What We Know from Dallas Stars Training Camp Day 1: Does Jamie Benn Still have Juice in the Tank?

What We Know from Dallas Stars Training Camp Day 1: Does Jamie Benn Still have Juice in the Tank?

Day one of training camp is officially in the books for the Dallas Stars. We got our first impressions of line combinations and pairings on the back end. Who’s standing out and what do we know heading into the first preseason game tomorrow night. Your Locked On Stars, your daily podcast on the Dallas Stars, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Howdy Stars fans. I’m Joey Ericen, former producer 105 through the fan. Please be sure to subscribe. We are free available wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. And as always, thank you so much for making us a part of your day and making us your first listen. Happy Friday, Stars fans, and welcome back to another episode of Lockdown Stars, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every single day. What do we know after day one of training camp for the Dallas Stars? We’re going to break it all down on today’s show. We got our first impression of certain line combinations, one included, Wyatt Johnston between Jamie Ben and Mo Rantin. So, we’re going to make some predictions. Which one may stick or are we going to see some more shuffling as preseason goes along? Neil Lungquist playing alongside Thomas Harley. I think that had a few people perked up as well. So, a lot of fun stuff as camp is right in the thick of things and of course we’re going to read into everything probably too much, but we do have our first preseason game tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues. That will be on Victory Plus. So, hockey is back this weekend, Stars fans. So, buckle up and we’re going to kick you off into your weekend here today. So, what what do we know? Let’s go over some of the combinations we we saw from Gulletin. And some of these we could possibly have predicted and some of them probably a bit of a headscratcher to to some of you, but I think I understand uh where where Golitin is coming with a few of these. But uh for for the most part uh the the same cast of characters you would expect playing alongside one another. But let’s just start with uh the top line, so to speak. Wyatt Johnston centering between Jaime Ben and Miko Ransin and and I mentioned this a bit yesterday. And I have to say first initial gut reaction is I can see it. I just don’t know how it’s going to be executed. It doesn’t seem like a a line that’s going to escape very well. But you put Ranton in and Ben on either side of Johnston. Those are powerful forwards. We know Jamie Bennett has lost a step. So my concern would be can can Ben keep up? Can Ben keep up with Johnston and Ranton who are such wonderful playmakers and it’s not like Ranton and and Johnston or McDavid skating around on the sheet, but they play with uh some good pace. They skate well and is has been going to complement Johnston and Rantin together. I love the fact that the Stars may shuffle things around up top and and and and have Johnston with Ranton. I think that could be a really really saucy combination just because Ranton is so good along the walls. He uses his body, his size, his awareness that I think that would really complement Johnston’s game as a guy that stick handles through through traffic. He he plays well in space and I I think they would be a really nice duo. Um if you find a a piece that could complement them. Is it Jamie Ben? I don’t know. Uh but they they seem to at least trot it out there here on day one and uh we’ll see if it materializes or or not. If if it wasn’t Ben, I would be really interested if they threw Duchaine on that line because you two center iceman’s and Duchine again a guy that holds on to the puck. Uh I guess Johnston’s sort of similar um in that way as well or or Maverick Bourc to to be completely honest. Have another young gun up up there and Gooson made the point that they’re going to get a chance. They’re going to get an opportunity, new year, new coach, new eyes on them, and there’s an opportunity for for them to to step up and uh and elevate themselves in the lineup. But that Johnston Ben Ranson and uh line in combination it is interesting. I I don’t know if it sticks. I would probably predict it doesn’t, but I can see where Goldson is is coming from. And you never know. I think sometimes you just have to see it in action. you have to see it against competition before you can uh really really make strong convictions on it. Then we saw hence Robertson and Bour. So I mean that’s a great opportunity for for Bourc right there playing with hints in Robo. So they they don’t seem to want to break them up and I don’t know why you would I mean we’ve seen it. Robo and Hints can just go on an absolute tear when they’re firing on on all cylinders. So it’s just about finding that right compliment. I think Bourc is actually a phenomenal phenomenal compliment to that line. Sort of. I I think Bourke can be a Joe Pavvelski type of player. Not the fastest skater in the world, but he is not afraid to get to the dirty areas. Bourc has some of that in his game. I’ve talked about it. I like how he he gets to the crease. He he likes to muck it up. Plays a a bit tougher of a game, I would say, than even a rope hints. Uh because he doesn’t have that type of speed. So, he has to get to some of those harder areas to to score. And I I think that could be a really strong line because you get Robo, the goal scorer, hence with the speed. And then Bourc who we talked about recently, he’s a playmaker at heart. He can make plays, he finds plays, he can find his teammates, and um a year under his belt. I think that should provide him with a lot of confidence. And he gets to play with really, really great players. That’s going to help in itself. uh you would think and instead of playing on the bottom