Five storylines to follow as Stars gear up for return at training camp

My wife and I chuckle at the phrase "unprecedented times" because we hear it so often, and because it sounds so ominous.
But it isaccurate.
The Stars have never had to start training camp in July to prepare for a jump almost straight into the playoffs in one of the most unique formats in NHL history -- all the while worrying about their own health and the health of their teammates and families. It really is something completely different.
So with that in mind, let's look at five things the Stars will be
focused on during their training camp
, which begins Monday at Comerica Center in Frisco.

1. Staying healthy

This means so many things now. Not only do players need to prepare their bodies for a high level of competition in a shorter period of time with a different sort of schedule, they need to do so during a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing distancing of all manner.
Because players need to avoid getting infected and testing positive for the COVID-19 virus (which could take them away from the team for a significant amount of time), they have to be diligent in their health practices. That means wearing masks when not practicing or working out, social distancing, and taking frequent steps to disinfect and clean. They have to be on the same page as a group and they have to really stay focused.
The Stars have hired personnel to make sure cleaning is done properly and players are safe, because they know just how much impact a positive case or two could have on their ability to win.
"I think our training staff has done an unbelievable job of keeping everyone as healthy as possible," Stars general manager Jim Nill said of workouts that have already taken place in Frisco as the team gets ready for training camp (or Phase 3 in the NHL dialect).
"When one group leaves and another comes in, it's a seamless transition and it's worked very well so far. The league has given us a great template and the staff and the players have bought in, so we're in a good spot. Now, we have to get through Phase 3 -- be smart, be disciplined."
Phase 3 is training camp, which will lead to playing hockey in the NHL bubble in Edmonton. As much as the team wants to be good at playing hockey, the first step is staying healthy.

2. Getting up to playing speed

The NHL will allow teams to bring 30 skaters and as many goalies as they like to camp. That means the Stars will have some extra bodies and will need to sort through them with purpose.
Defenseman Roman Polak has
opted out of a return to play
. The 34-year-old has signed a contract to return to play in the Czech Republic next season, so he will step aside after playing 41 games for the Stars this season. Polak was alternating games with Andrej Sekera, so Dallas has plenty of NHL defensemen at the ready, including roster defenseman Taylor Fedun and AHL call-ups Joel Hanley, Gavin Bayreuther and Dillon Heatherington.
Fedun, Hanley and Heatherington played for the Stars in the playoffs last season, and all four have played NHL games with Dallas.
The Stars will have two sessions to start camp, and then could move into an alignment of having the NHL team in one group and the reserves in another.
"You've got to come up with the right format so you're maximizing your ice time," Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said. "You don't want a lot of guys standing around and not getting work done. Initially, we're splitting it up into two groups to get as many reps in as possible, and as camp goes on, we're going to shorten it down to our team and then a second group."
How much of that work will be conditioning and how much will be timing and strategy? Well, that's going to be a moving target.
"We've been talking with them throughout the process and we have confidence that they've been doing what they were supposed to be doing. They've all been working out," Bowness said. "Will it be like it is in September when they've had all summer? Probably not. But we have 10 days on ice to get ready, and we plan on having them ready."
Stars forward Jason Dickinson said his return to workouts in Frisco after spending a few months in Ontario have been challenging.
"I definitely don't feel that I'm at the place where I was," Dickinson said. "I wasn't able to train the way I wanted to at home, and I think you lose so much so quickly. You were in a place where you were ramping up to the playoffs and that's kind of gone now, so you just have to find that intensity and work hard and realize that it might take a couple of games to get back to the level you were at."
The Stars will have a format that should help. They have one exhibition game, and then three games against the Golden Knights, Avalanche and Blues to determine the top four seeds in the Western Conference. While the Stars want to win those games, this format also gives them a bit of a safety net before playoff games begin.

