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Go go Goligoski With baseball going away sooner rather than later and basketball probably not showing up at all, on a day-to-day basis, the Stars may be all we have.
So, let's embrace them. Fully. And lovingly.
I'd love to come on here and write intelligently about the Dallas Stars and provide some kind of preview as to what to expect.
I know they have a new coach. They don't have a new owner. They let their best player (Brad Richards) walk, but signed about half a dozen players in his stead.
I also know they are young and not very deep. This killed them last season despite leading the Pacific Division for three-quarters of the year before collapsing late in an extremely tough division, I might add.
Other than that, I'm a big dum-dum despite really liking this team.
So, I went out and dug up any relevant preview for the Dallas Stars that I could find online. Here they are for you.
Defending Big D
Two of their "contributors" have the Stars in eighth place, which I guess means they make the playoffs. Everyone else is not so confident.
ESPN
A lot made out of Richards' departure and Jamie Benn's need to take another step. Also, they take note of the possibly improved blue line with Alex Goligoski around the entire year and the potential of Sheldon Souray. A potential huge boon. Hell, can't hurt.
Yahoo!
These boys admit depth at the wing positions, but cite shortcomings at defenseman and goalie as the issue that will keep the Stars outside of the playoffs. You keep reading shit from around the nation and you realize that no one believes that Kari Lehtonen is a top-shelf goalie. That's alarming. Or is he like Tony Romo and you can "win with a guy like that"?
Pro Hockey Talk
Again, Brad Richards. Although I don't argue against the idea that losing your best player wouldn't be detrimental to your team, I felt all of last season that the Stars top five players were maybe as good as any other team's top five. It was the players at the bottom that dragged them down. Letting Richards walk and signing those other guys like Mike Ryder and Souray help with that. They have the Stars finishing 12th or so in the conference.
The Hockey Writers
Share my opinion that the added depth goes further than keeping a calibre player like Richards. Have the Stars finishing seventh in the conference.
Sports Illustrated
Another common theme is Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson. Most tie the team's success to Benn and Eriksson's ability to break out ... as in bigger than they already have. Benn went from 41 points in 2009-10 to 56 last season in 13 less games. Eriksson's goal-scoring numbers dipped last year although his point total jumped to 73 off the force of 46 assists. His role in the power play jumped to 25 points with the extra man. If both of them take a next step, you're looking at 85 points apiece with 40 goals each. Or thereabouts.
Uwe Blog
I've got faith. I think having a new, young voice in Glen Gulutzan will help. This is a team that had 42 wins and 95 points and finished last in the Pacific and a mere win out of the playoffs. I think the quantity over quality is important for the Stars. Instead of blowing your load on one great player, why not solidify the back end of your roster? Make players Nos. 28, 29 and 30 better instead of No. 1. I think they finish third in the Pacific Division and sixth in the conference. Fuck it. There's no basketball.
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