six and and and playing uh less leverage minutes or or uh playing with, you know, linemates, just face it, you’re not going to score a ton of points with they’re not going to be productive. But with with Henson Robertson, I think Bour could be a perfect compliment. I I could he seems like a Joe Pavvelski uh type. I I think uh that that could be really really good. Um then you get Duchain Sean. So they they haven’t broke them up and then they put Steel with that. Uh Goldson did mention over the summer uh I believe he did an interview with DLSS over the summer and talked about having having Steel on that left side with Duchine. Again, it provides you with another center iceman. Uh Steel Steel, I think it’s a perfect perfect fit for for that duo, too, just because he plays a really straightforward game. Duchain likes to be sexy. We know it. He likes to get in the spin cycle. He likes to stick handle and it’s great. It’s beautiful. It worked a lot last season except in the playoffs. Had 82 points. Sean, remember, was off to a point per game pace in 20 games until he had season ending injury uh or at least regular season uh ending surgery. Steel just plays direct. He goes to he just goes to the net. He he plays hard defensively, really responsible, whereas, you know, Duchain can lack a bit defensively at times. um steel gives him sort of a a buffer um sort of a safety net uh because of his defensive responsibility. We see it on the PK. Um and this is a great opportunity for him to get to play too with you know some guys uh yeah they’re aging a bit uh but can still be productive. We we’ve seen that and who knows I I think you know Sean I think he still has some juice and he can still be productive because uh of of his ability to adapt to his body um in his game. Um your your fourth line so uh backwell and it’s Bastian Blackwell uh are are kind of battling for that that right side. So, you know, maybe I I I came into to this training camp, came into the year just thinking uh thinking about the the two wrong uh two wrong players for a certain position because I I I feel like Beck is is going to be the odd man out or at least I did coming in um to the year. Um and you know, I mentioned that to Robert and maybe he thought I was cuckoo a bit. Uh but this is Bastion and Blackwell which makes sense because you get the right wing and you know Robert brought up a a great point that I didn’t really thought about is they were playing Beck on the wing to begin with uh you know later in the season. So he had a lot of starts there he was comfortable um there. So that’s that’s a great point. So uh you know maybe it is Blackwell and Bastion who’s really going to battle it out for um a chance to to be the 12th or 13th Ford. Um so that’s at least how it lined up today. So Foxa down the middle. I mean, that’s good down the middle. I mean, Johnston Hint, Duchain Fox, that that’s that’s strong. Um, and yeah, you don’t have a ton of sexiness on the left side um with with Ben Robo Steel Beck. Uh but you you still have you you still have the uh the possibility of of Rantin for a full season, the possibility of Bourke stepping up. And as we heard from Jim Nell yesterday, it that’s going to be it seems to at least their eye it’s going to define their season whether some of these guys really really step up and and fill these roles. Um otherwise Dallas is going to have to make some acquisitions and and and make make something happen on the move. But um that’s what they tried out there up front which um is uh which is really interesting. Um we’ll also take a look at what they’re doing on the blue line and then stars thoughts Robert Tiffen put out some quotes um and highlighted some stuff um an article I want to share with you as well. So we’ll do that in just a moment. Today’s episode of Locked On Stars is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL season is here and FanDuel is making sure you’re ready for kickoff with a can’tmiss offer. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. FanDuel fits you because it makes it easier to bet how you like. Whether that’s player props, building a same game parlay, or even jumping in live as the action unfolds, it makes the game really exciting. You’re watching Thursday Night Football like I was here tonight, then you can sprinkle a little money, sprinkle a little cash on the game. Gives it a little extra juice. If you’re not a fan of the team, or maybe you’re just keeping an eye on your fantasy lineup. So, you ready to play Stars fans? Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com to get started. That’s fuel.com to place your first $5 bet. defensive pairings. We always keep a close eye on these. It seems to to be the uh most talked about topic um each in every training camp um in a lot of ways, especially last year with the uh introductions of Matt Dumba and Leouchkin. Of course, Dumba uh now gone, but uh Labouchkin has stayed aboard and uh I think there’s a bit of an early statement here. So, Lindell Hayeskin, which we love, uh, that would have, uh, somebody on their off-wing, Miro, of course. So, uh, they have talked about this a bit. They’re not married to having lefty righty balance. That that is not something uh, Golitin um, made strong uh, opinions on. Um he thinks with the way they’re going to maybe change some of their for checking uh system or just really their approach to the game that the way they play can even benefit uh players that are playing on their weak side. Of course, we we know Miro can do it. That’s maybe not a point for for four. He’s world class. We get that. Uh but uh he’s just not married to to having the lefty righty bounce. Uh your second pairing though, Harley Lquist. So this is really first off this is awesome to see. I I think because uh best case scenario is is Lquist is in your top four. Um and he he thrives in that role against better competition. That would