2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Dallas Stars
by James Mirtle on Sep 20, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
6 comments
Who's in: Alex Auld, Karlis Skrastins, Jeff Woywitka
Who's out: Steve Begin, Joel Lundqvist, Brendan Morrison, Mark Parrish, Tobias Stephan, Darryl Sydor, Sergei Zubov
Outlook: Much like the Avalanche, the Stars are a relatively new franchise that's enjoyed a lot of recent success but which is in for a bit of a rough stretch.
Owner Tom Hicks, one of a few in financial distress these days, canned two-headed GM monster Les Jackson and Brett Hull in early June and handed the reins to former Stars star Joe Nieuwendyk, a rookie GM only two seasons removed from life as an NHL player. Nieuwendyk's first call in the hot seat was a controversial one, as he turfed long-time head coach Dave Tippett and brought in Marc "Crow" Crawford to attempt to turn things around.
In terms of on-ice personnel, the losses weren't overwhelming, although Sergei Zubov signed in the KHL and a handful of other depth players exited stage left as the team's budget was heavily slashed. The inbox wasn't exactly overflowing either as Karlis Skrastins constituted Nieuwendyk's big buy in free agency. He also pulled off a savvy deal to bring in Alex Auld as Marty Turco's backup, rectifying one of the real faux pas of the two-headed era by giving his No. 1 some support.
Dallas should improve tremendously in goal if nowhere else after finishing 29th in team save percentage last time around, although the same cast of middling defenders returns in front of Turco, and Crawford is known as anything but a defensive wizard.
Having captain Brenden Morrow in the fold full-time should also do wonders for the team's goal scoring ability, however, and that alone will make the Stars at least a bubble candidate to return to the postseason.
X-factor: Marty Turco
For a more in-depth stars preview, visit Defending Big D
For more NHL analysis, check out the McKeen's Hockey Yearbook
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It's "Les" Jackson, not Jeff
The Stars will be a hungry team this year, and if healthy, they could really surprise. And Morrow and Richards are back, which always helps.
Besides, it’s virtually the same team that went to the Western Conference Final in 2008.
Depending on Marty Turco, I think the Stars will either be really good or positively atrocious.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Sep 20, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think Jeff Jackson would make a very good NHL GM, but Notre Dame is definitely glad to have him.
by J. Michael Neal on Sep 20, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Jackson’s an assistant GM with the Leafs organization. Picked the wrong one, but it’s fixed now.
Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com
by James Mirtle on Sep 21, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Auld deal brought a great amount of skill for relatively few dollars.
In this Olympic year, there will be more back-to-back games than the past three seasons, perhaps the most in NHL history.
Backup goal tending will be at a premium.
by cubanpuckstopper on Sep 20, 2009 12:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Two years ago they challenged Detroit in the Western Conference Finals. Last year they had major injuries plus Avery and Turco’s atrocious first half. They will be better. 6th.
by red army line on Sep 22, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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