Insider debate: Breaking down a wild week for the Stars

The Stars have been one of the busiest teams over the past week. Since free agency opened on July 28, the Stars have signed defensemen Ryan Suter and Jani Hakanpää, goaltender Braden Holtby, forwards Luke Glendening and Michael Raffl, and depth blueliners Alexander Petrovic and Andreas Borgman. They also made 10 selections at the 2021 NHL Draft held July 23 and 24. DallasStars.com senior staff writer Mike Heika and Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine recap all the action from a busy week for the Stars.

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Free agency

1. The Stars fortified their defensive game with the additions of blueliners Suter and Hakanpää, veteran forwards Glendening and Raffl, and former Stanley Cup champion goaltender Holtby. What did you make of these signings?
Mike Heika, DallasStars.com Senior Staff Writer: Clearly, the team wants all its bases covered. Suter was obvious because of the loss of Jamie Oleksiak but adding Hakanpää and the two-way contracts for Petrovic and Borgman gives the Stars some veteran depth on defense if there are injuries.
As a righty, Hakanpää has the chance to possibly move up the lineup or at least find an interesting partner in Suter or Miro Heiskanen. Adding Holtby gives the team options in net, and while some of those options are shaky to say the least, they are options. Ben Bishop's wonky knee is a true mystery, and the team needs to see how it reacts in training camp. Even if Bishop looks good, the Stars will likely want him to start slow, and that means that Holtby and Anton Khudobin could battle to see who's better. Holtby is coming off two horrible years, so there is some mystery in how he will respond, as well. If the team has to go with Khudobin and Holtby and put Jake Oettinger in the minors, they can do that. If they think there is hope that Bishop could play at some point, they can try to trade Khudobin or Holtby to clear some cap space. Again, they want the bases covered.
That same philosophy goes into adding Glendening and Raffl. Both are solid two-way forwards in their young 30s, and they're in at good cost, so that should help the team's forward depth. The problem with all of that is it really does block the progress of younger players. Thomas Harley will have to knock the door down to get NHL playing time this year. There really doesn't seem to be a place for Riley Damiani or Adam Mascherin to add to the offense, as many fans would like to see. There will be injuries and maybe these players will get the chance to bust through at that time, but it's tough to really earn a spot if there are that many bodies in front of you. I'll say that they should have a great AHL team, and that the current contract situations means there could be some openings next season, so the younger players should keep that in mind.

Bruce LeVine, Dallas Stars Radio Analyst: In the early 1970s the football team based in Washington hired a coach named George Allen who believed in the mantra 'The Future is Now.' The Dallas Stars' free-agent signings show they're in the same mode. Dallas went for need, went for depth and went for proven veterans. There are no young "projects" in this group. The best option for replacing Oleksiak was Suter and the Stars landed him. Despite being 36 years old, Suter played more than 22 minutes a night last year for the Wild and was plus-9. Four-year term might be a bit worrisome but that's what was needed to land the former Wisconsin Badger. Maybe Suter turns out to be just like Chris Chelios and plays at a high level throughout the contract and beyond. One other item in the Stars' favor is the incentive factor. By all accounts, Suter was less than thrilled to be bought out, reportedly hanging up on the call to tell him the news. A focused and determined Suter, with something to prove, may turn out to be better than the Big Rig.
Hakanpää is a big body the Stars needed on defense The Finnish Mafia supplied a lot to the team, and now it adds some toughness and muscle that was needed on the blueline. Glendening never has gaudy offensive numbers unless you look at faceoff percentage. The Stars want to be a puck possession team, and Glendening is among the NHL's best on the dot. He can replace Andrew Cogliano on the penalty kill and comes at a very affordable price.
Holtby is the signing that blindsided most observers. With Khudobin and Oettinger ready for camp, adding a fourth man in the pipes seemed unnecessary. But, if Holtby returns to Stanley Cup form, it's a steal. There isn't enough net to go around so this training camp battle will be intense. Even the two players brought in to add defensive depth, most likely at the AHL level, in Petrovic and Borgman are 29 and 26 years old, respectively. They may help with the big club or may make the Texas Stars Calder Cup contenders in the AHL. Overall franchise depth might create a more difficult path for Harley, Damiani, Mascherin and Ty Dellandrea to advance to the NHL. It also may force these youngsters to raise their game and fight harder for playing time and call-ups, making them better than if there was limited competition. While the Stars are not a Sylvester Stallone cameo away from being the average age of The Expendables, there is no question this free-agency period is about winning now not only at the NHL level but also down in Cedar Park.
2. Did you expect Jim Nill to be this active when free agency opened?
Heika:No. I really thought they would add two defensemen, maybe one forward and then be done with it. They did get some bargains, so there's never anything wrong with that. And with the current prices for free agents, they didn't seem to really do anything too risky. Yes, Suter is 36, but the upside of possibly getting a serious top-four defenseman for a cap hit of $3.65 million looks pretty good right now. Plus, his ability to move the puck and his ability to think the game could definitely help increase scoring if the Stars' forwards are all healthy -- and that would make fans ecstatic.
LeVine:I don't think Nill is a huge fan of the Talking Heads, but seemed to heed the words of David Byrne's "This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around." Need a defenseman, sign Suter. Replace Jason Dickinson, get Glendening. Not sure about goaltending, sign Holtby. Over the Salary Cap? Doesn't matter, get depth with Raffl, Hakanpää, Petrovic and Borgman. In postseason meetings, the front office mapped out areas of concern. Instead of just addressing shortcomings with one answer, the Stars GM went out and filled those holes with multiple options. Nill didn't worry about future financial decisions or final roster selections. Nill was aggressive and laser focused on making his team better. Surprisingly aggressive? Yes, and absolutely no fooling around.

