'A lot to prove': With camp fast approaching, anticipation high for Stars

Anticipation is thick in the air for the Dallas Stars this week.
Players have been trickling back to town and while the coaching staff is watching prospects in Traverse City, Mich., former player Vernon Fiddler is running informal workouts at StarCenter Frisco.
"There's good energy," said center Tyler Seguin. "It's obviously nice to be back with everybody. Guys are ready to go."

GOING CAMPING: [Click here for complete coverage of Stars training camp from Boise, Idaho]
While new coach Jim Montgomery has been meeting with his coaching staff, Fiddler has been prepping the players. In addition to the normal pick-up hockey or "shinny" that you would see at this time of year, Fiddler has introduced a few drills that players might be seeing soon in regular practices.
"They just thought we could maybe give them a head start, and I think we're accomplishing that," said Fiddler.
"We're trying to incorporate a few drills we're going to use throughout the year, so that when practices really start, they go smoothly. I think it can really help."

Montgomery has been working hard to be prepared.
Named the new head coach of the Stars on May 4
, Montgomery is making the jump from collegiate hockey after five seasons with the University of Denver. He has been meeting with new assistant coaches
Todd Nelson
and
Rick Bowness
, as well as with Stu Barnes,
who returns to the coaching staff
.
The group has been holding meetings in Frisco for weeks and spent the weekend in Michigan with the front office watching the Stars prospects, a few who will
challenge for a place on the NHL roster
. Mix in the return of Valeri Nichushkin from the KHL, and the addition of free agents Blake Comeau, Anton Khudobin and Roman Polak, and there is plenty of transition to be tended to.
"It's nice to get out here and meet the guys and get used to your surroundings," said Comeau,
an 11-year NHL veteran who played with Colorado last season
. "I didn't really know too many of the guys here when I signed, but several have reached out to me, and now to get on the ice with them has been great."
BE LOUD, WEAR GREEN, GO STARS: [Single Game Tickets for all 2018-19 preseason and regular-season games are on sale now!]
Nichushkin said he has felt comfortable in his return. The 2013 Stars draft pick played his first three seasons in the NHL and then went back to Russia to play the past two seasons. He
signed a two-year contract with Dallas in the summer
and said he feels good to be back in the locker room.
"I'm happy to see everyone," Nichushkin said. "It seems a lot the same. I'm just happy. Can't wait to play my first game."
The Stars
start training camp Friday in Boise, Idaho
-- site of the team's ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads -- and
play their first of seven preseason games
on Sept. 18 against St. Louis at American Airlines Center, so the pace will be hectic.
Instagram from @radulov22: Мы на месте !!!👊Russian squad💣🇷#isitoctoberyet#AR47#GoStarsGo
"I'm expecting a high-energy, high-speed training camp," said captain Jamie Benn. "We all want to bring our best."
Benn said the drive to get back into the playoffs has created an energy that already is helping the team.
"Any time you miss the playoffs, you want to come back and try to change that," he said. "I think guys are looking to make a difference this year."
So getting a head start is a good thing.
"They're getting their legs under them and getting their brains going, and that's important," Fiddler said. "They have a lot to prove, so they're very focused.
"The veteran guys are ready to go."
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.