The last two season we've started off much better than most people expected us to do, plus our guys have been pretty healthy at the first of the season. Then December and January roll around and we get hit by the injury stick. February is usually a nightmare and by the time we get everyone back, it's April. While we expected to make it two years ago, since we still had Brad Richards, luck and coaching were against us.
Jagr's been brought on for two reasons. 1) He still is a good player, still has his shot and a willingness to use it. This, believe it or not, is an improvement over Riberio, who likes to stand around and play with the puck while the final seconds run down on a 1-0 game we're losing and never shoot. And 2) we have two very young Czech players in Vincour and Faska who can benefit from learning from one of the best Czech players ever. Vinny is a speed demon whose shot needs some work. Faska, whom I don't believe is will be on the roster at the beginning of the season as he was just drafted this year and might need another year to mature. The boy has been on his own since he was 11, so he more mature than your typical 18-year-old, but he needs perhaps another year at the junior level. But having Jagr around will give him a boost. And the ESPN roster is wrong. Dvorak only signed a one-year deal and hasn't resigned with the Stars.
Whitney is the wild card. I understand he is a good locker room presence, and he'll add some more of that maturity to the ice. Plus, I understand he's good at faceoffs and we traded away our best faceoff man in Steve Ott. I get the feeling he'll be a surprise for us, like Ryder, Fiddler and Nystrom were last year.
Of the rookies on the ESPN roster you all might be surprised about, I'd watch out for Brenden Dillon. He signed on two years ago, undrafted, from the Northwest. He's big, he's strong, and, by all accounts, he's the closest thing we've had to a Derian Hatcher since we had Hatcher. He played in the last game of the season and was impressive.
I will say it was probably a mistake not resigning Sheldon Souray. Even though he slowed down considerably and became just as much a penalty magnet as Ott and Brendan Morrow, his booming shot and opponent leveling skills will be sorely missed.
Ohh, I forgot about your young Czechs! I remember Czech media trying to recreate a Jagr to Calgary rumour because we signed Cervenka, and then that obviously didn't happen, but Dallas always seemed so random. I wonder if Vincour and Faksa actually played a role in his decision or if that mattered to him or what. His coming to the west certainly was unanticipated.
I've heard things about Faksa possibly being able to step into the NHL, but I haven't really heard much about him since he got drafted. Though maybe some of that came from him being in Kitchener where Skinner and Landeskog both were, and they had no problems stepping right in. He might surprise you at training camp - I think at the least he could get his nine games in before the Stars make a decision.
I have aggravating memories of Ribeiro. >:| That said your top 6 certainly doesn't look like it took a hit with his departure, assuming your old guys stay healthy.
It looks like Souray was effectively replaced with Rome, would that be correct? Do you think he was let go because he was asking for too much money? I mean you guys still have a ton of cap space, and Rome was signed for the same term Souray got.
Oh and p.s. congrats on your new owner! I really liked his/Nieuwy's approach at the trade deadline last season: "Yeah we could try to make the playoffs now, but we know we can be better, so we're going to work towards that instead." I really wish the Flames would take that approach. So jelly.
I sure wasn't expecting Jagr to come to the West, too. We needed some help, and the free agency pool was weak from our perspective. Too many players want to stay in the East, and there's the team's financial woes over the past few years that has hurt the Stars' reputation, I think. You have no idea how happy I am that Tom Hicks no longer has anything to do with my two favorite sports teams.
The old guys are definitely a stop-gap measure to get our kids ready. Glennie should be ready this season. Smith and Garbutt played some last season. Despite have two 40-year-old players, good players to be sure, we have a very young team. Jagr and Morrow will probably not be resigned after this next season, and Whitney and probably Robidas would be out the following year. We're seeing a real changing of the guard in Dallas. It's something we haven't had since the team moved from Minnesota.
Yes, Rome is replacing Souray. I know next to nothing about him (the same with Roy). I've heard he is an improvement over Fistric, but anyone would be. There is a reason why his nickname is the Hulk.
I love the fact we have a new owner, and one who has some hockey knowledge. He's been great about reviving interest in the team here in Dallas. I am really looking forward to the new season. Cannot get here soon enough.
Jagr's been brought on for two reasons. 1) He still is a good player, still has his shot and a willingness to use it. This, believe it or not, is an improvement over Riberio, who likes to stand around and play with the puck while the final seconds run down on a 1-0 game we're losing and never shoot. And 2) we have two very young Czech players in Vincour and Faska who can benefit from learning from one of the best Czech players ever. Vinny is a speed demon whose shot needs some work. Faska, whom I don't believe is will be on the roster at the beginning of the season as he was just drafted this year and might need another year to mature. The boy has been on his own since he was 11, so he more mature than your typical 18-year-old, but he needs perhaps another year at the junior level. But having Jagr around will give him a boost. And the ESPN roster is wrong. Dvorak only signed a one-year deal and hasn't resigned with the Stars.
Whitney is the wild card. I understand he is a good locker room presence, and he'll add some more of that maturity to the ice. Plus, I understand he's good at faceoffs and we traded away our best faceoff man in Steve Ott. I get the feeling he'll be a surprise for us, like Ryder, Fiddler and Nystrom were last year.
Of the rookies on the ESPN roster you all might be surprised about, I'd watch out for Brenden Dillon. He signed on two years ago, undrafted, from the Northwest. He's big, he's strong, and, by all accounts, he's the closest thing we've had to a Derian Hatcher since we had Hatcher. He played in the last game of the season and was impressive.
I will say it was probably a mistake not resigning Sheldon Souray. Even though he slowed down considerably and became just as much a penalty magnet as Ott and Brendan Morrow, his booming shot and opponent leveling skills will be sorely missed.
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I've heard things about Faksa possibly being able to step into the NHL, but I haven't really heard much about him since he got drafted. Though maybe some of that came from him being in Kitchener where Skinner and Landeskog both were, and they had no problems stepping right in. He might surprise you at training camp - I think at the least he could get his nine games in before the Stars make a decision.
I have aggravating memories of Ribeiro. >:| That said your top 6 certainly doesn't look like it took a hit with his departure, assuming your old guys stay healthy.
It looks like Souray was effectively replaced with Rome, would that be correct? Do you think he was let go because he was asking for too much money? I mean you guys still have a ton of cap space, and Rome was signed for the same term Souray got.
Oh and p.s. congrats on your new owner! I really liked his/Nieuwy's approach at the trade deadline last season: "Yeah we could try to make the playoffs now, but we know we can be better, so we're going to work towards that instead." I really wish the Flames would take that approach. So jelly.
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The old guys are definitely a stop-gap measure to get our kids ready. Glennie should be ready this season. Smith and Garbutt played some last season. Despite have two 40-year-old players, good players to be sure, we have a very young team. Jagr and Morrow will probably not be resigned after this next season, and Whitney and probably Robidas would be out the following year. We're seeing a real changing of the guard in Dallas. It's something we haven't had since the team moved from Minnesota.
Yes, Rome is replacing Souray. I know next to nothing about him (the same with Roy). I've heard he is an improvement over Fistric, but anyone would be. There is a reason why his nickname is the Hulk.
I love the fact we have a new owner, and one who has some hockey knowledge. He's been great about reviving interest in the team here in Dallas. I am really looking forward to the new season. Cannot get here soon enough.
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