

He also laid out the early plan for the Stars’ September training camp in Cedar Park:

I believe the tentative schedule is they assemble in Frisco on Sept. 17, have physicals and drive to Cedar Park. They work out in three different groups on Sept. 18, and 19th. They scrimmage on Sept. 20, work out on Sept. 21 in two groups and then start the preseason schedule Sept. 22 with half the guys getting one last workout in Cedar Park before heading back to Frisco.

Then he discussed why neither Lehtonen nor Niemi will be traded this year:

I think they are committed to the season because they still worry about goaltending depth in the playoffs. Unless a deal comes where the Stars get a rock solid back-up in return, I don’t see them trading either this season. Then, they can re-evaluate next summer.

Heika even gave some advice for your fantasy-league roster:

I think Jason Spezza would be good for your pool team. I think he gets at least 75 points. Not sure yet on Sharp and Nichushkin, but each also could have bigger years.

You can find the full chat here. [SportsDayDFW]

*****

Did you know that yesterday was #FriendshipDay? Naturally, @DallasStars got in on the act.

Yesterday was also Alex Goligoski’s birthday. This greeting should raise a chuckle from anyone who’s ever seen the Taco Goal promos in AAC.

Remember this? Now that Slava Fetisov has been elected to the KHL Board of Directors, he’s looking for big changes, including a block on Russian players leaving the league for the NHL. [The Hockey News]

Meanwhile, from the other side of the Miracle on Ice, USA goalie Jim Craig is selling his entire collection of 1980 Olympic memorabilia, including his gold medal from the Lake Placid games. [CBS Sports]

The DMN’s Tim Cowlishaw answered a few Stars questions during his weekly chat, and he weighed in on whether the team should retire #26 and #56 to honor Jere Lehtinen and Sergei Zubov. [SportsDayDFW]

And on that subject, Jared Clinton has put together a new listicle, Zetterberg to Zuccarello: The Top 10 Z’s of All Time. (It’s not “if” but “where.”) [The Hockey News]

The Dallas Stars Foundation has announced a date for its 2nd annual charity golf tournament.

Eric Roberts of The Hockey Writers offers a team-by-team rundown of the biggest question marks facing NHL squads in 2015-16. [The Hockey Writers]

Last month, defender Andong Song became the first Chinese-born player to be drafted by an NHL team. Now the New York Islanders prospect is an ambassador for Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics bid. [CCTV]

What did the Toronto Maple Leafs get in GM Lou Lamoriello? “A once-in-a-generation hockey mind,” says retired New Jersey Devils defender Ken Daneyko, who won three Stanley Cups with Lou’s former team. [The Players’ Tribune]

The Players’ Tribune is en fuego this week. Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick gives a clinic, complete with animated GIFs, on how an elite netminder faces some of the NHL’s elite snipers, including Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Pavel Datsyuk. The best part? This is only Part 1, and Quick is taking suggestions for Part 2. [The Players’ Tribune]

Just when you thought the last big deal had gone down, the Philadelphia Flyers signed right wing Jakub Voracek to the richest free-agent contract of the summer — an eight-year, $66 million extension. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The Flyers also opened the checkbook for center Sean Couturier, who got a six-year deal worth $26 million. [NHL]

Icethetics has gotten hold of all the 2016 Winter Classic logos, and now you can see them too.

They include a special logo for the Boston Bruins that some might call fairly awesome.

On July 7, 2015, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov began serving a 90-day jail sentence after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a spouse. He will also attend a 52-week course on domestic violence. [Sports Illustrated]

Goalie Cam Talbot sees “a great opportunity” in his recent trade to the Edmonton Oilers. [NBC Sports]

Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban surprised some kids from the Toronto youth group Success Beyond Limits this week.

Finally: @HockeyAsAnimals devoted July 18 to Jamie Benn on his birthday. This is just a sample of the hilarity that ensued.

Talking Points