Defending Big D 1 hour ago
Free Agent Profile: Matt Duchene
One of the top prizes on the soon-to-be-UFA market comes with some warning lights. Matt Duchene is absolutely one of the best players headed to free agency — if he gets there. In the interest of full disclosure, we should note up front that Darren Dreger reported last week that Duchene has apparently discussed a potential extension with Columbus, though nothing appears imminent. In fact, Dreger also said a couple days ago that, well, Duchene will soon be making Tyler Seguin levels of money, wherever that may be: Dreger on Leafs Lunch: “Matt Duchene is going to get paid over $9M a...
Defending Big D 4 hours ago
Monday Links: It’s Draft Week!
With only four picks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Stars have a lot of tough decisions to make. Plus, the Ducks (finally) have a head coach, looking ahead to next season, and more. The 2019 NHL Entry Draft starts this Friday, and the Dallas Stars have only four picks — a franchise low since moving to Dallas — including only one (No. 18) in the top 100. Stars General Manager Jim Nill will obviously look at trading down to acquire more picks, but if they stay at No. 18, they have to make that one count: “The big thing is to hit on that first pick,” Nill said. “Will we have an...
SportsDay 14 hours ago
See where the Stars sit in the NHL way-too-early power rankings along with other notable teams
Is it too early to start talking about 2019-20 power rankings? Never! Well, if you ask ESPN it is. Earlier this week, ESPN came out with their way-too-early NHL power rankings for next season. Check out some of the notable rankings below. 1. Tampa Bay Lightning -- After arguably the best regular season in NHL history followed by arguably the greatest disappointment in playoff history, the lightning are poised for another big season. Can they get over that playoff mountain?2. Boston Bruins -- One win away from winning their second Stanley Cup of the decade, the Bruins return their entire core...
Derek Neumeier / Defending Big D Jun 16, 2019 
2019 NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profile: Cam York
Playing in the shadow of many talented forwards, York quietly excelled at his game. Name: Cam York Team: USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USHL) Position: Defense Stats: 28 games played, 7 goals, 26 assists, 33 points, 12 PIMs, +40 plus/minus rating NHL Central Scouting ranking: 12th (North American Skaters) Comparable NHL player: Keith Yandle Quick Star Wars question for you. Who is the only Rebel Alliance pilot to have survived both attack runs on the Death Stars, first in the film now known as A New Hope and then again in Return of the Jedi? If you guessed Wedge Antilles,...
SportsDay Jun 15, 2019
Shortage of picks magnifies Stars' first NHL draft decision, and Dallas has multiple paths to choose from
Because of a busy February, the Stars could have a quieter June.The Stars only have four picks in next week's draft -- which begins Friday night in Vancouver with the first round, and continues with rounds 2-7 on Saturday -- after trading three of them away during last season. Dallas does not have a second-round pick (lost in the Mats Zuccarello trade deadline deal), third-round pick (in acquiring Ben Lovejoy) or a seventh-round pick (trading for Connor Carrick).Instead, the Stars hold pick Nos. 18, 111, 142 and 173, and general manager Jim Nill is open to the possibility of trading down to...
Defending Big D Jun 15, 2019
Saturday Links: The Horses**t Hangover
Between the core and The Rant, can they still attract high-end UFAs? Plus, more NHL Draft analysis, parsing the Niskanen-for-Gudas trade, and more. The Dallas Stars had a pretty good season, right? They overcame some obstacles, got their skates under them, and took the eventual Stanley Cup champions to Game 7 in Round 2. That’s a positive sign of a team on the move, right? And therefore an attractive destination for a high-end free agent who’s looking to have it all for a few years...right? Maybe not. In The Dallas Morning News, Josh Lile examines the current state of the Stars’ core...
SportsDay Jun 14, 2019
Will Jim Lites' comments impact Dallas Stars ability to sign free agents?
Free agency is around the corner. The St. Louis Blues hoisted the Stanley Cup, reminding us all of the cruel puck luck that struck Jamie Benn in overtime of game seven a mere month ago. With any luck at all on the open net wrap around he missed, St. Louis doesn't hoist the Cup. We all know it. He knows it. Potential acquisitions know it. They know how close the Stars were to being in the Western Conference Final. So, the Stars should be a prime free agency destination, right? I'm not sure.If you're a free agent looking for the best chance to win you probably want a team with a good younger...
