Fraser's Preview of the 2009-10 Dallas Stars

I will be previewing all 30 NHL clubs. I will be looking at their available salary cap room, the additions and deletions from the 2008-09 rosters, and where I think they will stack up in their division and conference for the 2009-10 season. 

Let's get a move on with the Dallas Stars, which play in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference.

“I'm just going to say one thing. I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada. I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight.” 

Moments after Sean Avery called over the assembled media in the visiting dressing room at the Saddledome, some of the problems to the start of the Stars season seemed to be revealed.  Former co-G.M., Brett Hull went to bat for Avery during the off-season to get him signed to an UFA contract, but the Stars stumbled out of the gate.

Colin Campbell was quick to suspend Avery indefinitely before the Stars played the Flames that night.  The comments seemed to be pointed at Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is currently dating Avery’s ex-girlfriend and Calgary-born Elisha Cuthbert, and the NHL wanted to avoid a serious on-ice incident. 

After the comments were made, there was a noticeable decline in Phaneuf's play, but for the next couple of months, the Stars fought from 15th to as high as sixth before falling out of the playoffs by season’s end.

Stars’ leaders were very out-spoken about their happiness to see Avery out of their locker room.  Mike Modano and Marty Turco were the most outspoken about Avery and even though it seemed to be a relief to have him removed, it will cost the Stars, $1,937,500 in salary cap space over the next three years to have him out of Dallas.

Significant Additions

The unrestricted free agent deals that were signed to join the Stars this season are as follows; Alex Auld (Ottawa), Warren Peters (Calgary), Karlis Skrastins (Florida) and Jeff Woywitka (St. Louis).

Significant Deletions

The unrestricted free agents that have moved on from Dallas are; Steve Begin (Boston), Chris Connor (Pittsburgh), Brendan Morrison (Washington) and Joel Lundqvist and Sergei Zubov went home to play in their home countries, Sweden and Russia, respectively.

Remaining Stars, which are yet to have signed a deal with another franchise, are; John Lammers, Alexander Naurov, Mark Parrish, Tobias Stephan, Darryl Sydor and Landon Wilson.

The Stars currently have 22 players, 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies with roster spots heading into training camp.  Currently with the Avery cap hit, the Stars are sitting at $48.9 million for their salary cap.

Top Young Faces in the Organization

The Dallas Stars will have three young players on two-way contracts that made impacts last season.  Fabian Brunnstrom, Jamie Neal and Matt Niskanen will look to lead the Stars now and in the future.

Here are the top young faces that will be looking to impress the Stars’ organization this season. 

Ivan Vishnevskiy

With the rash of injuries that decimated the Stars last season, Vishnevskiy played in three games last season, his first professional season after his junior career in the QMJHL. 

He had his first career assist on Apr. 9 against Colorado and followed it the following night with another assist against Anaheim.

The Stars’ first round draft pick (27th overall) in 2006, is projected to be a second pairing offensive defensemen and a power play quarterback.  His style has been compared to Lubomir Visnovsky.

According to hockeyfutures.com, he is a fluid skater; Vishnevskiy has all the offensive tools to become a power play quarterback in the NHL.  He’s undersized and only average in his own end, two things that will work against him at the professional level. 

However, he has the vision and skill set that enables him to be a great puck-mover.  Reads plays well and has the skating ability to stay in the play defensively, but isn’t consistent enough in that regard. 

He needs to figure out a way to handle power forwards effectively. He is most likely heading for the American Hockey League in October but look for Vishnevskiy to be a call-up at some point during the season.

Jamie Benn

Dallas’ fifth round draft pick (129^th Overall) in 2007 helped lead the Kelowna Rockets to a surprising Western Hockey League Championship and played in the finals of the Memorial Cup against the eventual CHL champs, the Windsor Spitfires.

Along the way, Benn was the leading scorer in the Memorial Cup, a tournament all-star, a WHL West First Team All-Star and he won a Gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Championships.

New Stars’ General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk is quoted as saying "I don't think we're targeting them to make the roster, but if someone comes in and blows us out of the water, much like what we saw with Luke Schenn in Toronto, then we've got to take a look at them."

According to hockeyfutures.com, Benn is a pure sniper with both good shooting abilities and dekes in close.  He showed consistent and rapid improvement over the course of the 2006-07 season. 

He has an uncanny knack for finding loose pucks, finding the space to make himself available for a pass and being in the right spot to bury rebounds.  His skating is average at best. 

At 6’2, 203 lbs he doesn’t use his size particularly well and he’s not an overly physical force.  He is extremely effective when he has the time to set up and shoot or on odd-man rushes.  His defensive play is limited and will need improvement.

Dallas has a lot of depth down the left side, so look for Benn to spend the season down in the American Hockey League.

Philip Larsen

The Stars’ fifth round pick (149^th Overall) in the 2008 NHL entry draft, this Danish born defenseman has spent the last three seasons playing in the Swedish Elite League. 

The 19-year-old has signed his entry level contract and should be in North America for the upcoming hockey season.

According to hockeyfutures.com, Larsen has average size, but other than that, he shows a rather all-round arsenal of skills. He is blessed with good speed, technical skills and very good hockey sense.

