The Dallas Stars had a concrete to-do list entering the offseason, and so far, they've completed each task with flying colors.
After his team failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2016-17, general manager Jim Nill replaced Lindy Ruff behind the bench, luring Ken Hitchcock out of retirement. Hitchcock, a stickler for defensive structure throughout his lengthy coaching career, identified Dallas, where he won a Stanley Cup in 1999, as the only place for him.
He'll be tasked with helping a team known for its high-powered offense to defend as well as it scores goals, and Nill has done an outstanding job supplying his new coach with the personnel to make it happen.
In the crease
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Defense certainly wasn't Dallas' strong suit as Ruff's tenure flamed out, but its goaltending was a flat-out disaster. The duo of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi surrendered 260 goals - second-most behind the lowly Colorado Avalanche. Among all netminders with at least 30 games played last season, Niemi ranked dead last in save percentage at a dreadful .892, while Lehtonen was just two spots ahead, with a measly .902 mark.
In light of this, Nill went out and acquired the rights to Ben Bishop (who owns a career save percentage of .919) from Los Angeles, then quickly signed the hulking goalie to a six-year, $29.5-million deal to give the club a new No. 1.
On the blue line
In terms of improving Dallas' defense, Nill acquired veteran defender Marc Methot from the Vegas Golden Knights - a move that helps solidify the D corps, and should provide a stabilizing presence for young, offensive-minded blue-liners John Klingberg and Esa Lindell.
Dallas also addressed the future of its defense with the third overall pick, drafting Miro Heiskanen, who ranked fourth among international skaters on the NHL Central Scouting final rankings.
Goals, goals, goals
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Perhaps most impressively, Nill has managed to build on his main position of strength: scoring. The Stars landed the big fish, signing Alexander Radulov to a five-year pact worth $31.25 million Monday. The soon-to-be 31-year-old resurrected his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens a season ago, netting 54 points in 76 games.
Radulov often lacked a playmaker to match his capabilities during his pit stop in Montreal, and now he joins an offense that already features Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, and Martin Hanzal - Nill's other free-agent acquisition. This blend of size, skill, and speed has to be frightening for Western Conference opponents, and immediately provides the Stars with one of the most prolific forward platoons in the NHL.
Despite finishing 25th in league standings at 79 points last season, Dallas ranked 16th in goals scored with 222, a mark that placed the Stars ahead of the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators - all of which qualified for the postseason. Dallas also averaged 30.5 shots on goal per game, good for 12th in the NHL. Adding the likes of Radulov and Hanzal - two players who move the needle in terms of shot generation - make the Stars even tougher to defend.
Now, Hitchock may need time to implement the proper system. Chemistry, of course, is also a key factor in development when infusing new talent into a lineup. But in terms of addressing team needs, Nill and the Stars have stepped up and delivered, and are undoubtedly the early winners of the offseason.
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