Internet Hotstove: Dallas Stars

Internet Hotstove is a series where Last Word On Sports asks the opinions of respected bloggers from around the internet about their team’s chances in the 2013-14 NHL Playoffs. The goal is to get a broad view of opinion from around the league as an alternative to other playoff previews.

The Dallas Stars were one of the busiest teams this offseason as GM Jim Nill renovated a team that had failed to make the playoffs for the past six years. Acquiring Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley and Shawn Horcoff quickly addressed a lack of depth in the middle. Seguin, particularly, developed incredible chemistry with Stars captain Jamie Benn and has had the best season of his career. In these two offensive weapons the Stars have a chance at making quite the announcement in their playoff return.

Meet the Blogger:

Brad Gardner- Managing Editor at DefendingBigD.Com @DefendingBigD

1. Who is the Stars biggest playoff X-Factor?

There are some teams that can answer such a question and not give their goaltender so much as a thought- Though they probably should. Teams like Phoenix and Nasvhille praise their goaltenders despite knowing their style of play and scheme set their goaltenders, no matter who they are, up for success relative to others. Then there are others, the Red Wings of the 90’s and early 2000’s, for example, that possess the puck so much that their choice of netminder and salary dedicated to the position seemed almost trivial.

The Stars fall somewhere in between, being a team in transition. A team in Jim Nill’s very first year of a rebuild. And yet Kari Lehtonen must still be the answer. The Stars are a “top ten” possession team this season, if you like Corsi and Fenwick numbers, but a perplexing blue-line and questionable depth in the forward ranks see them as an underdog in nearly every meaningful statistical category. Against the Ducks, on the road, without last change, they will struggle to create offense, and mightily. Kari Lehtonen is the only one that can seriously steal this season for the Stars. He has to be the x-factor.

2. How important has the Tyler Seguin trade been for the team?

It’s been everything for this team. Lindy Ruff has, throughout his career, assessed what kind of groceries he has in his bag before deciding what kind dish he’ll prepare, and that’s what he did this season. With Seguin as his premier ingredient, he planned his meal around it- Speed, speed and more speed, with a side of skill. Seguin played 80 games and was fourth in the league in scoring. That drove the bus, and though he may not have worn an “A” in his first season here, he was the de-facto leader where style of play is concerned. The loss of Loui Eriksson was tough, but Seguin dictates pace- and you can’t put a price on a talent like that. It doesn’t hurt from a marketing and “butts in the seats” angle either.

3. The Stars special teams have not been very good this year. Will that factor at all in the playoffs?

Special teams and goaltending is the old axiom, and there’s been little evidence that diminishes their importance in these short series. We like to talk about advanced metrics as indicators over 82 games, but in 11 days a couple of kills here or there or a power play goal can affect the fortunes of many. Certainly it will be a factor. Dallas media, us included, have been waiting to write “power play finally costs Stars season” for months now, and there’s a pretty good chance that narrative rears its ugly head before it’s all said and done. The Stars’ power play has been nothing less than atrociously inconsistent this season and we know it.

4. What would a successful playoff run be for the Stars?

They’re here, at least. They’ve got that going for them. People don’t like to hear this and it’s not often said, but… To make it into the tournament is a huge step forward for this franchise. It’s mission accomplished already. You’ll never hear anyone that works or plays for Dallas say that, but it’s the truth. For a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in six calendar years, how could it not be? This series will yield, regardless of length, critical experience for so many that have not yet experienced it, including Jamie Benn, Brenden Dillon, Valeri Nichushkin, Alex Chiasson, Antoine Roussel, Cody Eakin, Ryan Garbutt, Patrik Nemeth… the list goes on. Plus it’s a huge test for Kari Lehtonen. What happens matters not. The experience will benefit them. The memory of it will drive them. Jim Nill will give them the tools they need to repeat it. And go farther.

5. How far do you expect the Stars to go?

The Stars are becoming an unusually trendy pick for a #1 vs #8 upset, if the national media is any indication. Personally I do not see it. I think the experience will be great, and all of that, but the team lacks a real offensive threat behind the Seguin/Benn line. The blue line is inexperienced and over-matched in this setting. The Ducks control last change in four of the seven, not to mention an experience advantage, and those things will end a fun year for Dallas. I think they can win two games, and I think they will go out with their heads held very high in Nill and Lindy Ruff’s first seasons.

 
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