Defending Big D Jun 14, 2019
Free Agent Profile: Gustav Nyquist
With money to spend this offseason, Gustav Nyquist is a player the Stars will want to target. The Dallas Stars need to upgrade their top-six forward corps by one, but preferably two players and they have the cap space to do it. One of the most popular names is obviously Mats Zuccarello and rightfully so. He looked great both on the stat sheets and in person this season. Another is Jordan Eberle, who unfortunately for the Stars, just signed a five-year extension with the New York Islanders. With free agency looming and the pool of players dwindling, one of the other players that fans should...
Defending Big D Jun 14, 2019
Friday Links: Impact-Tested
From Jamie Langenbrunner to Jamie Benn, The Athletic picks the 19 who mattered most. Plus, the preseason schedule, offseason questions, and more. The NHL Entry Draft is still a week away, so it seems like a good moment to reflect on the players who have made Dallas Stars history, and what made them so special. So as part of a summer series at The Athletic, Sean Shapiro, Bob Sturm and Saad Yousuf have chosen the 19 biggest impact players in Stars history – from Jamie Langenbrunner to Jamie Benn. Bob takes on the task of summing up Mike Modano’s contribution not just to the organization,...
SportsDay Jun 13, 2019
2020 Stanley Cup odds: Dallas Stars not listed among favorites despite falling to eventual champion St. Louis
It has been more than a month since the final horn sounded to signal the end of the Dallas Stars season.After falling to the St. Louis Blues in double overtime in the seventh game of their second-round playoff series, the Stars sat and watched as the team that took them down hoisted the Stanley Cup five weeks later in Boston.Now that the 2018-19 season has officially come to a close, it's time to look ahead to next year and to which team could potentially be in line to have their names engraved into history. At the start of the offseason, oddsmakers are lukewarm (at best) on Dallas' chances...
Defending Big D Jun 13, 2019
Stars Announce Development Camp, Preseason Schedules
You now have a date to set a countdown for until the next hockey game. Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded, the 2018-2019 NHL season is officially done. That means the league as a whole can start looking towards the next season — and the Dallas Stars did just that today when they announced some key dates. Development Camp Schedule & Roster Announced While most NHL players are in full offseason mode, newer prospects and invitees will gather in Dallas the week after the draft for development camp to get familiar with the Stars organization. Typically, these sessions are more about...
SportsDay Jun 13, 2019
2018 first-round pick Ty Dellandrea among players invited to Stars development camp
The Stars will get a glimpse of the future during the team's development camp later this month, highlighted by first-round picks Ty Dellandrea, Jake Oettinger and Riley Tufte, plus additions from next week's draft.On Thursday morning, the team announced its development camp roster and schedule, which will begin June 25 and end June 28. All sessions are open to the public at the Comerica Center in Frisco.Other notables invited to camp include forward Jason Robertson (2017 second-round pick who led the OHL with 117 points this season), forward Tye Felhaber (an undrafted signing who was second...
SportsDay Jun 13, 2019
Stars to open preseason against Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues
Just as the Stars ended the 2019 postseason, they will begin the 2019 preseason: against the St. Louis Blues.The Stars announced their preseason schedule for the 2019-20 season on Thursday morning, headlined by the preseason opener at home against the Stanley Cup champion Blues on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and a return trip to St. Louis on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. The Blues eliminated the Stars with a double-overtime victory in Game 7 of the second round before winning their next two series on their way to the Stanley Cup.The Stars also play home-and-homes with Central Division rivals Minnesota (in St....
Derek Neumeier / Defending Big D Jun 13, 2019 
The Dallas Stars Should Be Open To Trading Down From The 18th Pick In The Draft
With plenty of good prospects to choose from and a shortage of picks in this draft and the next, trading down could be a wise move for the Stars. The day of the annual NHL entry draft is usually one of the busiest of the season with regards to teams making trades, and it’s easy to see why. Draft lists vary significantly from team to team, so some clubs may find themselves wanting to trade up to grab someone they really want who is still available, or conversely, find themselves wanting to trade down because they think they can still get someone they like while also adding other assets....
Defending Big D Jun 13, 2019
Thursday Links: How The Stars Scout The Draft
Joe McDonnell goes over the details with Sean Shapiro. Plus, meet Alex Newhook, some team gets the Stanley Cup, and more. Check your pulse and make all your bets: The 2019 NHL Entry Draft is just over a week away. Will the Dallas Stars get an impact player in the first round? Will they keep working fifth-round magic? Will you still be speaking with them afterward? To figure it out, Sean Shapiro sat down with Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell – who called in the interview from a grocery-store parking lot in Northern Ontario, which was the only place he could get cell...
