Marchment melds into formidable role with Stars

Mason Marchment had a breakout year with the Florida Panthers last season, so facing his old team is always fun.
But the 27-year-old forward said he's not looking back. He already played at Florida Nov. 17 where the Stars had a 6-4 win and Marchment tallied an assist.

"I've definitely moved past it," Marchment said. "It's fun to play those guys again, but this is my team now and that's in the past."
Marchment had 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) in 54 games with the Panthers last season which led to a four-year free agent contract with the Stars that averages $4.5 million a season.
Marchment ranks seventh on the Stars in scoring with 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in 40 games. He is third on the team in shots on goal with 99 and ranks fifth among forwards in time on ice at 15:49 per game. He played 14:07 per game last season for the Panthers.
"He was a in a different role last year," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "He wasn't making big money and he was playing in the depth of the lineup more. All of a sudden, here he's front and center out on the power play, playing late in games…I think it's been a big ask for him and I think he's handled everything we've thrown at him really well. I think every week he gets a little more comfortable. I'm intrigued by the upside."
Stars forward Tyler Seguin has been a frequent linemate with Marchment and said he likes the physical presence and high energy the new guys brings.
"Mush is a big body and a big personality, and he just brings that volume in the room when we need it," Seguin said. "He's a guy who literally has a chip on his shoulder, who loves to work hard and compete."
Marchment is second on the team in minor penalties with 12, so he does need to work on a few things. That said, his physical presence is an important part of the team game, and DeBoer said he doesn't want to lose that.
"You have to take some of the good with the bad with guys like that, that's just the reality of it," DeBoer said. "We're a better team when he's in the lineup. He keeps people honest, other team's defensemen are looking over their shoulder when he's coming in on the forecheck. He's got a physical presence, and that helps guys like Jamie Benn. I think he's done a really good job of walking that line, not taking bad penalties and stuff like that. I think he's finding that line that's important for him to walk."
DeBoer said the fact he can move Marchment around the lineup makes him a perfect fit this season.
"His versatility is what makes him great," DeBoer said. "On a third line, he's a mismatch for just about anybody in the league, playing against third defensemen, because of his size and his skill. But he also has the ability to play with top end players and create room for them. That's what's nice, is you can plug him in just about anywhere."
And as for facing his old team, well, that's not really a big deal.
"I think I've found my place," Marchment said, adding that his teammates are helping him through a 10-game goal drought. "All of the guys treat me well and it's been good for me. Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't. I've just got to keep working hard and eventually they'll come.
Key Numbers
108
Jani Hakanpää leads the Stars with 108 hits so far. Joel Kiviranta is second with 64.
.654
Winnipeg leads the Stars for first place in the Central Division with a .654 points percentage. Dallas is at .650. The team with the highest point percentage after Jan. 11 will send its coach to the All-Star weekend as leader of the Central.
55.2 percent
Dallas ranks third in faceoff winning percentage at 55.2 percent. Florida ranks 21st at 48.8 percent.
He said it
"We want to win the game. We want to cut off these losing streaks as quickly as possible. I've talked all year about making sure that these things don't expand to four, five, six, seven games. I think the guys are aware of that."
- Pete DeBoer on how the Stars respond to losing two consecutive games. Dallas has not lost three games in a row this season.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Marchment
Olofsson-Seguin-Dellandrea
Kiviranta-Faksa-Glendening
Heiskanen-Miller
Lindell-Hakanpää
Suter-Lundkvist
Oettinger
Wedgewood
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.