Really a smart player who sees openings that many other players are unable to. He plays mature and appears to be relaxed and confident on the ice.

Perhaps more noticeable offensively than defensively, but Larsen is rather solid in his own end, despite having to work with the physical aspect of the game.

He is most likely heading for the American Hockey League in October.

Perttu Lindgren

The Dallas Stars’ third round pick (75th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft, spent last season in his native Finland, playing for Lukko Rauma. 

The 22-year-old center is entering the final year of his entry-level contract and went home last year after spending the previous season in the AHL.

According to hockeyfutures.com, Lindgren is a finesse player whose stickhandling, vision and skating are second to none in his parts. Traditionally a playmaker, he is now preying more and more on the net with sniper instincts.

Lindgren's physique doesn't make him ill-prepared for physical play and he can fend for himself, but to harass opponents with hits is simply something he doesn't do. He is a center not quite in the optimized 2000's mold and he usually isn't the one to play fore-check.

His two-way game focuses on cutting passing lines and directing transitions. Lindgren's offense needs to be harnessed if he is to be of proper use in the NHL, and while he isn't the first in line for the scoring lines, he isn't that far off either.

If Lindgren does not make the Stars coming out of training camp, this maybe his final opportunity to stick with the Stars organization.  He may decide to stay in North America, but history suggests he would probably prefer to go back to his native Finland.

Scott Glennie

Dallas’ first-round pick (eighth overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft and the organization’s highest draft pick since they selected Ric Jackman, fifth overall in the ’96 Entry Draft, has spent the last two seasons playing for Brandon in the Western Hockey League. 

He was drafted three spots after his junior line mate Brayden Schenn, who went fifth overall to Los Angeles.

According to Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire, “Scott Glennie was mislabeled earlier in the year as perhaps being only a finisher for often linemate Brayden Schenn.

"Yet Scott took matters into his own hands with an equal number of goals and assists and contributed greatly this season with a power forward type attitude.

"Glennie might remind the fan of NHL players with power forward abilities coming off the wall like Jonathan Cheechoo and Jonathan Toews, that kind of offensive ability.”

His head coach and GM in Brandon, Kelly McCrimmon had this to say about Glennie: “Scott is a gifted offensive player. He is a tremendous skater, an excellent puck handler, and scores many different ways. He has huge upside.”

With Brandon has the host of the 2010 Memorial Cup, Glennie will likely be heading back to the Western Hockey League as a 19-year-old.

Recap of 2008-09

Last season was a disaster in the Lone Star State.  Between the management situation, the Avery distraction and the major injuries to their key personnel, new head coach Marc Crawford and first year General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk will be looking for the Stars to bounce back.

Between the injuries to; Brad Richards (26 games), Brendan Morrow (64 games), Sergei Zubov (72 games) and Jere Lehtinen (34 games), if the Stars have any chance to bounce back from an off-season, they will need their top players to stay healthy.

The Stars were third in the Pacific Division and 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 36-35-11 for 83 points. 

The Stars’ offensive was lead by Ribeiro (22 goals and 78 points), youngster Loui Eriksson (36 goals) and rookie Jamie Neal (24 goals) all broke the 20 goal-plateau.  The Stars as a team ranked 20th in goals for and 25th in goals against.

The Stars’ power play ranked 27th in the NHL, clicking on only 15.4 percent of their chances and the penalty killing was tied for 24th.

Outlook for 2009-10

If the Stars are to return to the playoffs this season they will need to stay healthy and have a bounce back year by goaltender Marty Turco. 

Turco had the worst statistical season of his NHL career.  With Turco entering the final year of his contract and the presence of capable back-up Alex Auld, I look for improved play in between the pipes.

The defence has no big names but they have some capable defensemen.  Much like the Hurricanes of 2006, the d-core is experienced but without a lot of flair.  Gone are Zubov and Sydor, replaced with Skrastins and Woywitka. 

The highest scoring defenseman last season was Matt Niskanen, with 35 points.  The weakness of the Stars will be their defense, and they will need a huge season from Turco to even get a sniff of the playoffs.

If everyone can remain healthy, the Stars should have as many as nine double-digit scorers and possibly as many as six 20-goal scorers.  They are talented up front but will that be enough?

The skilled defensemen are coming but they may still be a year or two away.  For now, Nieuwendyk will have to try and keep the ship from sinking but remember, he has been around GM’s like Cliff Fletcher, Brian Burke, Bob Gainey and Lou Lamoriello. 

The Cornell grad has the smarts and the skills to re-build the Stars and they only are one or two players away from a return to the playoffs.

There may be many shoot-outs down in Texas and I’m not talking the ones after overtime.  If they remain healthy they should score more goals but I believe their defense has taken a step back. 

With the Kings, Oilers, Blue Jackets, and Predators looking to get back into the playoffs, I believe the Stars should finish fourth in the Pacific Division and between 12th and 14th in the tough Western Conference.

On Aug. 23, I will be reviewing the Detroit Red Wings as I continue to preview each of the 30 NHL clubs. Look for my four-part article on how I would improve the NHL and my other previously published articles on bleacherreport.com.