Your Call: Will the Stars make the playoffs in 2017-18?

With all that offensive talent, something's got to give...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Your Call: Will the Stars make the playoffs in 2017-18?
Keystone Press

There’s no doubt that the Dallas Stars were one of the most disappointing teams of the 2016-17 NHL season. Most fans and analysts expected big things out of the team after they qualified for the playoffs and even won a round in 2015-16.

Then, of course, the puck dropped on 2016-17 and the team couldn’t keep the puck out of its own net. They dropped from 109 points in 2015-16, to just 79 points last season. Ouch. That’s a steep drop.

Heading into the 2017-18 season however, there’s a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the team once again. With a new (sort of) head coach in Ken Hitchcock, a new starting goaltender in Ben Bishop and some astute free-agent additions, the team looks to be on the right track again. 

The biggest change in Dallas this upcoming season will be in goal. After two seasons of suffering through an Anttii Niemi/Kari Lehtonen tandem, the Stars will finally boast a legitimate number one goalie next season thanks to the acquisition of former Tampa Bay Lightning giant Ben Bishop. And he’ll have some help in front of him too, as Stars GM Jim Nill traded for defensive defenseman Marc Methot from the Vegas Golden Knights. He’ll join a young D corps that boasts emerging talents like John Klingberg, Esa Lindell and Patrik Nemeth.

Up front Nill added free-agents Martin Hanzal and Alex Radulov to go along with an already potent offense that includes star talent like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza. Once again, the Stars should have no problem filling the net.

The biggest addition of all though may have been the re-hiring of head coach Ken Hitchcock. The Stars were an inconsistent group under former coach Lindy Ruff and if there’s one thing that Hitchcock can provide, it’s consistency. Look for the Stars to bring their A game every night in 2017-18.

With all of this in mind, are the Stars a playoff team next season? What do you think? 


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