The Stars have a (really) new look for the new season. David Castillo discusses how the team’s youngest players may determine their fate.
The Dallas Stars begin the 2024-25 season with great expectations buoyed by a string of strong performances. Yet it’s interesting to note how high their hopes have been elevated by a youthquake – a large handful of talented players who still have so much to prove.
In his latest piece for D Magazine, David Castillo examines the extent to which the Stars will rely on their youngest players – starting with the forward corps:
Leading the way is [Wyatt] Johnston, who needs no introduction. To recap, his sophomore year wasn’t just an improvement from a rookie season that earned him Calder attention. It was also a metamorphosis. Johnston scored as many points as Roope Hintz, with 65. When the postseason came around, he was arguably the Stars’ best forward at crunchtime, and arguably the best player in his draft class.
[Logan] Stankoven may not be as mature as Johnston in terms of pure development, but whatever gap exists between the top forwards in the 2021 draft feels like the length of a sweat bead after Stankoven’s preseason performance. After doing a deep dive into his point projections ahead of the Calder race, I’d estimate that his statistical profile for forwards his age hews close to players like Kevin Fiala, Jamie Benn, and even Auston Matthews. Though a small sample size, Stankoven belongs in a cohort that averages 52 points. If he wins the Calder, then he’ll most likely score closer to 63, as that is the point average of the last 10 Calder-winning forwards. The expectation for Stankoven may be unfairly high, but that’s the standard.
The blueline gets a good look, too:
On the defensive side, [Thomas] Harley enters what is functionally his sophomore season. After scoring 15 goals to lead all Victory Green blueliners, he very well could level up his game. As with Johnston, Harley might have been the best player at his position to come out of his draft class. According to Evolving-Hockey’s Wins Above Replacement model, Harley’s shift-to-shift impact was worth an extra seven points in the standings, higher than even Miro Heiskanen and Charlie McAvoy. Whether or not the data checks out is not the point; Harley is operating at a high level that goes unnoticed by even some Stars fans.
Then there’s [Lian] Bichsel, the youngest of the franchise’s new core, but also its biggest. (He plays like it, too.) If Chris Tanev had been too injured to play in the Edmonton series, Bichsel would have been able to boast three playoff appearances among the AHL, the SHL, and the NHL. Although he’ll start the season with the Texas Stars, with players like Brendan Smith and Nils Lundkvist in front of him, who believes his promotion is anything other than a formality? If NHL readiness were given a thoughtful definition beyond being ready when a player is told he’s ready, then Bichsel probably makes the cut….
If Johnston, Stankoven, [Mavrik] Bourque, Harley, and Bichsel develop, the Stars should be great for a long time. But if they come through now? Then that Cup favorite tag is justified—because some of them might be among Dallas’ best players as soon as this season.
There’s much more over at StrongSide. Sit down and get ready to process it. [D Magazine]
Stars Stuff
Tonight’s season-opening game is also a national broadcast. What do you do if it’s not on Victory+? Here’s a suggestion.
Meanwhile, let’s not lose sight of the real battle this evening.
Everybody loves a good Robo story, and Sean Shapiro has one of the best. Did you listen to the DLLS Stars podcast today?
Time flies when you’re having fun, right?
#Death Notes
So what’s new in the #MurderDeathKill Division? Here’s what happened last night:
- The Winnipeg Jets celebrated their season opener with a 6-0 curb-stomping of the Edmonton Oilers; Connor Hellebuyck was in goal for the shutout. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
- Mikko Rantanen scored a goal in every period for the Colorado Avalanche, but the Vegas Golden Knights got two goals from three different players in an 8-4 final. [Knights On Ice]
Around The Leagues
Want a bit more NHL history? Stan Fischler, “The Hockey Maven,” recounts the legend of Bernie Parent’s disappearing goalie mask in his weekly column for NHL.com.
All those moves and so little to show for them. How can the Wild shake the “Midnesota” tag? Michael Russo and Joe Smith examine the case – but you’ll need a subscription.
It’s almost too painful to speak of Johnny Gaudreau, still. Maybe a picture will help.
And because we can’t just let this go without remark.
Finally
Logan Stankoven, your Calder Trophy race is officially on. Come get your flowers and candy. Enjoy.