Just look at his first two seasons in Vegas: the Golden Knights finished first in their division after DeBoer took over the bench in January of 2020 and finished second in their division in DeBoer's first full season with the team in 2020-21. The team also went three rounds deep in the playoffs in both seasons and were considered one of the best teams in the league.
Last season, Vegas lost several key players to injury, and they were among the league leaders in man games lost. They missed the playoffs, and DeBoer was let go.
He said at the time he was surprised by the decision, and the guess here is that he's very motivated to prove them wrong. He has a history of getting players to buy in quickly, and he has a skilled group of players who seem to embrace his aggressive style of play. In that regard, fans could see a more exciting brand of hockey in Dallas.
With Marchment, the Stars took a bit of risk. One, the pressing need at the time seemed to be finding a right-handed replacement for John Klingberg on defense. When that didn't work, the powers that be decided to roll the dice on Marchment. He's 27, he's only played 91 NHL games, and he was on a two-way contract last season. Yet, he got the big deal in Dallas.
That's a lot of trust, but the Stars are finding Marchment just as he is figuring things out in the NHL. He had 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 54 games last season in Florida. He has been Dallas' leading scorer and best player in the preseason, and he has brought a physical element that the team needs.
Still left with a hole on defense, the addition of Colin Miller-- who was coming off an injury-plagued season in Buffalo-- didn't seem to be enough. So just before training camp opened, GM Jim Nill worked a deal with the Rangers to get their disgruntled prospect Lundkvist. It cost a first-round draft pick, but Lundkvist himself was a first-round draft pick in 2017, so Dallas swapped future potential for a real body that has three years of development under his belt.
So far, Lundkvist looks like a versatile option on the right side, and he has been a good fit for this group of defensemen.
So check off another problem that may be solved.
As for the two RFAs, the reality is that they were going to be in the lineup one way or another. That's just how restricted free agents work in the NHL. Still, the Stars needed to get them in at the right price, and they did so with both players. Oettinger's numbers are definitely workable, and he seems ready to compete with the best goalies in the league.
Robertson was a little tricky because there were a lot of comparable players signing eight-year deals. The Stars would not have been able to fit a deal like that under the cap and would have had to make a trade of some sort to clear space. As it is, Dallas is ready to move forward with those two players in camp.
On top of all that, Nill and his staff have created the best depth in franchise history with an absolute gaggle of talented forwards who are knocking on the door. To borrow a Nill staple, you have to "like where we're are at."
It could still go sideways. The Central Division is fiercely competitive, and this team still is struggling to score goals in the preseason. Any one of the newcomers could show their downside once the real games start. But that's part of the league.
Nill has always said they have to prove it on the ice, and he embraces that responsibility again this season. But if you want to be just a little bit positive, you have to admit he took care of some important business this summer.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
