Will moving Faksa to wing solve Stars' center deployment issue?

Trying to find the proper deployment for the Stars' versatile center group has been a challenge this season, but head coach Jim Montgomery might have hit on a unique option Tuesday.
Even with center Jason Spezza sidelined by an illness that will keep him out of the lineup Tuesday against the Calgary Flames (7:30 p.m. CT; FS-SW+; KTCK), Montgomery still wants to try playing centers Martin Hanzal and Radek Faksa on the same line.
Hanzal has played four games since returning from spinal fusion surgery, but the coaching staff would like to start ramping up the minutes for the 31-year-old, who has averaged 17:43 in time on ice in his career. He currently is logging 13:49 a game this season.
Faksa is fourth among Stars forwards in time on ice at 16:02 this season and has taken the second-most faceoffs behind Tyler Seguin, so combining him with Hanzal on the same line can get both into key situations more often.

"We have a lot of guys who can play center and play center well. It's much easier to go from center to wing than it is wing to center if you haven't played it," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "Radek is a great teammate, and he looked good on the wing. That's a compliment to him and what a team guy he is."

Faksa and Hanzal are both from the Czech Republic, and Faksa said he has learned a lot from Hanzal since the veteran signed as a free agent with the Stars last season. They both are known as big, physical, two-way forwards, and that means they fit the same philosophy on a line.
"He's been good to be around," Faksa said. "He has a lot of experience in the NHL, and I like when he gives me advice. Whether that's faceoffs or being in front of the net or wherever, I think I can learn from him, and I like that."
Tyler Pitlick is the third man on the line, and he also has been strong in the checking game the past two seasons. He also has played with Faksa on a regular basis, so he has chemistry too.
On paper, it makes a lot of sense.
"We're similar, but I also think every guy on the line is a little different," Faksa said. "If we can put it together properly, I think we could have good chemistry. I know we will work hard together."

Montgomery said he sees a lot of positives in moving Faksa to a wing.
"I think Hanzal is a little bit of a role model to Faksa, and I have really liked Faksa on the wing in practice," Montgomery said. "He seemed to be a little more creative offensively. To me, Faksa's strength is as a great forechecker. As a winger, you get on top of the forecheck even more often, so I'm trying to play him to his strengths. It's just trying something else to maybe generate a little more offense for us, and also give us balance on the lines."
Faksa has five goals among 10 points this season. He had 17 goals among 33 points last season, so he has the potential to be even more offensive. Still, his best asset is on defense, and he and Hanzal could combine to be a real thorn in going against other team's best players.
"He's a very good player, defensive forward, very responsible, you can put him anywhere in the lineup, and he won't disappoint you," Hanzal said. "I like the way he works hard every day in practice, and I like how he brings his intensity."
Hanzal said he still is trying to get up to game speed after recovering for six months from his spinal surgery.

"Good enough," he said when asked if he is doing good. "It's a hard process. I don't want to say I'm getting better each game, I just want to go day by day. It's a long process, so we'll see. I feel good right now. It's good to be playing."
And even better to be playing in a bigger role. Hanzal has won 60 percent of his faceoffs so far and is one of the best on the team at that skill. Faksa has won 47.7 percent of his draws, so he gets a bit of a break from the high-pressure draws now.
But the 24-year-old said he's not really worried about all of the little details. He said he simple wants to prepare himself to play and then give it his all every shift. Asked if he looked forward to shutting down the other team's best players, Faksa replied that's really not his focus.
"Honestly, I don't even think about that anymore," he said. "Maybe my first season it was a big deal, but I focus on my game now. I worry about how I am playing, and I play my hardest. I'm always fired up, I'm always excited to play my game."
Which sounds like a pretty good philosophy for a hard-skating winger. We'll see if that solution is the one the team is seeking.
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, and listen to his podcast.