Dallas Stars in-depth chart 1.0. (Bonus analysis: What's NHL Network smoking)

Minus a trade, it's a good lineup. But could it be even better? Also...about that NHL Network "projected" lineup.

We can all agree that Dallas has a better lineup to start the new season than it did the last. This time last year, all the Stars had was the top line and an x-factor named Wyatt Johnston. We didn’t know Jamie Benn would have such a huge year, and spoiler alert: it isn’t likely to happen again. But the 2023-2024 season has the depth to deliver straight out the gate. The Stars are more or less taking an upgraded(ish—no thanks to the blueline) playoff roster into the regular season. There are no more “role” players. The days of Michael Raffl getting more EV minutes than Roope Hintz in the playoffs (I will never forgive Rick Bowness for this) are over. All the can-only-PK fat has been officially trimmed.

In fact, there’s even an interesting discussion about who should be the 13th forward. And that’s not even counting the potential inclusion of Logan Stankoven or Mavrik Bourque, which, granted, is a discussion for another day. Right now, the Stars have one of the deepest offensive lineups in the NHL. However, a deep lineup doesn’t mean a lineup that’s being fully maximized. That’s what armchair GM mode is for.