Can Dallas Survive?

Marie Wilson
Feb 22, 2001

This season has been less than stellar for the Dallas Stars. After having their names immortalized on the coveted Stanley Cup in 1999 and forcing the New Jersey Devils to a Game Six in 2000 before losing, Dallas has been off to a slow start in the 2001 season. Their speed seems to have diminished, despite General Manager Bob Gainey stating he wanted the Stars to get younger and faster. They also have yet to replace center superstar Guy Carbonneau, who took an office job in Montreal.

There are several candidates in the Stars system that have the promise of replacing Carbonneau. Sophomore Brendan Morrow is the best case, playing his second straight year with the team. He really proved himself last season when he took the place of injured wing Jere Lehtinen, who sat out most of the season with a broken ankle. Morrow was placed on the top scoring line with Mike Modano and Brett Hull, where he blossomed not only on offense, but on defense as well, scoring 33 points and going a +8 in 65 games. Brendan was named the Stars' Rookie of the Year.

This year, however, the Stars' management had their hopes set on not only Brendan Morrow, but youngsters Tyler Bouck, Jon Sim and Shaun Van Allen. Sim, who played most of last season with the Michigan K-Wings, broke his shoulder blade during a preseason game at St Louis and missed the first few weeks of the season. Upon his return he tallied 3 points and 6 penalty minutes. Though he showed the feistiness the Stars need, he was sent to the new IHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies to round out his game and get some playing time. Currently Jon is nursing a knee sprain and will be out a few more weeks. Tyler Bouck, another winger, showed some speed and skill at the beginning of the season, but soon hit a rut, staying at 7 points. Dallas began rounding up veteran players to help their game, resulting in Tyler's being benched. Earlier this week Bouck joined Sim in Utah. Van Allen has 13 points in 37 games, but is a -3.

With all the talent we have waiting in the farm system, why are we signing veteran players? We signed Benoit Hogue, who was part of the Stanley Cup team in 1999, and John MacLean, who after playing 2 games with the New York Rangers was sent to their IHL affiliate to wait out the end of his contract. Both have proven they are adaptable to the Stars' "defense first" style of play, but they are only a short-time fix to a growing problem. Dallas is not young and quick anymore and really needs to focus their attention on the progression of their future stars. Brett Hull, Mike Modano, Joe Nieuwendyk and Eddie Belfour are all in their 30's. Mr. Gainey and Coach Hitchcock need to get some of the younger players back into the rotation and get them the experience they need to lead this team when the time comes for the current franchise players to retire. Back-up netminder Marty Turco has proven time and again he can carry this team as well as Belfour can, if not better, but he needs some skill in front of him. Which brings me to defense.

A few years ago, Dallas had one of the most feared defensive pairings ever to skate on ice. A hit from Derian Hatcher was sure to guarantee the need for ice packs and painkillers after the game. Just ask Phoenix's Jeremy Roenick. JR suffered a broken jaw after being checked by Derian during the 1999 season. Richard Matvichuk was one of the best shot-blockers in the game, selflessly giving his body for the team game in and game out. Now, the hits are softer and less frequent. A lot of fans equate this change to the NHL rule changes made over the off-season. However, the changes seemed temporary at best, yet Hatcher has not gone back to his tough hitting ways. He has been fighting less, with more of the knuckle-chucking falling onto big Sami Helenius, Brad Lukowich and Brendan Morrow. Thankfully, Lukowich has been able to turn his game around and become the type of aggressive defenseman Dallas needs in front of the net.

The Stars have clawed their way to the top of the Pacific division, but with all the problems the team is facing, will they be able to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals and farther? They have the talent in their ranks, they just need to learn to channel it.

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