Tyler Seguin has always had elite offensive capabilities in his game, and the Dallas Stars and their fans have had a front row seat to the show since 2013. However, the Stars saw a different, more polished Seguin during the 2017-2018 regular season. This season, Seguin was a player that took the critical step from being someone who scored goals and racked up points, to a player that can play in any situation and in any game. In a sense, the 2017-2018 campaign was a transformative year for Tyler Seguin as a Dallas Star and NHL superstar.
if you then you
don’t love don’t deserve
me at my me at my pic.twitter.com/rSXVR0koi1— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 4, 2018
It’s safe to say that the Dallas Stars loved Tyler Seguin and he rewarded them with his best season to date. When paired with captain Jamie Benn and first-year sensation Alexander Radulov, Seguin flourished on the offensive side of the puck. He appeared in all 82 games for the second consecutive season, and tallied 40 goals and 38 assists for a total of 78 points. His goal total ranked first for the Stars and seventh in the league overall, while his point total was second to Benn’s team-leading 79 points. Seguin also improved his goal total by 14 from 2016-2017, and scored four more special teams goals from a year ago.
To go beyond his offensive stats, Seguin was noticeably better in the defensive end of the ice as well this season. Seguin posted a plus/minus of +12 — a great improvement from a year ago, which saw him record a career-worst -15. Seguin also improved in the face-off circle as he recorded a 54.9 win rate, which was three points higher than the season before. It is also important to note that Seguin was taking more face-offs in his own defensive zone on penalty kills and other higher pressure situations, and his ability to win those draws were key for the team on most nights. Along with the two stats mentioned above, he also racked up his highest blocked shots total with 44 and his lowest amount of giveaways in Dallas with 36.
40 goals in 51 seconds from 91 #GoStars pic.twitter.com/OLeXyoM5v0
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 3, 2018
If there was one player on the roster other than Jamie Benn, who exhibited elite competition and quality leadership each night, it was Seguin.
In his first season on the Dallas Stars leadership team, Seguin responded with his first 40-goal season, and joined Mike Modano and Benn as the only Stars to hit that mark. He also rewarded coach Ken Hitchcock for his belief that he could be a number-one center in the NHL. In no game was this better displayed than against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on January 15. Seguin was nothing short of fantastic. In addition to his incredible overtime winner, he recorded a 57% face-off percentage, and had over 23 minutes of ice time — mostly up against current Selke Trophy nominee Patrice Bergeron and offensive powerhouse Brad Marchand. The Stars could not have won that game without Seguin that night, especially on a road trip that served as a springboard for the team.
Seguin showed the Dallas Stars and the hockey world that he had truly arrived as a complete top-line center in 2017-2018. He also provided leadership, toughness, and on-ice awareness that proved crucial during games for the team, no matter the opponent. The most impressive aspect of Seguin’s game this season goes beyond his stats. His compete level each night was infectious, as he time and again scored huge goals to either tie or win the game for the Stars down the stretch. No more was this on display than during the epic collapse in March, as Seguin still created offense, won face-offs, and worked to attempt to alleviate some of the frustrations the team and the fans were experiencing.
Seguin’s offensive output was at an elite level all season, and the combination with Benn and Radulov proved to be overwhelmingly powerful. His maturation in the defensive portion of his game was a high improvement from a season ago, and his talent being channeled into all three zones bodes well for the Stars in the future.
So, Stars fans, how would y’all grade Tyler Seguin’s 2017-2018 season?
Grading Tyler Seguin’s 2017-2018 Season
| A – Seguin was incredible; Jim Nill should throw all the money at him this summer. | 633 |
| B – More of the same that we have been accustomed to. | 47 |
| C – Seguin was good most nights, but we need more going forward. | 3 |
| D – Seguin went through scoring droughts and it cost them the playoffs. | 1 |
| F – No way we resign him after the 2018-2019 season. | 5 |