Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Future Starts Now with Oleksiak

Whats oleksiaks ceiling like? Does he project to be a tyler myers or kjell sameluelson?

Whats oleksiaks ceiling like? Does he project to be a tyler myers or kjell sameluelson?
- twotoekenn

Much more like Myers.

Much more like Myers.
- bmeltzer

Uh Oh. If Dallas fans are anything like Buffalo fans this poor kid will be in for a rough hockey buzz forum in 3 years . Honestly though if he is anything like Myers you lucked out. Will be a long road until max potential though. Hopefully it pans out for all parties.

I'm pretty high on Oleksiak. He's going to be a real good player. It's hard to find guys his size that can actually play the game.

Super excited to see the Big Guy and Bill will you please not use the word "Pesky" when talking about the Stars. Pesky, gets you 9th or 10 place in the division.
Thanks

Oleksiak is a beast. Should be a good horse on the Stars D for years to come.

Super excited to see the Big Guy and Bill will you please not use the word "Pesky" when talking about the Stars. Pesky, gets you 9th or 10 place in the division.
Thanks
- bubbachewie

Have to agree with you.

I'm not sure the Stars are losing because they gave up grit. I think it's more based on they still can't score consistently, they are taking way too many penalties, and most of those games are still close.

The fact is this team hasn't been good for a while, probably over performed, and stayed close to the playoffs for the last few years. In hindsight I wish they would have just sucked and drafted higher.

I fear if you bring in grit you'll see more penalties, then we're reallly screwed.

Still very stoked to see the Big Rig, would really consider a jersey, but maybe next year, lockout promise.

[quote=tootooisapunk] I fear if you bring in grit you'll see more penalties, then we're reallly screwed. /quote]

Through 7 games, Stars have been shorthanded more than any team in the NHL, including even Phillly. So the penalties are still a problem but there aren't as many effective guys in the trenches.

Re: comment above that "pesky" misses the playoffs, I'd argue that pesky gets you close to the playoffs and there needs to be a little more frontline talent to take you the rest of the way. The Stars stole a lot of points the last two seasons on third pd comebacks engineered by the grunt work of guys like Ott and Burish. I hated to see that sacrificed. I was fine with getting rid of a guy like Ribeiro as part of the remake, but I think the team's Pesky Stars identity did not need to be removed in the name of trying to eventually overhaul much of top 6 up front.

The Stars needed more depth of skill without sacrificing the pesky qualities. Right now, they aren't scoring, aren't staying out of the box AND they're not as hard to play against, either.

[quote=tootooisapunk] I fear if you bring in grit you'll see more penalties, then we're reallly screwed. /quote]

Through 7 games, Stars have been shorthanded more than any team in the NHL, including even Phillly. So the penalties are still a problem but there aren't as many effective guys in the trenches.

Re: comment above that "pesky" misses the playoffs, I'd argue that pesky gets you close to the playoffs and there needs to be a little more frontline talent to take you the rest of the way. The Stars stole a lot of points the last two seasons on third pd comebacks engineered by the grunt work of guys like Ott and Burish. I hated to see that sacrificed. I was fine with getting rid of a guy like Ribeiro as part of the remake, but I think the team's Pesky Stars identity did not need to be removed in the name of trying to eventually overhaul much of top 6 up front.

The Stars needed more depth of skill without sacrificing the pesky qualities. Right now, they aren't scoring, aren't staying out of the box AND they're not as hard to play against, either.
- bmeltzer

I agree with almost all of this. I think you can develop or sign the grit back when you're close and I don't think this team is anywhere near close.

Re: The Stars stole a lot of points the last two seasons on third pd comebacks engineered by the grunt work of guys like Ott and Burish. I hated to see that sacrificed. I was fine with getting rid of a guy like Ribeiro as part of the remake, but I think the team's Pesky Stars identity did not need to be removed in the name of trying to eventually overhaul much of top 6 up front.

I agree that Ott and Burish were instrumental in gaining important comeback points the last couple of years, however, they were in this position due to lack of skill and depth of skill players. I believe adding Roy for Ott upgrades the Stars top level talent which is more important to immediate success than losing grit plus they got rid of Pardy and his contract. I don't think the Stars record would be better if the Roy trade had not been made. I think the short training camp to integrate so many new players, the lack of actual practice time during the early season travel schedule, and the Jamie Benn contract dispute have impacted the poor start more than the loss of grit.