The Dallas Stars saw their 25th Anniversary season in the NHL end on yet another sad note. 25 years in Texas, to some, came with high expectations. In a year that saw Ken Hitchcock return as coach, the hopes of great success came with him. However, as many fans expected, the hire went down as nothing more than a move for the sake of nostalgia.
A season that saw Ben Bishop put in the spotlight of number 1 Stars goaltender ended with Bishop injured toward the end. After the injury to Bishop, the Stars were a team loaded with talent but playing flat.
Ben Bishop is no stranger to success. Bishop has had top-10 finishes in wins, games played, and shutouts three times in his career. When he is healthy, Bishop can be the brick wall to hold this team together.
In his first season with Dallas, Bishop had an impressive record of 26-17-5, a goals against average of 2.46 and a save percentage of .916. Bishop would finish with five shutouts before his season ended early with an injury, and for the second time in as many seasons.
With the coaching philosophy that Hitchcock uses, the Stars would have to turn some of the very best offensive minded players into two-way players. Players like Jamie Benn and then-newly signed Alexander Radulov held their own. Tyler Seguin seemed to have the most benefit out of the whole team.
During a season in which many questioned if Seguin would even be able to play a two-way game, Seguin did just that and more. Once known as a pure goal scorer, Seguin showed that he could do more. Tyler, according to NHL.com, racked up 78 points during the 2017-18 season (40 goals, 38 assists), and also earned some playing time on the penalty kill.
Tyler Seguin has been compared to Mike Modano for his offensive prowess and talent he brings to the ice, by former players and fans alike. The move to Dallas as a whole as benefited both parties. Since coming to the Stars, Tyler Seguin has never scored fewer than 20 goals. Seguin has also totaled more than 70 points every season since arriving in a trade from Boston.
The Situation
Tyler Seguin is on the last year of his contract. The Dallas Stars management have signed players to fill every area believed to be a concern. Through free agency, the Stars have reeled in names such as Blake Comeau from Colorado, Roman Polak from Toronto and Anton Khudobin from Boston.
With the incoming new coach, a new contract for Tyler Seguin would only help make the new edition of this team more successful. Jim Montgomery comes in to the Stars as arguably the most notable change on the team. And, Montgomery brings quite a success story with him.
In five seasons with Denver, Montgomery’s team never won less than 20 games [which he did in his first season there] and he compiled a 125-57-26 record. According to the team’s official website he reached 100 wins faster than any head coach in the school’s history.
Montgomery also enjoyed some postseason success. From the team’s website: He won “the inaugural NCHC Championship in 2014, making the ‘Elite Eight’ in 2015 and leading Denver to its first Frozen Four berth since 2005 in 2016 prior to capturing the eighth national title in program history in 2017.
Furthermore, the program’s success speaks for itself with players like, Nick Shore, Dakota Mermis, and Danton Heinen.
A coach that is very meticulous and methodical with his approach can only help a player of Seguin’s caliber flourish even further. A player of Seguin’s caliber definitely has, and will continue to help the Stars find success.
(Editor’s Note: As of press time, Seguin and the Stars have agreed to a eight-year, $78.8 million extension)