Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Opening-Night Forecast
Matthew DeFranks pieces together the Stars’ roster puzzle. Plus, Roman Josi’s big homecoming, Hockey Canada’s brand-new high in low, and more.
With two preseason games left to play, the Dallas Stars are getting ever closer to their final starting-roster decisions. And a handful of young players are trying to make those decisions as difficult as possible.
The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks took a long look at the current state of play and provided analysis, and a few predictions, in his latest Stars story. First up for evaluation are Wyatt Johnston and Fredrik Karlström:
Johnston deserves to get his nine-game tryout given his pedigree, his OHL season last year and his preseason this year. The Stars could even elongate his stay in the NHL by mixing in scratches to keep him around Dallas longer than nine games (if a teenager plays 10 NHL games, it burns the first year of their entry-level contract).
The Stars front office entered the season with big expectations for Karlström, expecting the 24-year-old Swedish winger to turn the corner and jump from the AHL to the NHL. Last season, his first in North America, included his NHL debut late in the season. The rangy forward can fill a role in the bottom-six as a checker and penalty killer that still has offensive ability.
Meanwhile, on defense, DeFranks foresees some tough decisions regarding Thomas Harley, Nils Lundkvist and Will Butcher:
Harley appeared poised to grab a sizable role on the blue line this year, but then the Stars traded for Lundkvist. Now, Harley’s seen his potential power play minutes evaporate, and the knock on him remains the same that it has been for years. The Stars want to see more defensive urgency from him to allow Harley to display his offensive skillset. The organization might want more time in the AHL for the former first-rounder.
Butcher is a little bit of a wild card for Dallas. He’s 27 years old, and was once a 44-point defenseman as a rookie in 2017-18 and has steadily declined. If the Stars believe he can be a frequent scratch and still be effective, he might grab the No. 7 role, based solely on the offensive ability that he’s shown before.
Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars Stuff
There are those who keep saying the Jason Robertson deal is imminent, and Elliotte Friedman is one of them...but there are caveats. Skip to about 30:30 for the pertinent part.
Monday 32 Thoughts news podcast, including some good stuff from last night's stop in Peterborough: https://t.co/io7Mr1RceU Final leg of this awesome tour Thursday in Hamilton. Merch: https://t.co/fbjflHYfPS
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 3, 2022
So what does the financial landscape look like for the Robo-deal to come? Matthew DeFranks provides the details.
An example of the Stars' salary cap situation, based on a 23-man roster with 14F, 7D and 2G.
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) October 2, 2022
Things can change (battles for the last spots up front and on the blue line), but a sample nonetheless. Dallas can easily get to $8M of cap space by carrying a 22-man roster. pic.twitter.com/8SSpLiEwZZ
Meanwhile, Jake Oettinger is as ready to play games that count as you are to watch him in action.
"If I could fast forward to next Thursday, I would."
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 4, 2022
Otter is ready for the regular season. #TexasHockey
Around The Leagues
#Death Notes
Favorite son Roman Josi scored twice as the Nashville Predators took a 4-3 win over SC Bern in Switzerland.
Roman Josi's epic homecoming – and more Nashville Predators takeaways vs. SC Bern https://t.co/uhYVevwQVy
— Tennessean (@Tennessean) October 3, 2022
Admit it, we’ve all wondered about this...and now it can be told.
How's a traded player on the ice for a new team so quickly? Who's really moving players at the deadline? Team services coordinators take you behind the scenes.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 30, 2022
Not much love for the Stars here, unless you count Miro Heiskanen as a very distant Norris Trophy runner-up...but it’s always better if they underestimate you, right?
Also in our staff predictions: Who will be the first coach fired? What will the full East and West playoff fields be? Who's the darkhorse?
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 25, 2022
Just when you think the Hockey Canada scandal has hit rock-bottom, it punches through and finds a way.
.@globeandmail reporting has discovered a second, secret fund that @HockeyCanada has set aside for decades to pay sexual assault cases. Hockey Canada did not divulge its existence in parliamentary committee hearings this summer:https://t.co/ZRDlyjoP5u
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 3, 2022
Seravalli adds only this....
This story is yet another reminder of the vital need for a free press. MPs didn’t learn of this until being contacted by the Globe and Mail.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 3, 2022
Without it, we’re in the dark.
At least Phil Kessel seems to honestly enjoy all the hotdog jokes.
Phil Kessel getting a hot dog cake for his birthday is everything pic.twitter.com/qRd2gPR91j
— Hockey Players With Animals (And Other Chaos) (@animalsofhockey) October 3, 2022
Meanwhile, in Real Competition (Which is Real): Will you defend Vic against the New Guy and the Eldritch Horror?
Start. Bench. Cut. Mascot Edition.
— BarDown (@BarDown) October 4, 2022
Let’s hear it 👇 pic.twitter.com/7S8qx8Grle
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park
Texas Stars training camp started yesterday at H-E-B Center. Check out the roster at this link. [Texas Stars]
Training Camp: Day 1 📸 pic.twitter.com/vSXkf8hTlI
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) October 3, 2022
Finally
Finnish Mafia or Swedish Murder Machine? Welcome to Gangs of Big D.
Finns vs Swedes? 🇫🇮🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/fwKCr6vMHg
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 4, 2022