The continuous work in progress that is the Stars' defense
Dallas currently ranks ninth in goals against at 2.75 and 11th in shots against at 30.5
By
Mike Heika
Senior Staff Writer
One, it couldn't come to terms with longtime No. 1 defenseman John Klingberg on a long-term deal, which created the need for Miro Heiskanen to step up his game and take over.
Two, the absence of Klingberg's right-handed shot created the need for a replacement or two, and Dallas added that in the off-season with Colin Miller and Nils Lundkvist.
And three, a new coaching staff and the full health of all seven NHL defensemen has caused a bit of shuffling, as the team searches for the right chemistry with some parts that don't always fit right.
"We're still working through that," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said before Saturday's 5-2 loss at Colorado. "I think our defensemen, as a group, have played well all year. I think our goals against have been good and I think they've defended well. I think they've added some offense, which is something we wanted to do from day one of training camp."
DeBoer is right that the group has helped post some good numbers. Dallas ranks ninth in goals against at 2.75 and 11th in shots against at 30.5. According to Natural Stat Trick, they are sixth in scoring chances against per game and eighth in high danger scoring chances again. In addition, the Stars' penalty kill is third overall at 83.0 percent. But there still is a feeling the group could be better.
DeBoer and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine have been juggling pairs and still aren't completely sure on which six should be in the lineup every night. After playing just eight games in the first three months of the season, Joel Hanley played 10 in the month of March. After being a lineup regular for much of the season, Lundkvist has been a healthy scratch in nine of the past 12 games.
DeBoer said he likes the veteran steadiness of Hanley, 31. The lefty can play the right side and seems to be a good fit with any partner. He works out of a conservative base, and that's something coaches always like. Lundkvist, 21, was a first round draft pick for the Rangers and was acquired by the Stars for a first round pick and fourth round pick before the season. Lundkvist played 25 games last season for New York and still is adjusting to the North American game. DeBoer said he likes the development of the skilled righty in 60 games this season, but also knows that it's tough to become a consistent defenseman in the NHL.
Because of those two, the Stars have done some shuffling in March. Not only has Hanley jumped in on the third pair at times with Ryan Suter, but Suter has been pushed up next to Heiskanen for some games. Miller has been a regular with Heiskanen for the past few months, but he was dropped down to play beside Hanley in recent games. Dallas has played seven defensemen on rare nights and even the duo of Esa Lindell and Jani Hakanpää have been broken up at times.
Heiskanen has been the clear leader this year and is having a statistical breakthrough. His career best scoring total was 36 points (5 goals, 31 assists) in 70 games last season. This year, he has 66 points (11 goals, 55 assists) in 73 games. A good deal of the progress is because the 23-year-old is maturing. Another big part is with Klingberg having moved on, Heiskanen is now the No. 1 option in every sense of the word.
"I think the table was set for Miro to take a step," DeBoer said. "He's running our No. 1 power play and he's the go-to-guy. I think everyone thought he was ready for that, but I also think he's taken it upon himself to do more. He's kind of relished that."
Heiskanen is staking his claim as one of the best defensemen in the league and he's seen his time on ice go up about a minute a game to 25:38. He's a rare exception to the rule with this coaching staff. Lindell is down more than two minutes a game, while Suter is down more than three minutes from last season. That said, Suter still is second on the team in time on ice, which seems strange for a 38-year-old. He was second under Rick Bowness last season, and DeBoer said Suter is just a reliable defenseman.
"This guy has been an elite defenseman in the NHL since he arrived," DeBoer said. "You don't have the career he's had or have the resume he has without having a lot of things that coaches like - hockey sense, competitiveness, toughness. He can defend well, and he also can move pucks. He's got a lot of different talents. As you get older, some of those things start to go a little bit, but you never lose the brain. I think all of the older players who are in the league having success have that IQ and that brain."
That's one of the reasons the coaches feel they can move Suter up next to Heiskanen. It's also the reason they can play him with Lundkvist or Hanley. Do they need to make up their mind on what option is best before the playoffs or should they keep adjusting on a game-by-game basis? The seven defensemen have been heathy all year, and that has forced some tough decisions. Now though, it could get even tougher.
DeBoer and GM Jim Nill will get together and decide if any defensemen from the AHL might get called up for the post-season. The Texas Stars are in the AHL playoffs, so it might be best for all blueliners to remain playing. However, management could decide having an "eighth" defenseman watching games and practicing with the team is a better option. While it would be strange to have a player like Thomas Harley play his first NHL game of the season in the playoffs, Harley, 21, has been an AHL All-Star this season and is a first-round draft pick.
DeBoer said he believes the competition can be good for everyone.
"We've got some competition," DeBoer said. "There's some depth there and the NHL] guys here aren't the only ones. There are a couple of guys in Austin that are knocking on the door, too. That's to be determined. It's a great spot for us to be in with that kind of depth and we'll see where it shakes out over the next two weeks."
*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.*
