Dallas Stars must rise to level of expectations this season

After years of buzz as an aspiring elite team, the Dallas Stars must find a way to meet their unrealized potential under coach Ken Hitchcock.

Fans of the Dallas Stars are a devoted throng. We may not have the numbers of the other professional franchises in town, but we’re passionate. If, like me, you’re from the west side of the DFW Metroplex, you see a goodly number of “Victory Green” sweaters riding the train to any regular season game. Some of us are also a few pops into our evening by the time we board. It’s a fun scene that makes for a convivial atmosphere.

Conversely, there are more than a few sullen train rides back to the various depots dotted along Highway 121 in Tarrant County. This was especially true last season. The Stars entered their 2016-17 campaign coming off an impressive march to the NHL’s Central Division crown and the top seed in the Western Conference. So despite a somewhat discouraging flame out in the conference semifinals, the expectation was to build on that and truly contend for a championship.

Of course, the exact opposite happened. The 2016-17 season more or less derailed before it ever started. Injuries ravaged the roster early on. And by the time healthy bodies started coming back, the team couldn’t get out of their own way. The goals that came so easily in 2015-16 dried up. As a result, they were unable to outscore a shaky defense and sieve-like goaltending.

The end result was a veritable dumpster fire on ice. The Stars limped to a 34-37-11 record and missed the postseason tournament by a mile. Then-head coach Lindy Ruff wasn’t fired, but his contract wasn’t renewed, either. A season that started with so much promise ended in the gutter. It was especially frustrating given the bill of goods we were sold.

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So, with Ruff out, the Dallas Stars turned to an old face to revitalize the scene. Former bench boss Ken Hitchcock is now entrusted to squeeze every bit of potential from this squad that Ruff couldn’t. At first, I was skeptical. I’ve seen Hitchcock’s act before. While it was wildly successful in first stint in Dallas (he did win the club’s only Stanley Cup, after all), I’ve also seen it wear thin in a big hurry. You see, the man we affectionately know as “Hitch” is a taskmaster of the highest order. He is a demanding, detail-oriented ball buster. HIs players will know what it’s like to be henpecked all the time.

To be sure, everyone’s favorite dreamboat, center Tyler Seguin, will know that pain. I envision Hitch poking and prodding Seguin much like he did Mike Modano. Again, this act will wear thin with the players. It’s happened before and it will happen again. But, I will say that we will likely see Seguin’s most inspired hockey since he arrived here. Hitchcock’s methods stretch his players to their mental and physical limits. It’s not always fun, but the organization and the fan base are poised to see a pretty transcendent season of Stars’ hockey.

The whole point of bringing Hitchcock back underscores the situation with this team at the moment. The Stars are pushing all of their chips to the middle of the table here. Make no mistake, this is General Manager Jim Nill’s all-in moment. While Hitchcock’s methods have a specific shelf life, the madness is proven. His teams win, and they perform at a high level.

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Furthermore, the cupboard has been replenished. Beleaguered goalie Kari Lehtonen remains, but now as a backup. In his place is highly touted free agent acquisition Ben Bishop. Defensive stalwart Marc Methot is here to bolster the defense corps. Forwards Alexander Radulov and Martin Hanzal are here to add scoring punch. Captain Jamie Benn is still the selfless, all-world player we’re fortunate to have. When you have a player of that caliber wearing the “C” night in and night out, you’re in good hands.

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So again, we’re back where we’ve been for the past several years. We’re talking about the dreaded “P” word again: potential. The difference here is that a concerted effort is in place to improve the defensive end. If the Dallas Stars make the expected strides in those areas, the offense should rebound and make this team a viable threat in a loaded Western Conference.

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