I understand the urge to experiment with Bunting joining Benn and Duchene, but Duchene seems to have unlocked all of that untapped offensive potential from Steel. Ultimately, the Stars need a 3rd line, and Steel - Duchene - Benn seems to be it, so just let it roll.
Figure out what to do with Bunting once Rantanen is back.
Gulutzan said he split them up because he felt both middle six lines were getting a little stale, hence swapping the two LWs. But I wonder who’s playing RW on that line once Rantanen gets back. Wouldn’t shock me to see Steel-Hryckowian-Bourque at some point next week, along with 58-53-96.
Robert, when I read the stuff about the boil, I skipped the hockey (I'll go back!) and came straight to the comments - **there is nothing better than a good crawfish boil**! It IS a party, with great food!
Cook the crawfish by themselves, in CLEAN water, with all the spices, veggies, sausage, etc. in a separate pot. After the veggies cook (10 min or so), bring that pot down to 140 degrees, than add the cooked crawfish for the soak (the longer you soak, the spicier they'll be. I recommend 30+ min.)
No matter how much you purge and wash the crawfish, you'll be surprised at how muddy the first pot will be. Soak separate from the mud!
Ok, the hockey stuff was damn good, too. Your detailed and insightful coverage is unwavering!
Gully, Graham, and JN2 continue to impress! It's like they know what they're doing or something! ;)
Steel and Bourke have definitely stood out lately. Sam, showing what he can do with quality minutes, has been so huge. And you can almost see Mav's confidence build with every game. Awesome to watch! Can't believe they're both at the top of that chart!
(but when you said "would you like to hazard a guess..", maybe just because of the way you put it - but I immediately thought "Sam Steel"! ha!)
Keep up the great work, cheers my friend! (now I'll be thinking 'bout crawdads all day! thanks! lol)
I have only been following the Stars (and by extension, hockey) for a few years, and I can't believe this is the first mention I've seen of Skating Distance. I should have trusted my gut and asked the question even as a newbie. It was SO obvious to me that the Stars were skating a LOT more than the other teams. Fans on social media saying the Stars were out of gas and I was like, "Yeah, duh!" I wouldn't have known how or where to check for stats/comparisons, though I did Google it once and got nowhere.
I'd say that adjusting play to reduce the amount of skating required has had a big impact already. I hope it's going to pay off big in the playoffs.
The other stuff is good news too - I just got excited to see something confirmed that I've suspected all along.
I never really thought of the Pete DeBoer teams as piling up a lot of skate mileage. But now that I am thinking of it…yeah, they did. I did know that PDB had a fast break mentality and that he prized generating chances on the rush. They also played man to man in their defensive end, which requires more skating.
The Glen Gulutzan Stars are more of a patient, puck possession, cycling, pass the puck around kind of team, which might be a better fit for their current roster. I’m no longer a Glen Gulutzan skeptic. That guy knows pucks, and his team is buying in to his way of playing the game.
I understand the urge to experiment with Bunting joining Benn and Duchene, but Duchene seems to have unlocked all of that untapped offensive potential from Steel. Ultimately, the Stars need a 3rd line, and Steel - Duchene - Benn seems to be it, so just let it roll.
Figure out what to do with Bunting once Rantanen is back.
I think it’s all gonna change soon enough, yeah.
Agree! I couldn’t help but think, reading the tail end of this newsletter, “Soooo why are we splitting up DJ Steel (to borrow Castillo’s shorthand)?”
Gulutzan said he split them up because he felt both middle six lines were getting a little stale, hence swapping the two LWs. But I wonder who’s playing RW on that line once Rantanen gets back. Wouldn’t shock me to see Steel-Hryckowian-Bourque at some point next week, along with 58-53-96.
Robert, when I read the stuff about the boil, I skipped the hockey (I'll go back!) and came straight to the comments - **there is nothing better than a good crawfish boil**! It IS a party, with great food!
For those that want to try, I recommend the two-pot method - https://youtube.com/shorts/8F0GCdx-sBc?si=WCdGCbuH39I3jdub.
Cook the crawfish by themselves, in CLEAN water, with all the spices, veggies, sausage, etc. in a separate pot. After the veggies cook (10 min or so), bring that pot down to 140 degrees, than add the cooked crawfish for the soak (the longer you soak, the spicier they'll be. I recommend 30+ min.)
No matter how much you purge and wash the crawfish, you'll be surprised at how muddy the first pot will be. Soak separate from the mud!
Anyway... Go STARS!
I now would like every story on this website to have a comment with a delicious recipe. This is great, Duane!
Ok, the hockey stuff was damn good, too. Your detailed and insightful coverage is unwavering!
Gully, Graham, and JN2 continue to impress! It's like they know what they're doing or something! ;)
Steel and Bourke have definitely stood out lately. Sam, showing what he can do with quality minutes, has been so huge. And you can almost see Mav's confidence build with every game. Awesome to watch! Can't believe they're both at the top of that chart!
(but when you said "would you like to hazard a guess..", maybe just because of the way you put it - but I immediately thought "Sam Steel"! ha!)
Keep up the great work, cheers my friend! (now I'll be thinking 'bout crawdads all day! thanks! lol)
Guess we know who’s hosting the first annual Stars Thoughts Crawfish Boil this August! Cheers, Duane.
With some help, that can happen! 😁 Let’s make it June, though? A “Victory” celebration?
Now you’re talking! Don’t think I won’t hold us to this…
Ha! Would like nothing more! (especially if we're celebrating! :)
Robert, I think one of your problems is that July 4th is quite late to be having a crawfish boil. You do those in the spring! June at the latest!
Late June at Duane’s, everyone. Be there!
I have only been following the Stars (and by extension, hockey) for a few years, and I can't believe this is the first mention I've seen of Skating Distance. I should have trusted my gut and asked the question even as a newbie. It was SO obvious to me that the Stars were skating a LOT more than the other teams. Fans on social media saying the Stars were out of gas and I was like, "Yeah, duh!" I wouldn't have known how or where to check for stats/comparisons, though I did Google it once and got nowhere.
I'd say that adjusting play to reduce the amount of skating required has had a big impact already. I hope it's going to pay off big in the playoffs.
The other stuff is good news too - I just got excited to see something confirmed that I've suspected all along.
I think the best stats are ones that tell you a story. And certainly this one does, including the story you wrote beforehand!
Great stuff, Robert.
I never really thought of the Pete DeBoer teams as piling up a lot of skate mileage. But now that I am thinking of it…yeah, they did. I did know that PDB had a fast break mentality and that he prized generating chances on the rush. They also played man to man in their defensive end, which requires more skating.
The Glen Gulutzan Stars are more of a patient, puck possession, cycling, pass the puck around kind of team, which might be a better fit for their current roster. I’m no longer a Glen Gulutzan skeptic. That guy knows pucks, and his team is buying in to his way of playing the game.