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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Solving The Stars’ Lineup Puzzle

How will the new pieces fit into the picture? Plus, welcome back, Mini-Mo, a look at who’s changing their teams through ELCs, and more.

The reviews are in, and most of them seem to indicate the Dallas Stars have helped their cause with their offseason action so far. Now it’s time to make the pieces fit together – and here’s where the fun begins.

It seems unlikely that even a backhoe can dislodge the top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov. So Sean Shapiro dives directly into one of the Stars’ biggest issues – building a productive second line:

At this point the Stars have a certain top-five between the top-line trio, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski. One of the bigger questions in training camp will be figuring out who seizes the opportunity as the second-line left wing after Benn. Jason Dickinson filled that role admirably in the playoffs, and he’ll have an opportunity in camp to reprise that role. Corey Perry will also have a chance to prove himself on a new team, while Denis Gurianov seems poised to finally take off.

Looking long term and how the Stars want to play, Dallas will be at its best if Gurianov wins the job on Hintz’s wing. Hintz and Gurianov have played well together in the AHL and can play off each other with speed. Pavelski isn’t fast, but alongside that duo, he wouldn’t need to be.

On defense, at least two pairs will depend on the readiness of presumptive 4D Stephen Johns:

Johns’ health will also have a big impact on the third pair. If he’s healthy, Andrej Sekera likely fits on the third pair alongside Roman Polak, who earned the coaching staff’s trust based on his usage last season. Jamie Oleksiak should battle for a spot on opening night, but this could turn into a rotation situation between him and Polak as the Stars try to better limit the veteran’s minutes. Taylor Fedun could be in the mix to make the team, but it’s looking more and more like he’ll either be the eighth defenseman or play big minutes in the AHL.

There’s more behind the paywall. [The Athletic DFW]

Stars Stuff

Now here’s an offseason move we can all get behind: Brenden Morrow returns as the Stars’ new director of business and hockey development.

Is the team any closer to winning a Stanley Cup, or at least a Western Conference Final?

Mike Heika walked the NHL Network through some of the new signings.

And don’t forget, Wednesday is Stars Night at the Texas Rangers. (Yes, this is probably as close to NHL action as you will get in the middle of July.)

Around The League(s)

Who’s changing their team through ELCs? Steven Ellis takes a look at some potentially important signings (he sees you, Washington Capitals).

The Colorado Avalanche have signed Andre Burakovsky, so this may be a good time to discuss how dangerous they could really be next season.

The NHL is already sold on the quality of next-generation Swedish players. Could Rikard Grönborg extend that to coaching as well?

At 42 years and four months, more or less, Zdeno Chara is now the NHL’s oldest active player. But who knew he was this old?

Finally

Let the offseason thought experiments begin.

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