Tyler Cameron: Central Preview – Dallas Stars + Traverse City Update
Before I jump into the Dallas Stars preview, let's touch on the Traverse City update, as well as the Brendan Perlini signing.

Traverse City Rookie Tournament has kicked off and the Hawks sit 1-1. They need to win tonight vs. the baby St. Louis Blues to have the potential to move on.

The Dallas Stars on next on the list in our Central Division Preview.

Let's check out what DAL did in the offseason and where they are going:

First!

Yes, I read those comments by Derek King too.

Training camp, preseason and the first 9 regular season games should hopefully be enough to tell whether he’s ready for the show. Early indications seem the answer will lie in whether he’s mature enough mentally to handle the pressure. Physically speaking, I don’t think Saskatoon provides any real challenges for him anymore.
- Chief4Feathers

And from the previous blog:

If it's deemed Dach needs more time to develop and the Hogs are not an option and juniors may not give the competition he needs, is Europe in option? Can he be "loaned" to a Swedish men's league team? I would think the level of game play may be a better option then going to juniors.

Hey Ty, great write up as always!

Two things...

Moving on to Brendan Perlini… my LORD, what took so long for you to sign a 1-year / $874k contract?-Ty

I don't get that either but totally agree. It's a good signing and if Perlini isn't motivated and plays like he did last season, he may be joining his brother playing hockey in the UK. (or elsewhere).

I find it interesting that DAL is pinning hopes on Perry playing in the top 6...and people here are freaking out that Dach might be our 3C.

Thanks to you and all who provided insight from the TC Tournament over the weekend.

I watched both games this past weekend.

I thought Dach was awesome against the Wings, but as from my posts I was pretty hard on him against the Leafs. He did a lot of standing around against Toronto and did not seem overly into the game, and then he let his frustrations boil over in the 3rd. I am hoping this is a great learning experience for him because if we are counting on him to be our 3rd line center, he cannot be undisciplined like that and he needs to be engaged every shift if he is going to play in the NHL as an eighteen year old. One thing that he must get better at is faceoffs, hopefully the Captain works with him on the draws. On the power play, he was not even taking draws in the 3rd period. However, for all the negative against Toronto, Kirby showed how dominant he could be versus the Wings. He and his line were dangerous every shift and Dach scored a beauty breakaway goal that game as well. I understand there are going to be growing pains for #77, but I am expecting a lot if he is going to be in the NHL this coming season. NHL teams got a glimpse of how you might be able to play him right now, take away his time and space and be physical with him. Like I said, hopefully it is a great learning experience for the kid because the NHL will be a whole lot tougher and physical against him.

As for Boqvist, the kid is extremely confident in his abilities, sometimes albeit a little too cute at times in my opinion. He is not afraid to fire the biscuit which is great to see, and his skating is fantastic. He definitely amps up the pressure against another team. Defensively, he is much better than a year ago. Without a doubt in my opinion, he is the first d-man call up from Rockford with his skills. His skills are NHL ready now IMO, but some seasoning on defensive play in Rockford would not hurt him at all either especially with the Hawks' logjam on defense.

I would have to say Boqvist looks more NHL ready than Dach from what I have seen, but I do agree with Tyler, those two have been noticeable the first two games of the tournament, good and bad. Two other players that have caught my eye were Kusharev and Moberg, obviously Kusharev has been talked about plenty as a very nice prospect in the Hawks' system for sometime, but I had not heard much about Moberg and I really liked what he brought to the table as well.

Happy Monday Tyler great write up. 4 weeks until the nhl season officially starts and 1 week until pre-season .

Regarding Perlini I'm not shocked at all that he waited this long, his agent was most likely the one pumping this kids head with nonsense, and with just a week left until training camp opens up he finally realized Chicago had enough depth acquired over the summer that his leverage wasn't their.

I'm glad Stan stuck to his guns and didn't overpay him , at This point Chicago can now field a 23 man roster with no issues.


Dallas had issues last year with Benn and Seguin in the beginning when the owner called them out if memory serves me correctly?

My take on Dallas is that they will be a playoff team , but I don't see them as a team loaded up to dominate.

Pavelski was a safe pickup IMO but his age could be a factor when it comes to the long playoff push to win the cup.

Perry could be solid for 20 goals with a fresh start , so I'd look to see how he responds early and playing with pavelski might be a helpful factor.

I pick them to finish overall 5th

My thoughts on the Stars? They should have never moved.

The stars are old and slow and will only go as far as Bishops body can take them.

Happy Monday Tyler great write up. 4 weeks until the nhl season officially starts and 1 week until pre-season .

Regarding Perlini I'm not shocked at all that he waited this long, his agent was most likely the one pumping this kids head with nonsense, and with just a week left until training camp opens up he finally realized Chicago had enough depth acquired over the summer that his leverage wasn't their.

I'm glad Stan stuck to his guns and didn't overpay him , at This point Chicago can now field a 23 man roster with no issues.


Dallas had issues last year with Benn and Seguin in the beginning when the owner called them out if memory serves me correctly?

