Winnipeg Jets 2022-23 Central Division Opponent Preview
Dallas Stars
Last Season Head to Head: Dallas Stars win season series 3-1
2021-22 Season
The Dallas Stars went into 2021-22 after a disappointing season the year before. After making the cup final in 2019-20, the Stars missed the playoffs in the following season. In a way, the 2021-22 season was a way of proving that they could still compete. They finished in the first wild-card position, posting a record of 46-30-6. Throughout the regular season, the Stars were led by 37-year-old, Joe Pavelski. Pavelski registered 81 points in 82 games, with 27 goals on the year. Another storyline that emerged was the stunning play of rookie, Jason Robertson. The 22-year-old Robertson tallied 41 goals and 79 points in 74 games as he helped the Stars push for the postseason.
The postseason, however, was short-lived, as they lost in the first round to the Calgary Flames. Goaltender Jake Oettinger was spectacular in the seven-game series, effectively dragging the Stars to a seventh and final game. Despite Oettinger making 64 saves in game seven, they would go on to lose 3-2 in overtime.
Offseason
The Stars made several moves in the offseason that saw well-known players both arrive and depart. Notably, John Klingberg moved on from Dallas, deciding to sign with the Anaheim Ducks. His absence will make a massive impact on the offensive production of the defense, while also opening up spots for new faces to make a good impression. Dallas also moved on from forwards Alexander Radulov and Michael Raffl, both of which shipped off overseas to continue their careers.
Dallas did their fair share of adding as well. When NHL Free Agency opened, they signed forward Mason Marchment. Marchment is coming off a career-best 47 points for Florida last season, and Dallas hopes to capture that production again. They also added defensemen Will Butcher and Colin Miller, looking to shore up their right side. Just before training camp, they also traded for disgruntled Rangers defenseman, Nils Lundkvist. While it’s not known if he’ll be able to find his way into the lineup, he’ll most certainly challenge for a spot going into camp.
Projected Lines
Forwards
Jason Robertson* – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Denis Gurianov
Mason Marchment – Radek Faksa – Luke Glendening
Joel Kiviranta – Jacob Peterson – Marian Studenic
*unsigned
Defense
Ryan Suter – Miro Heiskanen
Esa Lindell – Colin Miller
Thomas Harley – Jani Hakanpaa
Nils Lundkvist
Goalies
Jake Oettinger
Scott Wedgewood
Strengths and Weaknesses
The Stars moved on from Rick Bowness in the offseason, hiring Peter DeBoer as his replacement. With a solid track record, DeBoer looks to get the most out of this roster. Their strength remains on the back end, led by Miro Heiskanen. While questions remain about the hole that Klingberg leaves, they attempted to fill out the right side with free agent pick-ups.
The offensive side of things, however, leaves a lot to be desired. The top-six, and specifically the top line carries the team offensively. With limited options outside the top two lines, the Stars could struggle to put the puck in the net. With Jason Robertson currently unsigned, the offensive game is limited to Joe Pavelski, which is far too much for one player to handle.