3. What message does this give not only to the fans but other teams across the league?
Heika:I know they want to always build for long-term success, and they still can do that with players like Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, and possibly with Oettinger, Harley, Damiani, Mascherin and the like in the minors, but this definitely looks like a 'go for it' year. The players aren't 'old' or 'over the hill,' but this should be the oldest roster in the NHL. Players like Suter, Joe Pavelski, and Alexander Radulov are definitely feeling the pressure. Players like Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn know they're in the second half of their respective careers. This team needs to have a great season. If it does, then maybe you re-sign a few veterans to reduced contracts for a year and try to squeeze it out for another season. But right now, Pavelski, Radulov, John Klingberg and Blake Comeau can become UFAs next summer, and head coach Rick Bowness could see his contract expire. That could mean a lot of change next season, and that's a lot of pressure if this team doesn't perform well right now. The great thing about the 1999 Stars is they also were an older team, and they loved the pressure. They knew they were good, and they embraced the expectations. Maybe this team can do the same.
LeVine:The message to Dallas fans and teams around the NHL is pretty obvious. The Stars are all in for the upcoming season. Since the end of the Lindy Ruff era, Dallas has been a team that plays defense first and wins with structure. There were many Stars fans who were annoyed when Dallas chose to go with defense and depth during free agency rather than go after a splashy offensive weapon. There was belief in the front office that the Stars' top-six (maybe seven if Denis Gurianov returns to form) will supply enough goals to win consistently. It's a gamble, but the thirtysomethings are going to be the force that drives this team. Even Seguin will be 30 when this next season is finished. (They grow up so fast). Injuries, COVID outbreaks, Winterpocalypse, the worst schedule in league history and no practice time conspired to make 2021 a year to survive rather than flourish for the returning Western Conference Champions.
The 2021-22 campaign is the season to show championship mettle. Elder statesmen such as Pavelski, Radulov, Benn and Comeau will have one last chance as the core group to make a run at hockey greatness. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had The Last Dance knowing that particular group of players would never be the together again. In some ways this is the Stars version. While Nill won't go into full rebuild mode after this season, there will soon come a time to change the chemistry and pass the torch to the new core. Contract decisions will need to be made after this year on the ice and behind the bench. Father Time is undefeated. For the most familiar faces in this franchise the time to win is NOW and everyone around the hockey world knows it too.
4. Which signing are you most excited about?
Heika:Suter for obvious reasons. He's very smooth, very smart and he can really help the team transition from defense to offense. That's the game plan, and adding him to the mix allows the Stars to believe they can get more offense from the current forward group because there's a chance they'll be spending more time in the offensive zone. I also like Hakanpää. He's right-handed and he really could play with several different partners. If the Stars feel they need to put Heiskanen back on the left side, Hakanpää is an option. He joined the Stars because he wanted to be with that great group of Finns, and this allows the coaching staff to ponder all manner of combinations. He also helps replace some of the size lost by Oleksiak. While he's not expected to be a big hitter, having the muscle to clear the net is also important.
LeVine: All eyes will be on Suter and rightfully so. No point in worrying about how good he will be in 2024 since this is about winning now. I'm intrigued about Glendening. When striving to be a puck possession team, starting with the biscuit is key. Glendening is a staggering 61% in the circle and that bodes well for penalty kill and defensive zone draws late in games. But the most shocking signing is the most exciting to me, and that's Holtby. The former Stanley Cup champion struggled in Vancouver with a record of 7-11-3 and a save percentage below 89%. The Stars play a more structured game than the Canucks which could result in a Holtby revival. Bishop's status is uncertain but the tandem of Khudobin and Oettinger seemed ready to carry the load. Now it's a case of two's company but three's a crowd. If Holtby can return to form, the net becomes a very loaded and competitive position. And then there is the reptile intrigue. It was a minor international incident when Holtby tried to bring his pet tortoises, Honey and Maple, into Canada. Now they must cross back into the US in time for training camp. Hopefully the paperwork has been filed for the tortoises' return and from the Stars point of view, a return of Holtby as a top goaltender would be welcome as well.

