In an informal poll I never actually conducted but have extrapolated based on the tweets I see, most casual viewers and even some devoted viewers of the Dallas Stars identified two major areas of concern in the coming season: goaltending and defense. They’re half right.
While goaltending does continue to be a concern that we’re all hoping Jim Nill gets the opportunity to address (Ben Bishop would look great in victory green), the blue line? I’m not as concerned with.
The Stars play high event hockey, it’s what makes them so much fun. Yes, they do get scored on. All teams get scored on. Yes, we do seem to get scored on more than other teams. But you know what’s happening on the other end of the ice? More goals. And, usually, more goals than are getting scored on us. That’s the beauty of having Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, etc in your top six.
And speaking of Patrick Sharp, it was his landmark trade that brought Stephen Johns to the Stars in the summer of 2015. It was even speculated, at the time, that Johns was the real target of the trade, as a strong defensive prospect.
Johns was drafted by the Blackhawks 60th overall in the 2010 draft. He played four years of NCAA hockey before signing an entry level contract with the Blackhawks in 2014. He spent all of the 14-15 season with the Rockford IceHogs and the beginning of last season with the Texas Stars. In March, injuries to Jason Demers, Jordie Benn, and John Klingberg opened a spot for Johns to make his NHL debut, and he played his way into a regular roster spot for the remainder of the season, as well as the post-season games.
He showed real chemistry with Johnny Oduya and the expectation for the season is that he’ll stay in that second pairing spot.
The expectations for Jordie Benn are not so clear cut. I’ve gone on record in the past as a defender of this blue collar defenseman, and I’m not afraid to continue to do so.
The problem he ran into early in his career as a Dallas Star was an elevated expectation. He was playing a bigger role with bigger minutes which only served to highlight his mistakes. Paired with Jason Demers two seasons ago, Jordie found his niche on the third pairing and was very reliable in that spot.
Demers, however, is not a third pairing defenseman. After his promotion to second pair last season Jordie found himself with a rotating cast of linemates, and after the acquisition of Kris Russell and the promotion of Stephen Johns, out of the lineup all together. Jordie played his best hockey with Demers, and since losing him as a partner has taken a hit in possession stats. Still, he adds veteran presence to a young defensive core and is very effective in a third pairing role.
My expectation for this season is that Jordie Benn continues to fight for a spot in that third pairing. The Stars currently have eight defensmen signed, if you count Esa Lindell in that number. Jamie Oleksiak and Patrik Nemeth played 19 and 38 games respectively last season, and the fact that Johns was trusted in the second pairing role over those two says a lot about the trust this organization has in them, and I do think that Jordie Benn will continue to earn a spot over either.
If Lindell is promoted above them too, we could roll into the new season with Jordie Benn and Esa Lindell as our third pairing, which is alright with me.