Reach For The Stars

By : Mike Rifkin

On Friday Dallas Stars head coach Rick Bowness has stepped down. It has also been announced that assistants Todd Nelson, Derek Laxdal, and John Stevens have been fired. In three seasons as the Stars coach Bowness had a record of 89-62-25. Bowness led the Stars to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020 and this year lost to the Calgary Flames in seven games in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

In 2021 the Stars averaged 2.84 goals per game, which is up from last season where they averaged 2.79 goals per game. They were led by Jason Robertson who had 41 goals and was second on the team with 79 points is a restricted free agent. Robertson played on the Stars top line with Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz, those three were the top three scorers for the Stars. Tyler Seguin who was limited to three games in 2020-21 scored 24 goals this season in 81 games played. Captain Jamie Benn played in all 82 games and registered 18 goals. Benn and Seguin were a combined -34, that top line of Hintz, Robertson and Pavelski were a +42. Now a lot of people don’t love the plus/minus stat but you need your best players to be better than a -34 combined. Young forwards Joel Kiviranta, Jacob Peterson, Denis Gurianov have a lot of upside to help offensively. 

Defenseman John Klingberg is a unrestricted free agent and is expected to sign elsewhere this offseason but the Stars Blue line should be in good shape. The defense led by Miro Heiskanen who had five goals and 36 points in 70 games is one of the best young defensemen in the NHL. Ryan Suter one of the best defensive defensemen of this era is signed through 2025-26 had seven goals in 82 games. Esa Lindell and Jani Hakanpaa both had four goals last season.

Goalie Jake Oettinger went 30-15-1 with 2.53 Goals Against Average, .914 save percentage and a shutout. In the Stars series against the Flames put on a show with a 1.81 GAA and a .954 save percentage. In game seven Oettinger was sensational with 64 saves on 67 shots. The 23 year old goalie is a restricted free agent and should get a very nice deal from Dallas. 

Now I am intrigued on what General Manager Jim Nill will do when it comes to changes on the roster, but when it comes to coaches I think there are two choices. Pete Deboer who was fired by the Golden Knights has been successful wherever he has been makes sense as does Alain Vigneault who was fired by the Flyers during the season. Both have had success in other places but Vigneault can help this team score consistently. Whoever Dallas hires they will be getting a very good job.