Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Does Dallas Have a Playoff-Caliber Blueline?

In a year or two the defense should be in pretty good shape with the young players the Stars have acquired over the last couple of years. This year however there are major concerns. I think Dillon should be given the opportunity to play regularly, maybe paired with Robidas who absolutely needs to play less minutes - I also do not like Goligoski and Robidas together. I also thought that Larsen and Fistric played their best hockey when paired together last year. So that leaves Goligoski and Daley together with Rome as the 7th defenseman. If they could obtain a veteran top 4 shutdown defenseman, the blue line would look much better.

You can have Pardy back for a sixer of Lone Star.

You can have Pardy back for a sixer of Lone Star.
- Dwight K. Schrute

Sorry, that would be a huge overpayment for Pardy and his contract.

In a year or two the defense should be in pretty good shape with the young players the Stars have acquired over the last couple of years. This year however there are major concerns. I think Dillon should be given the opportunity to play regularly, maybe paired with Robidas who absolutely needs to play less minutes - I also do not like Goligoski and Robidas together. I also thought that Larsen and Fistric played their best hockey when paired together last year. So that leaves Goligoski and Daley together with Rome as the 7th defenseman. If they could obtain a veteran top 4 shutdown defenseman, the blue line would look much better.
- jerryb

I did not have confidence in the Cam Barker experiment working, and unfortunately it did fail. But it sure would have been nice if he'd been able to do what Souray did a year ago as a reclamation project. Stars need someone this year to step into the role Souray played a year ago.

How about Alex Edler? Maybe the Nucks and Stars could put a good hockey trade together? Fantasy I know, but a guy can dream!

To Dallas: Kesler, Edler & Raymond.

To Vancouver: Jamie Benn and Jamie Oleksiak.

How about Alex Edler? Maybe the Nucks and Stars could put a good hockey trade together? Fantasy I know, but a guy can dream!

To Dallas: Kesler, Edler & Raymond.

To Vancouver: Jamie Benn and Jamie Oleksiak.
- LeftCoaster

Sorry man but any trade with Benn on the way out is not a good hockey trade.
You don't really trade a face of the franchise for spare parts.

How about Alex Edler? Maybe the Nucks and Stars could put a good hockey trade together? Fantasy I know, but a guy can dream!

To Dallas: Kesler, Edler & Raymond.

To Vancouver: Jamie Benn and Jamie Oleksiak.
- LeftCoaster

No. I would live edler but not at that cost. I don't want Kessler at all and Raymond makes no difference to me. Swap Ballard with Kessler and you can have morrow robidas and Glennie

Sorry man but any trade with Benn on the way out is not a good hockey trade.
You don't really trade a face of the franchise for spare parts.
- tootooisapunk

Spare parts?

Spare parts?
- LeftCoaster

I had quit reading at Benn, but now I see you mentioned Oleksiak too, I see your bit now, sorry I thought you were serious.

Outside looking in, (Wings fan but not here to troll) when defense is a gaping problem all year the season before and you lose Souray and replace him with Rome you are in trouble.
That said, acquiring a bunch of skilled forwards who are good solid puck control players it will keep the puck out of your own zone a bit more which will certainly help. Problem is you gave up one of your top defensive forwards (Ott) and got some guys, Jagr, Roy who are disinterested in back checking.
And while Stars fans may scream and holler that I am trolling I swear I am not when I say that Lehtonen is a pedestrian goaltender, who has never won anything and I doubt he is capable of carrying a club on his shoulders for any length of time with this batch of below average blue liners.
I love the Stars moves this off season, I read that Arnott is working out with the club which would be a great pick p to go with the other forwards. I like Eakin a lot and feel he was a great pickup for Riberio who was slowing down. Campbell and Bachman are solid and should push each other. The Stars likely have enough to make the playoffs, you have to give them credit for trying and not sitting on their wallets like my Wings have been doing the last two years,
I just dont think Lehtonen and the blue line as currently composed have second round written on them. Good luck this year.

Spare parts?
- LeftCoaster

Yeah, Kesler and Edler - barely NHLers