True Reverse Retro
Joined: Mar. 2018
Posts: 4,674
Likes: 3,065
- Top Line: Benn-Seguin-Radulov
- 2nd Line: Gurianov-Hintz-Pavelski
- With the injury to Valimaki, I could see Calgary being interested in a 6th/7th defenseman. Winnipeg could also use some help on the right side, so they may kick the tires on Honka (personally I wouldn't trade him, but I doubt he remains with Dallas)
- Pavelski starts on the RW side, but Montgomery loves to shift players around all year. It's possible he plays some Center, but RW is where he'll likely start the season.
- IF Dellandrea starts the season at the NHL level, for his 10-game tryout, Faksa is the 4C, allowing Dellandrea to play between Perry & Dickinson instead of Comeau & Cogliano. If Dellandrea is sent to the OHL out of training camp, Faksa is the 3C with Dickinson occupying that 4C role. The Stars likely aren't going to have much of a difference in TOI between their 3rd and 4th lines this year.
- Janmark on the 4th line, at best. Personally, if it were me, it would be up to either him or Comeau as to which one gets scratched.
- Johns has been cleared by all doctors. Assume he's ready to go for game 1. If not, move Heiskanen to the right side (where he played in Finland), and move Oleksiak up to 2LD. Polak needs to spend as little time on the ice as possible.
- Oleksiak over Fedun every day of the week, and twice on Sunday.
- Gurianov is the likely top-6 fix at LW this season. He dominated the AHL last season, and really has nothing left to prove at that level. He's definitely a full-time player this year. It's put up or shut up time for him.
- With the Stars having 7 defensemen (including Johns), Fedun starts the year at the AHL level, and is an injury call up. Dowling is a career AHL guy. He should be behind L'Esperance, Mascherin, and Caamano in terms of AHL call-ups. There's a reason, he hasn't been able to stick in the NHL.
- As alluded to above, Dellandrea likely starts the year in Dallas, but winds up back in Flint after his 10-game tryout period is up. Unless he really impresses, he won't be in Dallas longer than a month or so.
Likely Opening Night Lines (not necessarily my ideal lines):
Benn-Seguin-Radulov
Gurianov-Hintz-Pavelski
Dickinson-Dellandrea-Perry
Cogliano-Faksa-Comeau
Janmark
Lindell-Klingberg
Heiskanen-Johns
Oleksiak-Polak
Sekera
Bishop
Khudobin