The Week Ahead

Didn’t really read before I commented. That will definitely make it easier to get these wins. Both Leightonen and Khabibulin have had strong starts so far khabi has been standing on his head and kari has ten wins. I think we’ll be more likely to beat the oilers, but hey, thinking back on the last year or two, for whatever reason, it seems the oilers haven’t been such an easy team to beat for us. we’ll see.

No, I don’t consider them to be stars (or superstars, or elites, or any other nouns you care to place here). My argument is based on an analysis of raw talent and the apparent capability to reach ones potential. They’re not in the upper echelon of NHL players… yet.

Are you denying that Ryder has talent? I’m not trying to elevate him to the Crosby/Ovechkin/Stamkos level… I’m not even trying to elevate him to the Kopitar/Kovalchuk/Kane level; but the man obviously has talent.

Your assessment of Morrow is pretty solid… He will never light up the league in scoring, but he’s been solid throughout his career. He’s had 6 20+ goal seasons, with two of them being 30+ goal seasons. Not in the same tier as the elites of the league, but very solid nonetheless.

I will take umbrage with your assessment of Ribiero though. You provide no objective analysis of the player whatsoever and use your dislike of him to deny his skill. He had one idiotic incidence of diving in his early days in Montreal (yes, it was awful, we all know), but he hasn’t done anything like that. I find it funny that one incident of diving has followed Ribiero throughout his career, but Dustin Brown dives night after night and seems to be made of teflon.

But, roster roster for roster… I’ll use J.J. from Kansas’ analysis from below:

Zetterberg > Benn: Perhaps, but we will have to let time tell. Through their first two seasons, I would give Benn the advantage. He’s got more points through his first two seasons than Hank did. Also, Benn has been asked to play out of position and to transition in to a playmaking center. Tell me, was Hank asked to do that? No… you mean he’s always played on the left side? And to further drive the point home – Benn is succeeding (so far) in his role at center.

Datsyuk > Eriksson: This is a comparison of two totally different players here. Datsyuk is the consummate center – he’s good at everything he does. He can shoot, deke, defend, and pass. He’s a master at stripping the puck from opposing players… every GM wants him, but only one is lucky enough to have him. Eriksson is an excellent two way player who can snipe with the best of them. He’s showing the ability to make good passes… but in this comparison, Datsyuk wins. Datsyuk is more comparable to Ribiero, but in that case, Datsyuk is still the better player.

Franzen > Rebiero: Again, a mis-comparison. Franzen is good… but he’s definitely not going to put up as many points as Ribiero. Ribiero is a better passer, skater, and has a better shot. Ribiero is also far more creative with the puck. Franzen does what exactly? Bulls his way to the net? Attempts a wrister from the circles? Franzen is taller and better against the boards than Ribiero… that’s about all though.

Morrow > Filppula: Really? Filppula has never scored 20+ goals. Morrow has. End of story. A better comparison for Morrow would have been Franzen. But Morrow would still come out on top. Morrow is a battler – Franzen likes to complain about getting hit in the corners.

Ryder > Nobody: He has 4 20+ goal seasons, 2 of them are 30+ goal seasons. He’s better than many in the NHL, and better than Hudler, Abdelkader, and a few others.

Lehtonen = Howard: This is another wait and see. Howard is good. Lehtonen is good. Howard has played 2 full seasons. Lehtonen has been in shape to play for 2 seasons. Lets re-visit this 2 seasons from now.

(Goligoski = Kronwall) < Lidstrom: Lidstrom is incomparable – he’s one of the great defensemen to play the game. That goes without saying. Goligoski and Kronwall are about comparable. They are both capable of putting up points and play their position well. I think Kronwall tends to be more defensively sound than Goligoski, but that’s not to say that Goligoski has Mike Green syndrome (i.e. is a forward playing on the blue line).

The Stars have also played the Kings twice, Chicago twice, St. Louis, Colorado, and New Jersey. The Stars deserved better in their games against LA, but ultimately couldn’t pull it out… They beat Chicago once, St. Louis, Colorado, and New Jersey. The Devils and Blues aren’t the same quality of competition as the others (for the moment anyway – the second half of last season should prove as a reminder as to their capabilities). The schedule has been rather light for the Stars so far – but everyone expected the Stars to tank like Columbus is, and expected Columbus to challenge for a bottom 4 seed.

Rebiero = Ribeiro

You said you would be, at the beginning of the season. How quickly your opinion change….what a joke.

That’d be like arguing “Lehtonen is better than Hasek based on their first two seasons” (as an example. I’m sure there’s much worse arguments you can make). It just doesn’t make any sense

He had a NTC, was suffering from a concussion, and said himself he wanted to stay in Dallas. The stars were also doing well in the playoff race at the time, and it didn’t make any sense to trade him, even if he would have allowed it. The argument that we should have traded him is absurd and pointless.

As far as missing the playoffs last year, something that became apparent after the season was over was that all of the players were extremely unhappy with the coaching. The system was bad, and the coaching was worse. Prime example: on the last game, the Stars needed a non-shootout win to make the playoffs. Crawford had them practice the shootout for the last part of practice that day. Ridiculous.

The coaching this year is far better, as is the depth of the team.

And your numbers are a little extreme for Souray, there. The man has12 points in 13 games, and leads the league in +/- (A questionable stat, but a stat nonetheless). He also doesn’t give up shorties on the PP that Richards did. Yeah, Richards was an offensive power. But he was a defensive liability. They took that money from his contract, added better defensive coverage (both in front and in back), and have asked Benn and Loui to step up offensively to fill the gaps (which, to this point in the season, they are doing exceptionally well).

Bottom line: Do I think the Stars are going to finish first in the Western Conference? Of course not. But they are a good team, one that I think won’t suffer the same kind of collapse that they did last year (barring severe injuries of course). And with the Western Conference being as tight as it is, they can give any team a run for their money.