Stars Stuff: Dallas beats Carolina 2-1, a measured response to Elliotte Friedman's thoughts on a potential Tanev deal, Mavrik Bourque, and more.
Plus a preview versus the Islanders tonight.
Dallas deserved a better fate than their recent 0-4 skid would indicate because they are a very good team. Beating Carolina may not have my been what I personally predicted (I figured they’d be on fumes being on the tailend of this road trip), but it’s something they were due. So the 2-1 outcome both is and is not surprising, but who came for that? You just want to talk about Logan Stankoven like me, right?
If you’ve been with us since jump street then you know the score: of course Stankoven was good!
His first shift he cracked the neutral zone and immediately made a rush entry beeline. It’s the kind of the work you can expect to see from shift-to-shift. I noticed early on that — perhaps owning to his inexperience — Dallas’ blueline was not giving him the puck when he was open for the breakout (sometimes opting for high flips even without pressure), which is unfortunate, because his coast-to-coast ability is pure filth.
I saw people’s replies on Twitter, but I stand by it: I’d rather see Stankoven with Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene. Why? Because I think being with Duchene will maximize his offense; with Benn and Johnston it’s really just Wyatt pulling that line by its bootsraps. At least Marchment has been productive while being propped up. Benn has not been. The other thing is that I like Ty Dellandrea with Benn and Johnston. If you’re not gonna have a line that can score, there are other ways they can be effective.
The counterargument to all of this is that, well — him and Wyatt Johnston were kind of on an island in terms of high grades, comparatively speaking.
This is not a hill I’m looking to expire on. It was just my gut analysis. Stankoven will be a boon to whatever line he’s on because he’s so layered as an attacker. Granted, this is where his story ends for the foreseeable future because he was sent back down to Cedar Park, but it’s very clear that the Stars will require his services sooner rather than later.
Elliotte Friedman replies to the NHL Network’s modest proposal
A funny thing happened on Friday while I was running my mouth on Twitter. Elliotte Friedman reached out to me. It was a quick and straightforward message about appreciating criticism, and respecting the work we do here (I really do consider subscribers integral to what gets written here, and not just because Stars fans literally help pay for my resources). Which is interesting, since my comment could be construed as less-than-charitable.
That, of course, wasn’t my intention. Sure, I tend to trade in pleasantries for criticism at times, but in my view, that is very different than courtesy. No, I have no interest in carrying anyone’s water, and yes, I have an axe to grind. But I carry water for developing hockey fans, and that axe is for the whetstone of shared discovery. I emphasize this so that nobody ever wields that axe on my behalf to be a dick to others.
This is what I dig about Friedman’s work. Insider reporting mostly doesn’t interest me. It’s an uncontested rumor mill, and the only distinction between legitimacy and lazy whispers is prophecy fulfilled. Friedman, conversely, provides just the right blend of analysis and perspective to dress the rumors, which is why no column is more essential to the hockey world than 32 Thoughts. Him reaching out to me is also not out of ordinary. He routinely does this with other writers, and even fans. Hockey needs more people like Friedman: people that are accessible. Accessibility, after all, tends to be the problem with this sport.
So…about that trade.
First let’s talk about Ty Dellandrea
Let’s back up. Yes, I’d do this trade in a heartbeat. But I want to back up and talk about Dellandrea because I feel like nobody is putting respect on his name.
Who is Dellandrea? If we look at where Dellandrea was drafted, and consider the loose statistical profile of what a trajectory looks like for players with his production levels in juniors, this is what he looks like.
There’s no chance he becomes a star, nor was that ever the expectation. (For now we’ll table the part about whether he should have been drafted where he was to begin with.) But his chances of being an everyday NHLer have increased to near-mathematical certitude. He has one full season under his belt; and it was a success was it not? He can penalty kill, he can occasionally make plays like this awesome one.
Or this one.
And yes, he can take penalties too.
But I just don’t see how fans can reflect on his performance last year and so flippantly call him an afterthought. Simply put, we don’t know that much about him. Some might point out “but he’s had opportunities this season.”
When?
Isn’t this exactly what fuels the Nils Lundkvist debate?
I don’t believe Dellandrea is some budding superstar. But I would say — again, this all in a vacuum — he earned his Everyday Badge last year. His timeline exists outside of the Pavelskis, Duchenes, Smiths, and Dadonovs of the world, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have a respectable career.
Just saying.
Re: Dellandrea and a 2024 second rounder for Chris Tanev
Of course!
Just because I think highly of Dellandrea doesn’t mean I think highly enough to see Dallas botch an obvious upgrade. Sean Shapiro was kind enough to confirm on Twitter, as Friedman had, that the Stars don’t want to part with Dellandrea, and that this would be a difficult trade for them.
This is a classic case of the endowment effect i.e. when people are reluctant to part from an asset that belongs to their ‘endowment.’ In this case, is it possible that Dallas sees giving up Dellandrea and a pick as more painful than the pleasure of obtaining Tanev? If so, that would be line with modern psychology. And it’s something we see pretty routinely in hockey in general. Just look at Columbus’ valuation of Boone Jenner.
As for Tanev, I wrote quite a bit about him in my scouting report for defensive trade targets. TL;DR version? He’s the truth. Final verdict? Dallas would be insane to pass on this theoretical deal. Again, emphasis on ‘theoretical.’ We have no idea what’s actually being offered.
Mavrik Bouque keeps trucking
While Bourque doesn’t have his best buddy, Stankoven, in the AHL, he hasn’t slowed down. In fact, he tallied a pair of assists through the weekend thanks to some (per usual) slick passing.
Bourque is now tied with Stankoven for the AHL-lead in points with 57. It’s a little unfair to Stankoven, but also not really. These two won’t be in the AHL much longer anyway.
Dallas vs. Islanders tonight
Usually teams get something of a new coach bump, but that has definitely not happened with the New York Islanders, who only have three wins in their last 10 and are nine points back of the second wild card spot. Is this on Patrick Roy? Despite his reputation (in analytic circles at least), the Isles have graded out okay. But there’s clearly only so much you can do with that roster. As a result, the Stars are very heavy favorites.
New York simply can’t score at even strength, ranking 26th. The Stars have a real chance to start putting a light squeeze on the top spot in the Central.
The Faksa line actually does spend time in the O-zone. They lack the ability to finish. With his cap hit he has little trade value. He is a heavy body in the playoffs. Having said that, I sometimes wonder if Karlstrom couldn't do many of the same things as Faksa. Better skater, much cheaper cap hit, and better hands.
At present, Ty is the odd one out. He provides the same output as others, and given the contract specifics and demographics of the current roster, he is the logical piece that provides value to a trade partner.