theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.
The Dallas Stars iced one of the most lethal squads in the league last season.
The team found the back of the net a league-high 265 times - an average of 3.23 times per game - while peppering the opposition with the third-most shots per game. Up front, the team is sound and the addition of Jiri Hudler should only help.
The back-end, however, remains a bit of a question mark. The team chose not to address its questionable goaltending tandem, and while Dallas added Dan Hamhuis on defense, it came on the back of three key departures.
Here is how the club's depth stacks up heading into the 2016-17 season:
Forwards
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Jamie Benn | Tyler Seguin | Patrick Sharp |
| Jiri Hudler | Jason Spezza | Ales Hemsky |
| Mattias Janmark | Cody Eakin | Valeri Nichushkin |
| Antoine Roussel | Radek Faksa | Patrick Eaves |
- There are few forward positions up for grabs, if any, and few players challenging for them. Three names with the most likely chance at nabbing a roster spot would be Curtis McKenzie, Brett Ritchie, or Devin Shore.
Defense
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Dan Hamhuis | John Klingberg |
| Johnny Oduya | Stephen Johns |
| Jordie Benn | Patrik Nemeth |
- The Stars' blue line provides the most uncertainty. With Alex Goligoski, Kris Russell, and Jason Demers out, and only Hamhuis brought in, spots could be had for any young pivot who can impress at camp.
Goalies
| G |
|---|
| Kari Lehtonen |
| Antti Niemi |
- Jim Nill at least continues to portray confidence in the duo of Lehtonen and Niemi. Wisdom, however, would suggest there could be a short leash before the team looks to make a change.
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