How Does It Affect The Stars? The writing process, Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh, San Jose gets Askarov, and the future of Stars Stack

Slow season continues to not be slow season.

If you missed the news, Defending Big D is looking for writers. Stephen Meserve also put a call out for writers earlier this month, though his search might be over.

If you’re someone who is considering it — writing about the Dallas Stars either in your spare time, maybe even full time, or because you’re just a sicko for this sport (this was the category I fell into) — I hope you take that extra step. I don’t know what exactly I can do to help, but I’m certainly happy to help. I’ve set up a writing workshop channel on the Stars Discourse Discord. You can reach me (and better, heavier hitters) there, or DM me here. Leave a comment asking for a follow so we can message each other on Twitter. Whatever the hell it is, however half-baked it is, I’m game.

I quite love talking, and thinking about the writing process. There’s no real formula for how to do it other than to do it. And I don’t mean that as some milquetoast kitchen table advice. Do these three things to become a better writer and make 10K in one month! No I mean, it’s a lot like a conversation. Until it begins, you won’t know where it’s headed, or how it’ll end. So start it.

Obviously, there’s more to it than that. Being privileged enough to be partnered with a professional editor, there’s more to it than I can even comprehend (thanks Mike!). And with the All City Team coming into town, it’s starting to feel like there are more opportunities than ever. Keep that in mind as you learn to find your voice before the AI bubble bursts (because it will).

Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh

I don’t know how legit McGroarty is, but he looks fantastic, leveling up from his draft year in the NCAA after being drafted 14th overall in 2022. I have my own thoughts about the trade, as I think giving up a near-similar talent in Brayden Yager was weird on Kyle Dubas’ part (you’d think he had all the leverage), but nonetheless, Pittsburgh received arguably the best player in the trade.

However, you know where this is going. “The NHL is not a development league.” The thing about the McGroarty situation is that this wasn’t your typical ‘prospect struggled in limited minutes’ scenario. This was McGroarty’s camp openly criticizing the lack of clarity in getting a professional opportunity; again revealing how plans and strategies are not the same thing, and how it can work against teams when their logic for integrating a young player onto an NHL roster basically amounts to the old Wild West internet rule of “pics or GTFO.”

However, I often think about teams doing this as a Plan A instead of Plan Oops. For example, is there a defensive prospect similar to Lian Bichsel, but who is right-handed, that Dallas — or Stars fans rather — would consider giving up? Yes, this is my chance to plug last Thursday’s mixtape on Lian Bichsel.

But I prefer to live in a world where anything is possible. And that means, unless said player is literally the best at their position, then every player has a price. I’m not saying I’d trade Bichsel. Just saying I’m open minded to the concept.

Off the top of my head, the first potential trade that comes to mind is Bichsel for Swedish right-shot defender, and Canucks prospect Tom Willander. Like Bichsel, he fits the mold of the modern hybrid defender, with two key differences 1) he’s smaller at 6’1, and 180lbs (although it should be noted; his defense is incredibly mature) and 2) his offense is better. Granted, neither team does this. But again, it’s the concept here that counts.

Should Dallas be worried about San Jose?

No, obviously.

But I have to say, overnight Mike Grier has set the core in motion. Maybe the biggest move of all was last Friday, when goaltending’s best prospect Yaroslav Askarov got his wish, and was traded to San Jose for the Vegas pick they got in the Tomas Hertl trade (top 10 protected), David Edstrom (another former Vegas asset), and goalie prospect Magnus Chrona.

Granted, Grier is by no means perfect. Taking in cap dumps like Barclay Goodrow and Cody Ceci (!) with nothing to show for it seems like a massive miss. But the pieces are now there:

• Franchise center (Macklin Celebrini)

• Number one center (Will Smith)

• Top four defender (Sam Dickinson)

• Top four defender (Jake Walman)

• Franchise goalie (Askarov)

There’s still a ton of work to be done. They badly need right shot defenders, and until Dickinson makes the jump, their blueline is still hot, steaming garbage. But outside of that, the pieces are there. Even their forward depth, with players like William Eklund, Tyler Toffoli (weird player to bring in at this stage, but still solid), Fabian Zetterlund, Luke Kunin, and yes — former Star Ty Dellandrea.

They’ll probably be like Buffalo two seasons ago, but I don’t think this rebuild will last long. I’m a huge fan of Celebrini being able to transform both the offense AND defense overnight. It won’t be enough to make the team actively good, but it’ll move the needle. (Don’t sleep on Celebrini’s offense. While I believe Matvei Michkov is the frontrunner, Celebrini won’t be far behind, and should run neck and neck with Logan Stankoven, at minimum.)

Programming note

Whether it’s Magic: The Gathering, Ping Pong, or Jiu Jitsu (when my back was whole at least) I’ve always been competitive. Which is weird because I suck at all of those things. When I decided to write about hockey, sure, there was an element of for the love of the game. But I also wanted to smoke the rest of these MFers. I wanted to be the best. Not content to be some alternate source, I wanted to be the option for Stars writing. So when I got early wind about the All City network coming into Dallas, I actually started brainstorming how to make this place bigger and better, how to introduce more multimedia into this space despite having a face for radio, etc. In a word: how to compete. Which is insane.

This being my newsletter and all, I realize this will invite some well-meaning compliments, but this has never been, nor is it a healthy mindset. It’s also a disrespect to all the writers (from the big dogs like Mike Heika, Sean Shapiro, Saad Yousef, Matthew DeFranks, Taylor Baird, and Lia Assimakopoulos, to the forgotten gems like Carolyne Wilke, Josh Lile, and Erin Bolen) who paved — and continue to pave — the road for me. More importantly, it’s not even an active part of my own philosophy, which I also find confusing (“why do I get like this?”). ‘Growth at all costs’ is the motto of a tumor, not an open mind. Watching The Bear, Luca’s words of wisdom cut deep for someone like me.

The long-winded point here is that I’m always kind of at war with myself. On some days, I want this place to be bigger and better. Then there are the days where I just want to talk about Antonio Stranges with the other four people who want to talk about Antonio Stranges. If I’m still not arriving at the point, I guess it’s this: I want to be a better writer. Not a better content creator.

And that’s not a dig at anyone. Just that as much as I want to grow this place, the growth in the Stars media space is starting to happen.

Which means I don’t have to put pressure on myself to do something I’m not capable of. That doesn’t mean you won’t see anything new. The concept of a Stars Stack show could be super cool, but as someone who’s attempted this before, a lot needs to go right to get it right: it’s not just about on-air chemistry, but the off-air process.

Regardless, whatever happens, it’ll be on my own terms because that’s what this place is: my writing, and my voice. As long as you keep reading, I’ll keep writing. And if you have your own ideas about what you’d like read more of, let me know.

P.S. Prospect rankings

The Athletic and EPRinkside are posting their prospect rankings. The Dallas Stars have yet to show up with the former at #25 (New York Islanders, who are basically Cole Eiserman and nothing else), and the latter currently at #22 (with Brad Lambert predictably topping the charts). What’s your prediction?

It’s okay to reveal yourself, homers, but do try to be a little objective.