5. Do you anticipate more moves as we get closer to the season?
Heika: They have to get under the cap and still have to sign restricted free agent Joel Kiviranta, so they need to do something. The fact they have some two-way contracts does give them flexibility. My guess is a lot of their compliance is tied to putting Bishop ($4.9 million) on LTIR. I don't think they'll know if that's an option until training camp. So, I think this is it until they get some health updates in September and can start to make decisions at that time.
LeVine:The question is not whether there will be moves as we get closer to the season, but how many moves will be made. Some future possibilities to ponder:
Goaltending: Will Bishop be ready for training camp or at all this season? Oettinger can be sent to the AHL without clearing waivers, but what if he's the best goalie out of camp? Only two of four NHL caliber netminders will make the final roster, so what happens to the others?
Salary cap: The Stars still have to get a contract done with Joel Kiviranta and that's with already being pressed to the salary cap limit. Nill has this roster overstocked, some can be sent to the AHL on a two-way contract but what if players such as Nick Caamano, Dellandrea or Rhett Gardner earn their way on to the team?
This is going to be the most competitive training camp in years. Moves will be made dictated by dollars and by talent. There is more to come but not for a few months. So take a deep breath and get ready for more Stars news ahead.

NHL Draft

1. The Stars had the third-most picks of any team in the draft (only Buffalo and Carolina had more with 11 and 13, respectively). What did you think of the moves Stars GM Jim Nill made to give his scouting staff to go from seven picks less than two weeks ago to 10 on draft day?
Heika:This was huge for the scouting staff, which had five picks last year and four the year before. These guys work so hard during the season, and I think it just gave an excitement to the process that they were able to use their work and possibly add some key players to the organization. You look at players like Benn or Klingberg or even Esa Lindell and the scouts gets to say they found that player a little later in the draft. That's a huge feather in your cap for the rest of your career. The Stars clearly could have a player like that this year. The other thing I think is important is Nill is a former scout, so he knows how hard the previous two years were and he wanted to give his squad a few gifts. The entire group has a strong bond, and this was a chance for all of them to share in the process and work together for a big weekend.
LeVine: We've been hearing for weeks this is the draft the Stars needed to replenish their youth pipeline. It was a focused priority, and the team was able to pull off its goal as far as getting sheer numbers. If a team can hit on two good NHL players in any draft year, it's a solid draft. Hitting on three players (like the Stars did in 2017 with Heiskanen, Oettinger and Robertson) is nothing short of phenomenal. Having 10 picks in the most unpredictable draft ever gives the Stars a chance to hit those high standards. More than other drafts there will be wild variations from where players were selected and where they SHOULD'VE been selected. During the past two drafts, Dallas had a total of nine picks and none in the second or third rounds. The Stars would've lost Dickinson to the expansion draft and were able to recover an extra pick in the third round. Dallas was looking to trade down in the first round and found a dance partner in Detroit, gaining two more selections. One scout told me "[Sebastian] Cossa is the best goalie prospect I've seen out of the WHL since Carey Price." Five years from now, it may be a great move for Steve Yzerman. But if Dallas hits on Wyatt Johnston and any of the extra picks, this will be a win-win for all involved.

