'Focused on being ready,' Stars in wait-and-see mode with season paused

Stars players are doing their best to stay in shape for the potential return to play from the NHL's "pause" in the schedule, but both Jason Dickinson and Blake Comeau say the challenge is real to stay sane and stay occupied.
"Yeah, everything from video games to coloring," Dickinson said when asked what he is using. "We're trying to find creative ways to spend our time."

The NHL has stopped play in order to allow for social distancing and help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many Stars players have headed back to their home countries and some have returned to summer homes in North America, general manager Jim Nill said.
"We want the players to be as comfortable as possible, and we've kept in touch with all of them, so we understand each situation," Nill said. "We're confident in how we're handling everything."
Dickinson and Comeau are staying in the area in hopes of being prepared for a quick return to the ice. They said the idea of a 20-hour car ride each way up and back is a little daunting, and that's why they have chosen to stay.

Still, that creates issues. Both have full workout systems designed to keep them in shape when they're away from North Texas. However, both use the practice rink daily when they're in season, so they don't have a ton of equipment at their local homes.
Dickinson said he is using his stationary bike and kettle bells to keep in shape at home, while Comeau said he's borrowing the Peloton bike of teammate Joe Pavelski, who lives nearby but is currently staying at his summer home in Wisconsin.
"In the summer, I have a treadmill, an elliptical, I've got a full dumbbell rack, so I would be able to get by with that for sure," Comeau said. "But right now, you just have to use the bare minimum and work as hard as you can."
Both players say they're not really sure how their bodies will respond to the break and how they will be able to return to play once a decision is made on how to continue the season -- if that's possible. Still, they have to do everything they can to be prepared for every option.
"I'm usually in my best shape about now," Dickinson said. "I'm weaker strength-wise because the season has worn me down, but on the ice, I feel great. I don't get tired and I recover much quicker than normal."

So how does he get back to that?
"Well, I think we definitely have to get back to skating first and then see where we're at," Dickinson said. "I mean as much as you want to stay in shape riding a bike, you have to get out on the ice to really get into game shape."
So do you lose that shape in a month or two? Can you gain it back in a couple of weeks? It's all up in the air. So much of the decision-making is out of the hands of the league, so then a lot of different options are discussed.
"We do talk," Comeau said of conversations with teammates and former teammates. "I've talked to players, and the players I have talked to seem open to any option that works for everyone. We need to have the discussion, but I'm pretty sure most of the players want to be able to compete for the Stanley Cup this year."
The NHL cancelled the entire season in 2004-05 and didn't award the Stanley Cup. However, it had truncated seasons in 1994-95 and 2012-13, and nobody disputes Cup-winners from those seasons. Because of the uncertainty of the timeline moving forward, there will likely be adjustments to this year's format, but Comeau said he still believes whatever format is chosen would be exciting.

"With the parity that we have had, I'm sure every team wants to get a chance to play in the playoffs, because I truly believe if you're in the playoffs, you have a chance to win," Comeau said. "You look at last year and you look at where we are now, and it really is the case that any team could beat any other team in a series."
Dickinson serves as the Stars representative to the NHL Players' Association, so he helps communicate with his teammates and then uses their opinions to help define what the NHLPA might recommend. So far, there are a lot of potential options.
"It's just so unsure, so you have to talk about everything," Dickinson said. "It's tricky, because some teams are really close to (being in) the playoffs and we haven't finished the regular season, so how do you work that out? Plus, when do we get back? How much time do we have? Do you consider any ripple effect for next season? Right now, I'm just focused on being ready."
But being ready means a lot of waiting and a lot of exercising.
"The good thing is everyone will be in the same position," Comeau said. "It doesn't matter what you do off the ice. If you're not on the ice, you can't get in game condition.

"So we're all starting from basically the same spot."
That said, returning to the ice is the big key. Comeau said during his down time at home, he's thinking about how the process to battle the virus is affecting everyone.
"It's a crazy time, but we're very fortunate as athletes compared to what other people are going through," Comeau said. "It's tough to be quarantined or however you want to phrase it, but at the end of the day my family, we thank our lucky stars that we're in the position we're in, and we're just praying that everyone else can stay healthy and can survive these tough times and come out strong on the other side."
In the end, the Stars hope providing an entertaining product for fans to watch will help when things get back to "normal."
"We all have our jobs, and it would be really nice if we could return and have a great finish to the season and give people something positive to think about," said Nill. "All the medical people, all the support people who are helping us so much right now, when this is over, it would be nice if we could give them something entertaining to watch and cheer for."
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.