DALLAS STARS: 08-09 Season Preview

07-08 RECORD: 45-30-7 97 points
DIVISION: 3rd
CONFERENCE: 8th
RESULT: Lost in Conference finals

OFF-SEASON:
ARRIVALS: LW Sean Avery(NYR), LW Fabian Brunnstrom(EUR)
DEPARTURES: C Stu Barnes, LW Niklas Hagman, G Johan Holmqvist, RW Antti Miettinen, D Mattias Norstrom, LW Brad Winchester

The Stars some how figured a way on how to make 2 guys work a the same job. Brett Hull and Les Jackson have done well as the Stars co-GM's and got to put their mark on the club this summer. They worked together to get highly touted Fabian Brunnstrom who was coveted by multiple teams to sign with them. Brett Hull then went hard after Sean Avery in free agency. Avery now joins Steve Ott and Brenden Morrow and the three of them will make the Stars one of the most hated teams in the league and that's the way Hull wants it to be. Avery and Brunnstrom will bring some scoring depth on the wings to go along with the Stars big three down the middle. Mattias Norstrom and Stu Barnes both said good bye to the NHL while Barnes will continue on with the Stars in their front-office.

CAP HIT: 55.77 million

FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- B.MORROW-M.RIBIERO-J.LEHTINEN
2- S.AVERY-B.RICHARDS-L.ERIKSSON
3- S.OTT-M.MODANO-F.BRUNNSTROM
4- C.CONNER-J.LUNDQVIST-K.BARCH
E- J.NEAL-T.PETERSON-B-J.CROMBEEN/R.SAWADA

The Stars have tons of depth throughout their line-up. It starts withe the big three down the middle with Mike Ribiero, Brad Richards and Mike Modano. All three can play an all-around game while still produce 20+ goals. Morrow has become an even better players since taking over the captaincy from Modano. He is a pest night in and night out but still is a perennial 30 goal scorer. Jere Lehtinen looks to bounce back on the top line after appearing in only 48 games last season, where he still managed 15 goals. Playing on the top line, Lehtinen if healthy could score 25 goals. Avery will pair up with Richards on the second line while Loui Eriksson who had some chemistry with Richards after he came over from Tampa Bay will play the right side. Ott and Modano will anchor the third line and Brunnstrom will start with them and make his way up if he is able to adjusted to the NHL style of game. Joel Lundqvist and Kris Barch bring the grit and toughness from the fourth line while Chris Conner, James Neal, Ryan Sawada and B-J Crombeen will battle it out for the 12th and 13th spot on the roster.

DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- S.ROBIDAS-M.NISKANEN
2- N.GROSSMAN-P.BOUCHER
3- T.DALEY-M.FISTRIC
E- D.JANCEVSKI-S.ZUBOV(INJ.)

The loss of Sergei Zubov to hip surgery which will keep him out until late October hurts the Stars but isn't the end of the world. Young guns Niklas Grossman and Matt Niskanen really can into their own last season and proved they are ready to be everyday defensemen. They will both start the season in the top-4 but it shouldn't be a problem for either of them. Stephane Robidas is one of the most under-rated players in the league and comes in at a very good value. Phillipe Boucher returns from an injury plagued season where he only played 38 games. He will look to regain his 06 form when he was an All-Star. Trevor Daley plays a consistent game night in and night out while Mark Fistric proved his value as a injury replacement last season, he will take Zubov's place in the top 6 to start the season.

GOALIES:
1- M.TURCO
2- T.STEPHAN
3- R.BACHMAN

Marty Turco has always been a great goaltender in the league but with his last two playoff performances, he is now an elite goaltender., easily in the top 5 in the league. With the defense Turco has in front of him, it will just make it harder for the opposition to put the puck in the net. Turco could see a little heavier workload this season as the Stars elected not to sign a back-up goaltender and go with 24 year old Tobias Stephan.

OVERALL:

The Stars look set from top to bottom. It starts with Morrow up front and ends with Turco in the net. They have a good mix of veterans and young guns and will be one of the hardest if not the hardest team to play against this season with Morrow, Ott and now Avery. Jackson and Hull have now put their stamp on the team with the acquisition of Richards and the signing of both Brunnstrom and Avery. The Stars have no where to go but up and baring any injuries the Stars are set to challenge for the Stanley Cup.

PREDICTION: 1st Division, 2nd Conference