2. Unpredictable was a word used to describe the 2021 NHL Draft in the months leading up to it, and we ended up seeing a lot of risers and fallers in the first, second and third rounds. Give us your thoughts on Dallas' first two selections with Wyatt Johnston at No. 23 and Logan Stankoven at No. 47.
Heika: The Stars' focus on Johnston was the reason they were able to trade back and get the two extra picks. They love him, and they have really liked him for a few years now. One of the things that the pandemic forced was that you had to go back in your files and watch a lot of games from 2019-20. In his first year with Windsor in the OHL, Johnston had 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 53 games, so he could definitely slip under the radar. But the Ontario scouts did a lot of work on him and kept referring to it this season. Nill and Joe McDonnell are huge proponents of scouting everybody. Do the work on the underage kids so you can see their progress. That really paid off on Johnston. Then, when he came to North Texas and helped Canada win gold, that pretty much clinched it. He's a Stars type player. They like his skill (great first step) and they like his will (wins a lot of puck battles). Stankoven falls in line with previous Stars picks like Robertson and Mavrik Bourque - he produces points. While last season was limited in the WHL, Stankoven had 10 points (7 goals, 3 assists) in just six games. In the IIHF Under 18s, he had eight points in seven games. As a AAA player in 2018-19, he had 101 points in 38 games. Those numbers don't always transfer as you move up, but the Stars are seeing with players like Robertson that having that skill can be huge. It will be very fun to watch some of the Stars' skilled prospect grow together as they move up through the system.
LeVine:The pandemic plagued 2020-21 season forced the Stars to reply on game video, analytics and projections more than ever. Mike is much better at numbers, analytics and, if necessary, rubber chicken graphs than I, so let's talk intangibles. Canada doesn't usually perform well at the U18s. This isn't due to lack of talent, but bad timing as the tournament runs concurrently with the CHL playoffs and then the Memorial Cup. In 2020, Hockey Canada has its choice of the top talent in the OHL and WHL. (The QMJHL didn't hold playoffs in 2020) This squad will go down as Canada's version of the U18 Dream Team. To be a member of the squad is a huge accomplishment, indicative of the promise Johnston has shown. More importantly, his only focus was to win. Johnston accepted whatever role was asked, checking forward, penalty kill, physical presence. He did it all and did it well. His speed, versatility and focus on team above individual were more reasons the Stars likes Wyatt so much.

