Team Breakdown: The Dallas Stars are terrifying

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So, the Canucks keep losing games; essentially all but handing 1st in the west to a Central Division foe that, in my opinion, is the Western Conference’s sneakiest elite team. “Sneaky” may not be the best term because, well, this team is first in the conference, but I think many tend to write them off in comparison to other contenders around the league.

The team in question is the Dallas Stars: One of the league’s most terrifying squads for a multitude of reasons. For me, the Stars are basically a perfect team: They have the forward depth that other teams probably envy, while simultaneously deploying some of the league’s top players. Oh, and they have some of the best young talent in the NHL, with more on the way.

I have a feeling this won’t be the last time the Stars have an elite team, nor do I even think this’ll be their best shot to win a cup…

Do you know how terrifying that is for the rest of the Western Conference?

Regardless, this series only covers the best teams this season, and the Stars are ranked third on my list of ‘The Top 7 Teams in the Western Conference‘. Here’s why:

Depth in spades

The Dallas Stars’ depth chart at forward is stupid. In case you weren’t aware, this is their top nine forward group:

Robertson – Hintz – Pavelski

Marchment – Duchene – Seguin

Benn – Johnston – Stankoven

Just get out of here. That isn’t fair.

You may look at this group and think that there isn’t enough star power, and to that I say: Put some respect on Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz. While it hasn’t been the greatest season for both parties, this team is still first in the West with their two best forwards not producing at their typical clips. Do I really need to rehash just how scary this team is? There’s another gear that they could hit.

The veteran influence on this team is huge, with the team’s former superstars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin still playing at a high level in their early to mid thirties. Seguin has been stapled to Matt Duchene for the majority of this season and the two of them have found great chemistry; and Duchene providing top six+ production with a $3 million cap hit is another masterclass in asset management from general manager Jim Nill.

The ageless wonder Joe Pavelski continues to play top line minutes at 39 years old, and while his underlying form has dipped considerably, he’s still a valuable asset to a team that flexes young talent up and down the roster; spearheaded by Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven.

Johnston was a prime candidate for a sophomore slump after a stellar rookie season that saw the then 19 year-old put up 24 goals and 41 points in a full 82-game campaign. Well, it’s been 77 games and there’s no sophomore slump in sight. Johnston has exploded with 30 goals and 61 points through 77 games this season; keep in mind that this guy is turning 21 in March. The Stars have yet another potential star caliber player on their hands… or two.

Logan Stankoven – the pride of Kamloops – is someone that you need to keep tabs on for the remainder of this season and next. The 21 year-old forward has already amassed 13 points in 19 games (6 Goals, 7 assists) on the Stars’ third line with Benn and Johnston and is, in my opinion, the early favourite to win next season’s Calder Trophy. He’s dominated at every single level and it shouldn’t be any different in the NHL. Dallas has a gem.

A defence filled with analytical darlings

We all know about Miro Heiskanen. The former 3rd overall pick from 2017 has continuously proven to be one of the league’s premier defenceman each year, with this season being maybe the best of his entire career, so far. With 51 points (8-43-51) in 66 games and elite defensive results, Heiskanen is always poking into the Norris Trophy conversation but probably – and unfortunately – won’t get a nod this year due to the ludicrous seasons that guys like Quinn Hughes, Evan Bouchard and Roman Josi are currently having.

Heiskanen typically plays both the left and right side of the ice, leaving Dallas with a ton of options as to who they want to put along side him. Enter: Thomas Harley. The 2019 first round draftee has taken a massive step this season; finding himself on the Stars’ top pair after a roaring first half of the season. The Harley – Heiskanen pairing ranks 2nd in xGF% (59.3%) for defence pairs that have played over 500 minutes per moneypuck.com.

This is exactly what I’m talking about: The Stars have the weaponry to continuously find another gear whenever they need it. It’s enviable.

Chris Tanev was an excellent get ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline (I wish he was a Canuck) and his play has been excellent since his arrival. Paired up with him is Esa Lindell, who has been an underatedly incredible shutdown defenceman for quite some time now  The pair’s underlying form has shown to be amongst the best in the league, rocking a 64.6 xGF% in 173 minutes played.

Dallas has a team filled with possession monsters, especially on defence, and that’s just another key factor as to why they’re such a threat.

A quick nod to Jake Oettinger

Jake Oettinger has been going through it this season. Well, he was going through it, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case anymore.

Goaltending is incredibly fickle in the NHL: One moment Filip Gustavsson is 2nd in save percentage across the entire league and in the next he’s a below .900 SV% goalie. Goalies that are consistently elite are a rarity, even the likes of Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin are having down years in comparison to their previous form.

Oettinger has had one of those seasons. He had a negative GSAx (goals saved above expected) for the majority of the season, but has culminated enough to bring it to a 0.9 GSAx at the time I’m writing this.

They just can’t have Scott Wedgewood start too many games in the playoffs. He hasn’t been at his typically solid form this season with a -9.4 GSAx and an .899% save percentage. Not horrendous by any stretch, but certainly not what you’d like to see from your backup goalie.

So, yeah, the Dallas Stars are an absolute force. They have a team filled with talent and a fair share of elite possession players. If they’re able to get elite goaltending in the playoffs, they might just do the thing they haven’t done since 1999; hopefully without another goal that simultaneously should have and shouldn’t have counted (what a horrible rule).

There is a lot that has to go right for any team to win, but the amount of young talent and potential x-factors Dallas has at their disposable is simply unfair and a testament to just how incredible their management team is. Jim Nill’s shelf life in the NHL won’t be ending any time soon if he continues to hit dingers at every draft.

They’re elite now and are on track to stay elite for a number of years; and they’re the third scariest team in the west this season. The Dallas Stars are going to be good forever and we all just have to deal with it.

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