Summer School: Can Seguin build on do-it-all season for Stars?

As players get ready for the 2018-19 season under new head coach Jim Montgomery, let's take a look at what they did last season and where they can improve in a series we'll call "Summer School." Here, DallasStars.com senior staff writer Mike Heika takes a look at center Tyler Seguin:
Previous installment: Jason Spezza

Tyler Seguin

Position:Center
Age:26
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight:200 pounds
Shoots:Right
2017-18 Stats: 82 GP, 40 G 38 A, 78 Pts, plus-12, 43 PIM
2017-18 Cap Hit: $5.75 million

What happened last year

Seguin was among the Stars' best players, mixing in improved defensive awareness with his offensive skill to become a solid two-way player. Seguin averaged 20:55 in time on ice, tallied 40 goals, won 54.9 percent of his faceoffs, and was plus-12. He also led the team with 14 power-play goals and 25 power-play points. He was one of the players who improved the most under the guidance of coach Ken Hitchcock and the lessons learned should help him take another step this season.

Heika's outlook

Seguin seems to be in the sweet spot of his career right now. At age 26, he has played 590 NHL games, so he has a lot of experience to lean on. After battling injury problems that included an Achilles tendon, heal, shoulder and knee, he has been healthy this past year and is using the good health to really work on his conditioning and strength. That should result in Seguin being ready to go when training camp starts, as opposed to other seasons when he missed most of camp. Seguin likely won't see increased minutes under new coach Jim Montgomery, because Montgomery likes to use all four lines, but he could take advantage of Montgomery's aggressive attacking style to create more scoring chances. Seguin saw his shots on goal go up last season to 335, and he could eclipse that total. What will be interesting to watch is how Seguin handles the mental challenge of the season. If he signs a long-term contract extension, does that provide motivation and allow him to relax at the same time? If he doesn't sign an extension before the season starts, does that create tension or provide motivation? Seguin has watched Steven Stamkos and John Tavares go through a season without an extension, so he could draw on that to stay calm.
10-GAME PLANS: [Maximum savings on single-game prices and service fees]

They said it

"It does help, just because last summer I couldn't do upper body workouts and it was the first summer in two years where I could do lower body workouts. So this year I can do both. I've already put on my weight, I'm where I need to be at, and I still have two months to go." -- Stars center Tyler Seguin on going through an offseason completely healthy

"He's a pure sniper. He doesn't need time and space to get pucks off and create offense. I think we can get him to be a little bit more of a puck possession player. He's never going to be a puck possession player like (Alexander) Radulov or (Jason) Spezza, but the more the puck is on his stick, the more momentum we'll build and the more people will be chasing us. That's an area of his game that I want to continue to build." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery on Seguin

"He's a younger coach, he's excited, and I'm looking forward to see what he can do with our team. The style he is talking about is going to be a lot quicker and it's going to open up more offense for sure…I don't know if it is going to be difficult (playing for his third coach in three seasons), I'm not really sure. With Monty, you have someone young and hungry and someone who is learning too. He might need Jamie's help or my help sometimes, I'm looking forward to sharing that and growing together as players and coaches." -- Seguin on adjusting to a new system under Montgomery

"In watching the film, his competitive level increased throughout last year. I like what I see. His defensive habits, his faceoffs and his ability to score goals are things we're going to need this year." -- Montgomery on his expectations for Seguin
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.
Read more: Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars