DIGGING DEEP IN DALLAS
There’s a lot of Star power in town. But it’s time to do something with those high picks
DALLAS WAS THE NHL’s most aggressive team in free agency last year, whiffing on Martin Hanzal but hitting on Alexander Radulov and Ben Bishop. To evolve into a Cup threat, however, the Stars must accomplish more from within. Their draft-day bloodbath since 2009 includes Scott Glennie, Jamie Oleksiak, Jack Campbell, Valeri Nichushkin and Denis Gurianov. No team has done less with so many picks in the top half of the first round over the past decade. IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Radulov form a dynamite first line, but the Stars’ secondary scoring is weak behind them on the wings. With Hanzal undergoing spinal-fusion surgery and Jason Spezza reaching his mid-30s, even Dallas’ center depth isn’t what it appeared a year ago. LONG-TERM NEEDS: Same as the short-term ones. Dallas needs some high-end young forwards to fortify its top-six. Maybe Gurianov, Nichushkin or Riley Tufte fills that role, but it’s no guarantee. Bishop is signed through 2022-23, but given his injury-prone ways, GM Jim Nill needs to start grooming a successor in net. The Stars do have candidates for that role in Jake Oettinger and Colton Point down the road. On defense, Miro Heiskanen is an elite prospect, so the Stars have the luxury of focusing a lot of energy on their needs at forward. The other positions have help coming. CAP SITUATION: Nill will have to tighten up this time around with less than $20 million to spend and mediumimpact RFAs Stephen Johns, Mattias Janmark and Devin Shore to re-sign. Agitator Antoine Roussel is a UFA, but is he money well-spent when Dallas must prepare to give 2019 UFA Seguin $10 million a year, give or take? He’s the priority. IN THE SYSTEM 2018-19: Nichushkin wasn’t bad as an NHLer before leaving for the KHL and is expected back in October. Heiskanen has a chance to crack the lineup with his promising blend of size, smarts and skill. It isn’t a makeor-break year, though. DID YOU KNOW: John Klingberg has been nicknamed ‘The Ghost of Gothenburg’ for his pale complexion and Swedish hometown.