Do you really have to ask my opinion on Stankoven? If so, please refer to our draft preview, recordings of the Stars Draft Show on The Ticket or any tweets since the U18s began. His offensive numbers are strong, his shot and release are top level but what sets him apart is his drive. Listed at 5'8, but does not back down from physical play going to the net or corner battles. One WHL observer described Stankoven's drive for the puck "like a dog going after a bone". There were several moments at the U18s that caught my eye and made me a huge fan. One was on a penalty kill vs Latvia where single-handedly Stankoven killed off 40 seconds battling in the offensive zone corner against three opponents. Against Switzerland, on a line with future No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard, Stankoven kept the puck in the zone, took a quality shot, won the puck battle to set up the future superstar for his first international goal. Oh yeah, the snipe in the gold medal game against world class. He's going to be just fine.
3. Who of the 10 players are you most excited to see in rookie camp and potentially at the Traverse City prospect tournament?
Heika:I know the guy the Stars really liked was Connor Roulette. They were very happy to get him at 111. He has a lot of work to do on his skating and stride, but he has excellent compete and he finds a way to get things done. Like I said earlier, it's going to be great to see an influx of skill and watch how that all plays together, but it's also interesting to watch a player as he develops. The Stars love Roulette and watching him improve year to year will be fun.
LeVine: Roulette may be the steal of the Stars draft class, selected in the fourth round. NHL Central Scouting had him ranked as the 36th-ranked skater in North America which usually parlays into a second-round slot. And yeah, he was also a gold medal winner for Team Canada which bodes well. However, I'm going with Stars top pick Johnston. On a U18 team loaded with first-round offensive talent, Johnston sacrificed his numbers for the good of the team. At Traverse City, he'll be one of the lead performers and someone expected to drive the offense. Johnston will get a chance to show his entire skill set and perform on special teams. Dallas locked in on Johnston early in the evaluation process, and this tournament will give the first chance for a full evaluation as a Stars prospect.
4. Are you at all surprised the Stars ended up with seven forwards and three defensemen?
Heika:Yes. Having taken just four defensemen in 17 picks in their three previous seasons, I could have seen the numbers go seven defensemen and three forwards. However, Joe McDonnell said this is how the draft fell and they were very happy with the "assets" they gained for Jim Nill and the front office. If there really is a need to add more defensemen, you can always work trades after a few years. After all, these players have plenty of time to develop. I do like the fact the scouts fought for the players they took. By deciding to not really focus too much on position, they feel they got the "right guys."
LeVine:Going into the draft it was expected to be a forward-heavy class. You can't sacrifice a draft by focusing on one position rather than players ranked higher on the prospects list. The Stars took seven forwards with a couple heading to the NCAA and three from Team Canada. If two become successful NHL contributors, it's a great draft. The arrival time for a defenseman from selection to NHL level is usually 3-5 years (unless you're Heiskanen). Trades, signing of current NHL talent and recruiting non-drafted amateurs (Brendan Dillon, Gavin Bayreuther, Jerad Rosburg) are ways to replenish the blueline. I like the two defensemen Dallas drafted in the fifth round, maybe one will be as successful as another fifth-round pick whose last name is Klingberg.
5. What grade would you give the Stars for their picks this year, and why?
Heika: I think even the scouts will have a hard time grading this draft, just because of the lack of information caused by the pandemic. That said, I think getting 10 picks and getting a lot of skill puts them in the B+, A- range. I know scouts and front offices don't put a lot of weight on the opinions of outsiders, but that is typically how drafts are measured. If a player is ranked high, the Stars pass on him, and that player ends up being a great performer, then the Stars have to wear that. In 2003, the Stars traded the 28th pick to Anaheim to pick up 36th and 54th. The Ducks took Corey Perry. The Stars took Vojtech Polak and B.J. Crombeen. That stings now. So if Sebastian Cossa (who the Red Wings traded up to take at 15th) wins a Vezina Trophy, the Stars have to live with that even if they weren't going to pick him. Likewise, if Corson Ceulemans hits it big as a defenseman, the Stars passed on him to take Wyatt Johnston. The perspective of several years will bring clarity to the draft, and while it's not always fair, that's when they are really graded.
LeVine: Am I allowed to cop out and give an INCOMPLETE? There is no way to grade how a draft class will rate without time and perspective. There were some "experts" who panned the Stars 2017 draft because they drafted Robertson way too high and traded up for a goalie who wasn't needed at the time. That opinion didn't age well.
Knee-jerk reaction to the 2012 class was low because of early injuries to Radek Faksa. Nine years later, Faksa is one of the toughest centers in the NHL to play against and third-round pick Lindell makes that draft look pretty solid. Most of early focus goes to first- and second-round choices, but any draft that brings fifth-round choices like Benn and Klingberg have to raise the final grade. So, while copping out on giving a letter grade, I'm very excited about this haul for a number of reasons. The lack of scouting opportunities will bring some very interesting trajectories that weren't expected at the time of the draft. This year it's all about quantity. Ten selections offer the largest chance for overall success than the Stars have had in years. More arrows in the quiver give a greater chance of hitting the target more than once. In five years, we'll truly know the final grade, but I like the Stars' chances of making Honor Roll.
PS: There has been a lot of chatter that 2021 is a weak draft. Just stop. There are no weak drafts, only teams that draft weakly.