After losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals in last year’s playoffs, the Dallas Stars went through numerous changes this summer — especially on the blue line. However, general manager Jim Nill does not believe the team has taken a step backward as referenced in an interview with Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the NHL.
In the interview, Nill is quoted as saying, “I think our team might be a little bit better than we were last year at this time, and now let’s see. Let’s get the season started. Let’s see where we’re at“. The Stars will bring back one of the best offenses in the league next year even while losing veteran Joe Pavelski to retirement. The emergence of Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven should give Dallas some continuity in their offense and create one of the deeper lineups in the league.
It’s difficult to imagine Nill believes the defense has gotten better than last season as the team effectively swapped Chris Tanev, Jani Hakanpaa, and Ryan Suter for Mathew Dumba, Brendan Smith, and Ilya Lyubushkin. The organization will have a little financial wiggle room after getting Thomas Harley locked into a new deal but it may not be enough to round out the top four. If the Stars cannot make it to the Stanley Cup Final again next season, it would not be surprising if defense is the culprit.
Other Central notes:
- The Utah Hockey Club has shored up its ECHL affiliation as the organization announced a one-year agreement with the Allen Americans of Allen, TX. The short length of the affiliate agreement may indicate that Utah is hoping to eventually organize a deal with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL after their current deal with the Colorado Avalanche concludes. The Americans started play in the ECHL for the 2014-15 season and immediately won back-to-back Kelly Cup Finals. In the meantime, the Americans have qualified for the playoffs in every season but one.
- According to Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now, Colorado Avalanche prospect Ilya Nabokov has had his contract restructured in the KHL. After paying him three million rubles for the 2023-24 KHL season, Metallurg Magnitogorsk is now set to pay 22 million rubles to the young netminder. Nabokov is the de facto starter for Metallurg after earning a 23-13-3 record in 43 games last year while holding a .930 save percentage. The new pay will not influence the length of the contract; however, as Nabokov is still expected to make it to North America next year.
Almost thought it said Alien Americans until I re-read it.
That’s crazy how many ahl and echl affiliates aren’t in the same state as their pro squad, yet not even the same region
Edmonton’s AHL team is in Bakerfield CA, until a year or so ago Calgary’s was in Stockton. It’s quite often teams have their affiliate elsewhere as it’s common for those teams to be on the road anyways and need significant travel time to be called up. But majority have tried to relocate their affiliates to be closer just in case.
Stars convince Pavs to come out of retirement towards playoff push and wins a cup.
@sippycups — That would be a Cinderella story, for sure, wouldn’t it?
Utah Americans would be a good name
I prefer the UTAH NOT-YETIS !!!!! Get it??
@Brennan, slight correction requested: “…immediately one back-to-back Kelly Cup Finals.”
Fixed
Thanks, @Josh!