3. Finding the right style of play

This team has been through a lot of changes.
Ken Hitchcock ran things in 2017-18, Jim Montgomery took over in 2018-19, and then Bowness was named interim coach in December. While Bowness transitioned a lot of what Montgomery was doing to keep things consistent at a difficult time, he has had a few months now to ponder if he wants to make changes.
He does.
He would like the Stars to try to hold onto pucks longer and make plays that could lead to more time spent in the offensive zone. Dallas ranked 26th in goal scoring when play was stopped at 2.58 goals per game. They also were second in goals against at 2.52, and had a 37-32-8 record despite entering the break on a six-game (0-4-2) losing streak.
"We know we're a good defensive team, so let's try to build on that," Bowness said. "Let's see if we can do more with what we have. Keep the good things, improve where we can improve."
The Stars' best players are each having down season statistically. Tyler Seguin has 17 goals among 50 points, but his shooting percentage is 6.9 percent. He was at 9.9 last season and 11.9 the year before. Jamie Benn has 19 goals among 39 points. That's .56 points per game. Benn was at .68 last season and .96 the year before. Alexander Radulov has 15 goals among 34 points in 60 games this season. He had 29 goals among 72 points in 70 games last season.
Bowness said he's looking at the opportunity to improve scoring as a teamwide challenge.
"It's not one individual, we all need to do more. That's the key, everybody is just a little better and then the team is a lot better," Bowness said. "If we get more from everybody, we're going to be a very tough out. If we play well, someone is going to have to play really, really well to beat us."

4. What will the lineup look like?

Because of performance and injuries, the lines have changed at times. That's to be expected. But with everybody healthy, is now the time to find some good fits?
The most consistent line this season and last has been Radek Faksa flanked by Blake Comeau and Andrew Cogliano. Should that stay the same? Dickinson got some shifts on the left wing there. Is that an option?
When play stopped, Corey Perry was playing on a line with Benn and Seguin. Is that the right fit for Perry, who has 36 goals in 118 career playoff games but just five goals in 57 games with the Stars this season? Would Radulov be a better fit on that line? The Benn-Seguin-Radulov trio has been the most dangerous line the team has had in recent seasons.
Bowness has said he definitely plans to give more ice time and more chances to Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz, who have 20 and 19 goals, respectively. That duo has played well with Dickinson in the past. Could Dickinson help take advantage of two of the fastest players on the team? Veteran Joe Pavelski also has had time with Hintz and Gurianov, and also is an option.
If you go with Radulov on the top line and Dickinson with Gurianov and Hintz, that could leave a fourth line of Mattias Janmark with Pavelski and Perry, and that could be perfect for a team that wants to roll four lines.
"When we're good, we're consistent offensively," Bowness said. "We roll four lines and we make plays with the puck, so it's a matter of doing that more consistently."
In addition to the top 12 forwards, the Stars have some interesting players battling to get on a line.
Veteran Justin Dowling played 29 games and had three goals this season, while AHL call-ups Nick Caamano, Joel Kiviranta, Jason Robertson, Rhett Gardner and Joel L'Esperance each played games with the Stars this season. Ty Dellandrea, who was the Stars' first pick in 2018, also could get a chance to open some eyes as he is coming out of junior hockey.
"It's a great experience for them, and let's see what they can do," Nill said. "I want to see how they perform in camp."

5. Who gets the nod in net?

One of the reasons the Stars believe they have a chance to win it all is because they have some of the best goaltending in the league. In last season's playoff, Dallas was first in save percentage at .931 and second in GAA at 2.31. When play stopped this season, the Stars were second in save percentage at .920 and second in GAA at 2.39.
That's impressive for both Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin.
Bishop claimed almost all of the playoff minutes last season, but Khudobin is likely more in the discussion this year. The 34-year-old has been mostly a backup in his career, but he has gone 16-8-4 in 20 appearances this year. He ranks third in GAA at 2.22 and leads the league in save percentage at .930.
Bishop is no slouch at age 33. He was runner-up for the Vezina Trophy last season and hit the break this year with a 21-16-4 record in 44 appearances. He ranked 10th in both GAA (2.50) and save percentage (.920).
One of the reasons Bishop played almost all of the playoff minutes last season is because of his experience. He has a 28-19 record in 49 career playoff games with a 2.12 GAA and .929 save percentage. Khudobin has mopped up in two playoff games in his career and has not allowed a goal on 13 shots.
That said, the Stars have an exhibition game this season, as well as three games in the round-robin seeding portion, so there's a really good chance Khudobin will get at least a chance to show something before the real playoff portion begins. If he does well, the coaching staff will have to make some tough choices.
"We're very fortunate to have two great goaltenders and each is having a great year," Bowness said. "We have full confidence in both of them."
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.