17 Comments
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Pat's avatar
Jun 10Edited

Great piece and a lot to think about.

As for the Stars biggest needs you stated:

"Dallas’ priorities should be finding a top four right-shot defender next to either Esa Lindell or Thomas Harley, and getting a right wing for Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston."

I am 100% on board with the RD needs. Besides Tanev, I don't remember one quality RD that Nill brought either by trade, UFA or via the draft. That's clearly is Achilles' heel.

On the other hand, I am not sure why you are saying that we need a right winger. I am more inclined to say that we need a quality left winger. Maccelli maybe?

LW-Hintz-Rantanen

Robertson-Johnston-Bourque/Seguin

LW-Steel-Bourque/Seguin

AHL or under a 1M$ forwards

I did not put Marchment in there since I am 97% sure he will be traded.

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Bob Hora's avatar

I think trading Robo is a bad move and that thought process may be based on recency bias. Put him on a line with the right center and winger. Put him with Johnston and, say, a connor brown-type person, and you will have two lines that rival the best in the league.

Agree on the RD - now how to get rid of dumba, lybusch, Ceci....I still like Lindqvuist and haven't given up on him. Hopefully I'm not guilty of a "Honka"...

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Schluck's avatar

Keep Nils if he has a fit somewhere. I don’t feel like that is with Harley, and it didn’t feel like he clicked with Esa. Bichsel could work on paper. Remind me why we can’t put esa on the right side with Harley and put Miro with Nils?

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Bob Hora's avatar

hadn't thought about Miro and Nils together and then Esa with Harley... intriguing!

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Finlay Morrison's avatar

Resigning Jaimie Benn at an inflated contract with an already tight cap space then potentially letting 100 plus points of scoring go is not going to make this team better . Also the suggestion of trading our one natural goal scorer is insane .

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Schluck's avatar

I’m not sure Benn coming back at league minimum makes sense for this team. Don’t make the next head coach have to pry the locker room away from the longstanding captain who is on a clear downward slide.

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Pat's avatar

According to David Pagnotta: "The Stars are indeed taking calls on Jason Robertson, but GM Jim Nill is hesitant to move him. As they look to free up some cap space, I'm told they are shopping Mason Marchment, who is entering the final year of his contract ($4.5M AAV)"

LOL, are we going to have your GM ideas before the flood?

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Matt Raphael's avatar

Reading this article, I feel like a professor is teaching primary school pupils (me) something about hockey.

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David Castillo's avatar

As a former teacher, I take that as a massive compliment.

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Jeff Brown's avatar

Great article David. I love the focus on the correct D. Most forget how close this team was last year to taking the Oilers to 7 with a significantly injured Tanev. Let's see if the Stars follow this blue print. I doubt it.

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Andrew S.'s avatar

I would like to see Lundkvist brought back cheaply simply because he's fine as a bottom pair or 7th D and I still think he has the potential to blossom into a micro-Harley. Admittedly his time to do that is running out though.

Would like to see Duchene back cheap and I worry that without Benn the culture could be at risk but 4 years and 7m is way to much money and term for Duchene.

Totally agree on all other UFAs. No reason to run it back

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Finlay Morrison's avatar

David you have said we need to be a better possession team which I agree with we also need to keep play makers ie Duchene does both . Marchment needs to be traded he is extremely limited and is a non possession player plus can’t score in play offs plus all the idiotic penalties

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Ron's avatar

The "sample size" drop was diabolical!

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Pat's avatar

Yeah.

And what about DeBoer sample size situation.

He went to the Conference final in 6 of 7 last year of coaching WITHOUT being able to make it to the Final. That's a much better sample to use.

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Schluck's avatar

But none went to game 7. If they did he’d have had em.

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Harrison's avatar

Fascinating read! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes for easy home cooking.

check us out:

https://thesecretingredient.substack.com

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Matt Raphael's avatar

Also I want to say, even though Rantanen is a great player and all. I rather would have given some of his 12m to a high quality defender and a quality winger instead. Maybe a bold statement, but I would feel much more comfortable going into next year.

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