Summer School: Can healthy Marc Methot lead Stars' young defensive core?

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." Next up, DallasStars.com senior staff writer Mike Heika takes a look at defenseman Marc Methot.
Previous installments:Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg, Mattias Janmark, Radek Faksa, Jamie Benn, Stephen Johns, Esa Lindell

Marc Methot

Position: Defenseman
Age: 33
Height:6-foot-4
Weight:233 pounds
Shoots: Left
2017-18 Stats: 36 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 Pts, plus-11, 31 PIM
2018-19 Status:Under contract for $4.9 million cap hit.

What happened last year

Methot
suffered a knee injury in November
and missed half of the season. He ended up playing 36 of 82 games and was pretty solid when he was healthy. He finished plus-11 in his time and finished third on the team in hits per game (2.1) and fourth in blocked shots per game (1.4). Dallas went 17-17-2 in the games he played. Methot's time on ice was 17:53 per game, eighth on the team and down two minutes a night from what he averaged in Ottawa the previous season. Methot
appears to be over the knee injury
as he finished the year as a lineup regular and should be ready to go this season.

Heika's outlook

Methot is a veteran warrior and -- if he remains healthy -- could be a huge part of the leadership group for a young defense. Methot helped Ottawa to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2016-17 and has shown the ability to be a solid defensive partner for a skilled defenseman with his work as Erik Karlsson's partner. That means he could be a strong trainer for Julius Honka or he could simply support Stephen Johns in the quest to become a more offensive defenseman. Whatever happens, he should be a big part of a blueline that is trying to integrate two new young defensemen into the fold.
BE LOUD, WEAR GREEN, GO STARS: [Single Game Tickets for all 2018-19 preseason and regular-season games are on sale now]

They said it

"I do think it's important to get good chemistry on defense and to have regular pairs, because I think that's when you're most comfortable. But I also know I'll do anything to help the team win and I'll adjust to whatever the coaches want. I think you just show up every day ready to be a good pro and do your best." -- Marc Methot on returning from a knee injury last season.

"He's a really good defenseman. His ability to communicate, his ability to control the defensive zone and his ability to control pucks on offense is going to be a big part of what we do." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery on the strengths of Methot.

"You look at what he did in Ottawa on their playoff run, and you have to be impressed. Talking to him on the phone, I like the way he thinks the game, I like the way he sees the dressing room and how important cohesiveness is to how you play on the ice. He's going to be a big part of our leadership group." -- Montgomery on the leadership skills of Methot.
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.
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