Why the Stars are the team to beat in the Central Division
One of the more dangerous teams in the NHL is looking like it’s going to be a force once again next season.
The Dallas Stars have been a quietly strong team over the past couple of years, despite the fact that the team has made it to the Western Conference Final in each of the past three seasons, failing to advance to the Stanley Cup Final each time.
Looking at the teams around them in the Central Division, the Winnipeg Jets are destined to take a step back after winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time, as are the Colorado Avalanche who had to deal with plenty of speed bumps last year. With big names like Mikko Rantanen, Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson (potentially) still in the fold, the Stars are in a prime spot to finish atop the Central next year.
On Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Matt Larkin explains what makes the Stars the team to beat in the Central Division.
Matt Larkin: I actually think the Dallas Stars are in a tier of their own in that division because of the fact that the Jets are taking a step back. I think people are sleeping on the fact that Colorado is trending in the wrong direction. Their point total has gone down a couple years in a row, and their depth is getting shallower and shallower because they’re getting more and more top heavies. They have to pay their stars more and more money and their prospect pool is barren. There’s no help coming … So, because of that, I think this is the year that Dallas really separates and maybe wins the division by five or 10 points.
I think Minnesota has potential, especially because, as you’ll see tomorrow on Daily Faceoff, Steven Ellis is going to talk about it, some of their top prospects could graduate to the NHL this year. The Blues…they’re a sneaky progression candidate because they got pretty lucky in terms of shooting percentage during that winning streak last year. But overall, they’re a team on the rise. … I’d say Dallas, head and shoulders above the rest right now.
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…