The Texas lineup will have a new look this season, which is par for the course in the AHL. About a dozen regular players from the 2017-18 playoff team have moved on, including forwards Roope Hintz and Jason Dickinson who are in the NHL with Dallas and Curtis McKenzie, who signed with Vegas in free agency, and goaltender Mike McKenna, who is now with the Ottawa Senators organization.
There are new faces like Dallas prospects including forwards Nick Caamano, Adam Mascherin, and Tony Calderone, defensemen John Nyberg and Ben Gleason, and goaltender Colton Point. There are veteran additions like Erik Condra, Michael Mersch, and Joel Hanley as well.
"We've got 10 or 11 new guys on the hockey club. It's exciting times," Texas coach Derek Laxdal told reporters last week. "The new players coming in know the rich history of the Texas Stars being in the finals three of nine years and winning it once. For the new guys coming in, it's going to be a great experience to embrace the atmosphere in this building."
This is Laxdal's fifth season behind the Texas bench. He's posted a 152-108-44 record and led the Stars to the postseason three times in his first four seasons.
"We're going to be a team that is pacey, puck possession team, a team that plays in your face," Laxdal said. "We are going to try to mirror Dallas a little bit, be a heavy puck-possession team. That's starts from your goaltending out. Your goaltender has to be strong, your D has to be solid, and your forwards have to play with pace and play a 200-foot game."
Texas got off to a good start this weekend, picking up three of a possible four points during a two-game homestand to open the season.
Here's more on the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.
