Dallas Stars Roster Set, Special Teams Settling
Today, the Dallas Stars had their first really dedicated special teams practice of the year. And while not everyone was out there, one notable skater was: Jason Robertson practiced with the top power play unit, and while he isn’t technically cleared for full duties, he looks like all but a certainty to be ready to play Thursday in Nashville.
The only two absences from practice today were Mavrik Bourque and Wyatt Johnston. Both were at the rink walking around, and Alain Nasreddine said after practice that both are dealing with minor issues that they aren’t concerned about. Of course, it’s easy to say something isn’t a concern when you have five days before your next game, so we’ll see how things go. I do think the coaches would have preferred to have Johnston in particular available today, as he is a big part of both the power play and the penalty kill, but obviously this isn’t the time of year to be pushing anyone if they’re not totally healthy.
Other than that, however, everyone was available. And then the Stars put six players on waivers right after practice today: Kyle Capobianco, Magnus Hellberg, Cameron Hughes, Kole Lind, Alex Petrovic, and Emilio Pettersen.
There is always the chance that another team claims any waived player, of course. And while no GM likes losing players they signed, it’s worth remembering that waivers are there to protect players’ chances to play in the NHL. So if someone like Lind, Capobianco, or Hellberg is claimed before tomorrow afternoon, that’s only a good thing for those players in terms of salary and opportunity. But the Stars will be hoping that, with a few days still before the NHL season starts in earnest on Tuesday, all of their plans pan out.
The most notable name from that list was Kole Lind, who had as good a preseason as any of the forwards vying for one of those final NHL roster spots. But it’s also worth noting that, while Arttu Hyry and Matěj Blümel remained in Dallas for the moment, those two players (along with Lian Bichsel) were also both waivers-exempt, which meant they could be re-assigned to the AHL at any moment, with Opening Night rosters due to the NHL by Monday, October 7.
And sure enough, Hyry, Blümel, and Bichsel were loaned to the AHL today. The most notable name not on either list is Oskar Bäck, who does require waivers. This seems to confirm our speculation here at Stars Thoughts over the last few days that Bäck will start the season in Dallas. I am not in the habit of saying “I told you so” when it comes to 13th forward spots, because I reserve gloating for Premier League games and Euchre tournaments.
Anyway, let’s get into a few observations about special teams personnel, since that was the theme of practice today:
Wyatt Johnston is going to take Joe Pavelski’s spot on the power play, according to Nasreddine. The assistant coach (who runs the Stars’ penalty kill) said with a smile today that Steve Spott (who runs the power play) had “all summer” to figure out a plan, and it looks like Johnston is going to be the one to take that spot, at least to start the year. Nasreddine cautioned that, of course, things change over 82 games, but given what Johnston has done since bursting onto the NHL scene two years ago, I would be shocked if he doesn’t stick on that top power play for a while.
Other than Pavelski/Johnston, the two power play units look to have the same personnel as last year: Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen, and Jamie Benn will stay on the top unit, while Thomas Harley, Tyler Seguin, Mason Marchment, Matt Duchene, and Logan Stankoven are set to run the second group. That continuity should be a big asset for Dallas as they look to continue being one of the best power play teams in the league (against every team except Playoff Edmonton, at least). Nasreddine mentioned this morning that “chemistry is everything” when it comes to the power play, and the Stars will be starting with a lot of it on the man advantage, which is a big…advantage.
Evgenii Dadonov took Wyatt Johnston’s place on the top power play today, but it’s entirely possible he won’t see much power play time when all the forwards are healthy, which is kind of wild to think about. Dadonov is extremely talented, which is a mild way of reminding you that he has put up 28-goal seasons multiple times in his career, but his greatest virtue might be how easy he is to plug into any of the foward lines at even-strength or on the power play. It is good to have insurance, especially when the policy comes with a highlight reel.
The penalty kill will have more turnover, as stalwarts like Radek Faksa, Ty Dellandrea, and Jani Hakanpää (and Chris Tanev) are no longer there to soak up big minutes. Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba will be stepping into those roles on the right side of the blue line, while Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell (of course) should continue to see serious time on the kill. As for the forwards, Nasredinne acknowledged they’ve had more turnover, but he pointed to players like Colin Blackwell and Oskar Bäck (unprompted!) as people they expect to step into those roles. Have I mentioned recently that I expect Bäck to start the year in Dallas? I believe I have mentioned that.
Blackwell and Sam Steel remind me in some ways of the old Antoine Roussel/Ryan Garbutt duo, except with less proclivity for Zany Antics. I’d expect them to lead the forwards in penalty kill minutes this year, all things being equal. If they can use their speed to chip in a few shorthanded goals as well, the Stars could really be a menace at special teams, particularly with Thomas Harley ready to join rushes when the chances present themselves.
Matt Duchene also mentioned after practice that he’s excited about the possibility of getting some penalty kill time this year. We’ll see how things shake out, but he said specifically that he loves the idea of battling other teams’ top players in that context. If Hintz and Johnston can do it, why not another extremely talented forward like Duchene? The Stars’ PK could continue to be not only effective at limiting chances, but dangerous on the counterattack as well.
Nasredinne also mentioned that the way the Stars’ PK is run, the players shouldn’t usually be absorbing 100 mile-per-hour slapshots, so he’s not too concerned about limiting players like Hintz from playing on the kill. That’s true enough, as most teams would certainly like to shut down those passing lanes and force quick wristers rather than loading up the cannon and battening down the hatches. Best-laid plans are always great until something goes wrong, though. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
Mavrik Bourque should get time on the penalty kill this year, though Nasreddine pumped the brakes when asked today if Bourque was a power play option as well: “I think early in the year, we’ve talked about Mavrik a lot more on the penalty kill than on the power play…but we know he has the tools and the skills to be on both specials teams.” As a reminder, this is the reigning AHL MVP we’re talking about, the same player who scored 77 points in 71 games last season. You have to be some kind of loaded not to rush a player like that onto either power play, but then, the Stars kind of are that loaded.