The Importance of the Stars Depth

As we see with the Dallas Stars, team depth is a necessity to compete with the rest of the NHL.

There are numerous truths to these facts, and they will all be explored here.

All NHL teams face the same hurdles, but here we’re focusing on Big D.

Injuries will always be the biggest test of team depth. It’s always a fluid situation for a team. Tyler Seguin, Ben Bishop, and Blake Comeau have been the long-term injuries for the team recovering from surgery. There will always be short-term injuries that come and pass—hopefully, no more long-term injuries for the team.

If a team wants to compete with others on the scoreboard, then you have to have guys who can back up your top goal scorers on your team. Because other teams will catch on to your stay leaders and make further efforts to shut those guys down. That’s why the best teams in the NHL are often said to roll four lines.

Guys like Joe Pavelski, Alexander Radulov, and Denis Gurianov will do much to carry the offense. But other teams pay attention to the Stars and will catch on. They will work to try to shut Dallas’ top goal scorers every night. That’s why you want to see guys like Jason Dickinson and upstart rookie Ty Dellandrea putting pucks in the net sometimes.

Dallas has the best defensive unit in the NHL. They also play a defensive first trap game to complement their outstanding goaltending from Anton Khudobin (complimented by the elite Ben Bishop and more proven Jake Oettinger). The Stars’ have offensive defenseman in John Klingberg, and Miro Heiskanen. As well as more defensive defensemen such as Esa Lindell and Andrej Sekera.

Dallas currently boasts some of the best special teams in the NHL. Much of which is attributed to Joe Pavelski, but you will find many other contributors when you look at the score sheet. The penalty kill has been getting the job done too.

Head Coach Rick Bowness told the media the culture of how the team handles the barrage of injuries.

“Our philosophy here is next man up. ” We weren’t sure of our lineup until we got here tonight. We had to make adjustments, and these guys found a way. Every game is not going to be a Picasso, and we’ve said that before. Sometimes you just have to find a way to win a game. We did that.”

With a condensed schedule, there are will also be many back-to-back games. All the more Importance to roll four lines and have two capable goaltenders. The schedule becomes even more condensed with players, and staff undergoes covid protocol.

Last but certainly not least, the team is a family. Rick Bowness went over this, especially with the younger guys filling in for the injured.

“In the bubble, we spent a lot of time with the guys that weren’t with us every day and weren’t playing every day. You know at some point they’re going to play, and they’re part of our family here.”

Featured Image: Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News