DALLAS STARS
Like the Blues and Flyers, the Stars just can’t stop tinkering.
Summer, 2001: Free agent splurge on Pierre Turgeon, Donald Audette, Valeri Kamensky. The result? Missed the playoffs.
Summer, 2002: More cash for Bill Guerin, Scott Young and Philippe Boucher. Dave Tippet, new coach. Marty Turco, new goalie. Someone makes the mistake of suggesting “two Stanley Cups in two years.” The result? Huge season, stunted playoff.
So now what? Burdened with regrettable contracts – Turgeon, Young, Claude Lemieux - Dallas lets defensive tank Derian Hatcher escape to Detroit for $30-million over five years, an offer the old Stars would have trumped in a heartbeat. Quality replacements are found and the result, according to the company line, is more speed and skill on defense. But the Hatcher package – brute force, a great feel for the game – is a big loss no matter how you spin it.
Things are more settled up front, where Mike Modano deserves more MVP votes than he ever gets. He’s supported by the quality forwards one expects on a big-budget team: Lehtinen, Arnott, Morrow, a presumably healthy Guerin. The Stars should fill the net again, especially with Sergei Zubov and Teppo Numminen firing passes and playing the points.
Despite the playoff disappointment, Marty Turco tops the list of young goaltenders. But after last year – his 1.72 goals-against average was the lowest since the Nazis surrendered - you have to wonder if he’s in for a minor letdown.
Trouble: Dallas has scoring throughout the lineup. The bad news is that they spread it a little too thin. Mike Modano was the only forward with over 50 points last year. He shoulders too much of the load.
On the Spot: With Hatcher's departure, Richard Matvichuk is as physical as anyone left on the Dallas blueline. He has to take on more of the dirty work.
The Forecast: They might not hit 111 points again, but if young players like Brendan Morrow and Niko Kapanen step up, the Stars’ weaknesses will look trivial. Whether they are set up for a deep playoff run is another question.
The Call: Third in the Western Conference.
Who's In: Defenseman Teppo Numminen (trade from Phoenix)
Defenseman Don Sweeney (free agent from Boston)
Center Jarrod Skalde (free agent from Europe)
Who's Out: Defenseman Darryl Sydor (trade to Columbus)
Defenseman Derian Hatcher (free agent to Red Wings)
Defenseman Lyle Odelein (unsigned free agent)
Left winger Ulf Dahlen (unsigned free agent)
Left winger Kirk Muller (retired)
2002-03 Regular Season Numbers:
Payroll:
$61,685,169, 4th overall
(Hockey News, November 15/02. Bonuses not included.)
- Record: 46-17-15-4 for 111 points.
- At home: 28-5-6-2.
- On the road: 18-12-9-2.
- Finish: 2nd overall, 1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the Pacific Division.
- Goals for: 245 (2.99 per game), 6th overall.
- Goals against: 169 (2.06 per game), 3rd overall.
- Goal differential: Plus-76, 2nd overall.
- Power play: 19 percent, 5th overall.
- Penalty kill: 85.5 percent, 5th overall.
Goaltending:
- Marty Turco, 55-31-10-10, 1.72 GAA, .932 SV PCT, 7 SO.
- Ron Tugnutt, 31-15-10-5 2.47 GAA, .896 SV PCT, 4 SO.
Leaders:
- Scoring: Center Mike Modano, 79-28-57-85.
- Power play points: Mike Modano, 79-5-26-31.
- Game-winning goals: Mike Modano, 6. Center Jason Arnott, 6.
- Ice time: Defenseman Derian Hatcher, 25:51 per game.
- Plus/minus: Left winger Jere Lehtinen, plus-39.
2002-03 Playoff Numbers:
- Round One: Defeated Edmonton 4-2
- Round Two: Lost to Anaheim 4-2
Goaltending:
- Marty Turco, 12-6-6, 1.88 GAA, .919 SV PCT, 0 SO.
Leaders:
- Scoring: Center Mike Modano, 12-5-10-15.
- Power play points: Defenseman Sergei Zubov, 12-2-6-8.
- Game-winning goals: Mike Modano, 2.
Center Stu Barnes, 2. - Ice time: Sergei Zubov, 30:44 per game.
- Plus/minus: Defenseman Derian Hatcher, plus-8.