My take on Dallas is that they will be a playoff team , but I don't see them as a team loaded up to dominate.

Pavelski was a safe pickup IMO but his age could be a factor when it comes to the long playoff push to win the cup.

Perry could be solid for 20 goals with a fresh start , so I'd look to see how he responds early and playing with pavelski might be a helpful factor.

I pick them to finish overall 5th
- Taylorst1

An agents job is to get the best deal for his client as he can. What "nonsense" are you speculating he "pumped Perlini's head with"?

An agents job is to get the best deal for his client as he can. What "nonsense" are you speculating he "pumped Perlini's head with"?
- paulr

Visions of candy canes and sugar plum fairies?

Hey Ty, great write up as always!

Two things...

Moving on to Brendan Perlini… my LORD, what took so long for you to sign a 1-year / $874k contract?-Ty

I don't get that either but totally agree. It's a good signing and if Perlini isn't motivated and plays like he did last season, he may be joining his brother playing hockey in the UK. (or elsewhere).

I find it interesting that DAL is pinning hopes on Perry playing in the top 6...and people here are freaking out that Dach might be our 3C.

Thanks to you and all who provided insight from the TC Tournament over the weekend.
- HawkintheD

He should apologize to Blackhawks fans everywhere for taking so long eh.

Visions of candy canes and sugar plum fairies?
- HawkintheD

And lavender.

Great piece, TC. I see the stars making the playoffs easily. I see the young players making another great leap. Pavelski will help, but Perry won't.

He should apologize to Blackhawks fans everywhere for taking so long eh.
- walleyeb1

You got that right amigo! Been checking my inbox. So far...Nada!

Seriously, while I know Darth had taken exception to the timing of the deal, my surprise is more around him taking this long and not even being able to get $1M or slightly more.

I like the fact that it’s team friendly and tradable if he plays like he did last season minus the 2 week explosion.

I think some people would have preferred it take longer, as in never.

I love the addition of Pavelski. It gives the Stars a 2nd line behind the Sequin-Benn line. BUT....I still don't see Dallas's forward group any better than the hawks...and in fact, I like ours a little better.

I think Dallas is right there in the hunt for a WC along with us. Injuries, goaltending and a few breaks may be all that separates us. I think we are in for a close, hard battle with 3-4 teams for those 7th and 8th spots this year. But, I feel we have as good a chance as most of them.

CC & Robin may be better, but that’s a stout goaltending duo in Dallas. Khudobin is a #1 on a few NHL teams.

And lavender.
- mohel

Delightful!

CC & Robin may be better, but that’s a stout goaltending duo in Dallas. Khudobin is a #1 on a few NHL teams.
- scottak

I read this as Batman and Robin.

If Dach sticks after the 1st 9 games, I’d be tempted to play 88 on his right side, maybe with Saad on the left. Has PK ever played with a center with Dach’s skill set? 19 is a HOFer, but his skill set is completely different than Kirby’s.

I read this as Batman and Robin.
- DarthKane

Holy transference!

Breaking news. We just learned that Perlini's agent is Trubiskys agent....You knew there had to be a connection for the obsessive!!!!

Visions of candy canes and sugar plum fairies?
- HawkintheD

Fairies wear boots.

>>>All signs point to Perlini's camp blinking first to sign that deal. Perlini didn't have a lot of leverage in the situation. Also, I would want to sign ASAP with the season approaching if I were Brendan with the amount of competition amongst the forward group that looms near.

My take on the contract is this – the Hawks are better with a $874k / AAV Perlini than they are without.

The former 12th overall pick is just 23 years old and while he'll need to fight for his spot every day in the lineup, that's a good thing. He's also playing for his next contract, so if that doesn't light a fire in his belly then nothing will.<<<

Agree on all points. No way the hawks were going 1.5 mil or above. Yet less than a mil is surprising. Why didn't he ask for a trade? In the end with his numbers and play over his first 3 years and where the hawks are...he had no chance of getting more than 1 year contract.

This a is great deal for both him and the hawks. He goes out and grabs a top 6 or 9 spot and plays a consistent game he will get his 4 year plus 12 mildo contract. Or the hawks are done with him and moves on with Anthony Duclairs of the NHL world.

Hey Ty, great write up as always!

Two things...

Moving on to Brendan Perlini… my LORD, what took so long for you to sign a 1-year / $874k contract?-Ty

I don't get that either but totally agree. It's a good signing and if Perlini isn't motivated and plays like he did last season, he may be joining his brother playing hockey in the UK. (or elsewhere).

I find it interesting that DAL is pinning hopes on Perry playing in the top 6...and people here are freaking out that Dach might be our 3C.

Thanks to you and all who provided insight from the TC Tournament over the weekend.
- HawkintheD

coming from the knee injury Perry looked terrible but 6 months of rest and rehab and he might still have something left to help the stars. High reward low risk signing.

Has anyone tried putting together the AHL lines given the big club is stocked like a trout farm? Just tried and the Hogs are going to have some decisions to make and/or Stan can flip pieces towards the end of preseason. They’re LOADED!