Dallas Stars: Does Hamhuis’ Exit Hurt or Help the Stars?
Former Stars’ blueliner Dan Hamhuis is now a member of the Nashville Predators. How does his departure from Dallas affect the Stars?
Last Wednesday, defenseman Dan Hamhuis left the Dallas Stars and inked a two-year deal with the Nashville Predators, his first team in the NHL. So, it looks like Hamhuis will most likely end his NHL career where it began.
Although it makes for a nice, full-circle story, the Dallas Stars lost a useful d-man, which leaves a begging question for Stars fans — will his new arrival in Nashville be of benefit or help cripple the Stars?
Well, if you’re Nashville, it certainly doesn’t hurt to add another solid player to your blue line. With Hamhuis joining the Preds on a two-year, $2.5 million dollar deal, here is how Nashville’s defensive lines could potentially add up:
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Josi – Subban
Ekholm – Ellis
Hamhuis – Weber
Extras: Matt Irwin, Anthony Bitetto
Hamhuis fits as a good top 6 defender in Nashville. If he remained in Dallas, though, here is how the Stars’ lines could’ve been:
Lindell – Klingberg
Hamhuis – Johns
Polak/Methot – Honka/Heiskanen
It would be safe to say that Hamhuis filled a bigger need in Dallas than he will in Nashville over the next two seasons.
In two seasons with Dallas, Hammer registered 40 points (4 G, 37 A), 56 penalty minutes, 175 hits, 213 shot blocks, and averaged just under 20 minutes of ice time per game.
The Dallas Stars were lucky to nab him in free agency a few years ago (in the aftermath of the 2015-16 season) after he had played for the Vancouver Canucks for six seasons. In Hamhuis’ first season with Vancouver, the 2010-11 season, he helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Finals, but they ended up losing to rookie and future-Dallas Star forward Tyler Seguin and the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Hamhuis recorded 23 points in the 2011 regular season. What about Seguin, you might ask? 22.
Hamhuis added 6 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. How many did Seguin have? 7.
Although Hamhuis was efficient with the Canucks, Tyler Seguin and the Boston Bruins had the last laugh.
After Hamhuis era with Vancouver, he ended up signing with Dallas. Hamhuis was just one of many Stars veterans on the 2016-17 roster, including Jason Spezza, Patrick Eaves, Lauri Korpikoski, Jiri Hudler, Ales Hemsky, Johhny Oduya, and Adam Cracknell. Remember those guys? Only one remains — Spezza.
Dallas was able to add Roman Polak, Blake Comeau, Erik Condra, and a few other veterans in free agency to help fill holes, in hopes that this season will result in a playoff chance.
In Hamhuis’ first season in Dallas, the 2016-17 season, he finished third among defensemen in points with 16 (behind Klingberg and Lindell, respectively), second in average time on ice with 19:22 minutes (behind Lindell, who had 21:52), and fourth in shots on goal (behind Klingberg, Lindell, and Johns).
In his second season with the Stars, his numbers were good as well. He finished 5th amongst all Stars’ defensemen in points with 24 (behind Klingberg, Lindell, Johns, and Pateryn), and finished second again on average time on ice with 20:11 minutes (behind Lindell, who had 22:05). Hamhuis is an inexpensive, quality defender that, even in his mid-30s, can play a solid 75-80 game season.
Now, it is worth pointing out that critics of Hamhuis will mention all about the young prospects that Dallas has in the AHL and in the junior leagues, and how it’s “their time to shine.”
Related Story. Looking at the Stars' Best Prospects. light
While this may be true for players like Miro Heiskanen or Roope Hintz, veteran leadership, especially Stanley Cup Playoff leadership, is what helps mold a team.
Hamhuis has that leadership, and Dallas let him escape right into the hands of a tough district opponent.
- Published on 07/30/2018 at 16:00 PM
- Last updated at 07/30/2018 at 07:35 AM