that would be massive for Dallas. You know why? Because you can move Labushkin down to that third pair. Because ideally Leouchkin is probably your sixth defenseman if you want to be a Stanley Cup champion. I I think if you want to make a deep playoff run uh or okay, maybe that’s uh not the right stars did it with with Lushkin in the top four, but if you want to win a Stanley Cup, ideally he’s your your sixth defenseman. Uh I think that’s fair to say. Uh but uh Neil’s did share some stuff. This is from Stars um from Robert Tiffen. Um it says, “I think Lungquist,” he says here, “I think Lungquist playing next to Harley makes a lot of sense. Uh though of course one preseason game can change a lot of things for good or otherwise. So again best to not be too hasty. But uh Lquist mentioned Tom’s journey the last couple years has been amazing. Lungquist said he’s an amazing player. Probably like top 10 D in the league now. It’s been an awesome it’s been awesome to see. Great player, great person. I can learn a lot uh from him. He said uh I don’t know what’s going to happen uh Lquist said, but right now it looks like we’re playing together a little bit. It’s awesome to play with him. So, we’ll we’ll see if they uh get together in the uh preseason game against the Blues tomorrow, and we’ll certainly learn a bit more there. But, um it’s cool to see that he’s getting that opportunity. Uh the Stars are playing at home, by the way, which usually means they’re going to play a majority of their maybe not majority of their lineup, uh but more pieces, uh of your lineup. That seems to to be uh the nature of preseason. You kind of seen your B squad maybe on on away on away games. um and whatnot. But I think that’s great to see uh Neil Slungquist getting a getting a chance with Harley uh because I think that’s best case scenario for for Dallas at this point with their personnel. Um because then Labouchkin can be dropped down. Um and let’s face it, that gives Petravic a chance too if you feel more comfortable having Petravic and Bishel play together on the third line. And then maybe maybe that gives I guess this is another uh I guess benefit of of Lquist playing in the top four. Labouchkin doesn’t have to play so many minutes. He played a lot last year. Um he he played a ton. Um and he was playing in high leverage uh chances uh high leverage situations. You look at his his total time on ice. So um the previous year in Anaheim he played 747 minutes um in 55 games. He ended up playing um 1100 just over,0080 games last year. and he played a lot in the postseason. I mean, he was good. Um, he he was he was just fine during the regular season. We uh talked about that a lot. We talked about it so much uh during last season, but taking some minutes off of him is a good thing. Um and then it would give you the opportunity to switch Petravic in and out a bit with Labouchkin. We already know Petravic uh can thrive next to Labouchkin. we saw in the postseason. We we talked about last spring that felt like the starts best deep air sometimes was Mitchell and Petravic Vic. No, they they’re not playing against, you know, McDavid straight up every time, but uh boy, they they they looked good. Um and they were one of the few bright spots it felt like um on the on the defensive side of things um for uh Dallas. So there you go. Um with Neil’s playing uh with uh with Luh with Harley, excuse me. And then of course uh you had Labouchkin um and Bishial that just seems like your Bronny physical third pairing. Um they may leave a lot to be desired in in puck mobility though. So that is a bit concerning uh just because in today’s NHL I don’t know if a pairing like that is is is is going to to work but you know who knows um if you you know be physical and you hit the crap out of guys before they get in the zone then you know maybe you can be successful. Uh but you know Bishel look still I mean he’s basically this is going to be his rookie season. Um he had some growing pains last year. Um I don’t know if Labouchk is going to be able to cover up some of those. Um but uh yeah, that’s it is fascinating to see. So um again, we maybe know a little bit more after preseason game number one um tomorrow. But some extra uh quotes um from Stars Thoughts that I wanted to to mention as well. Nils said here um I have a ton of respect for the staff uh that was here and what they did. we had a lot of success and stuff like that, but you said new eyes, a new coach that looks at you in a big opportunity for me. So, um he’s certainly uh feeling that uh he has an opportunity um to to make big big strides. I’m Nathan Bastion, one of your newest Dallas Stars forward said, “I honestly believe that at the end of the day, healthy competition is a good thing, and I’m a guy who I think benefits having good players around me. It helps with less complacency, I think. Not that I’ve ever gotten too comfortable in the league, but I think playing on a good team and being, let’s just say, out of the lineup here and there is a lot easier to manage when the team is moving in a positive direction. So, that’s that’s good to hear um from a guy that, you know, could potentially be that 134. Maybe he’s not playing every day. Um and he he realizes um the chance that he has here in Dallas. It’s a deep forward group. You know, maybe in a lot of other places like he would be in the bottom six. Um, and and some of that is up in the air. I have stated I think he’s going to play quite a bit. Uh, just based off what we’ve heard from Gulletson and the type of player he does he is, it just seems like sort of a a great fit for for for Gulletin um for Bastion and the Stars. So, we’ll see how that all transpires. But obviously, um, as we saw in day one, battling maybe with Blackwell to to get some minutes um, next season um, as well. Um, he also said, “I just try to be reliable. I try and I try to be trustworthy. I try to use my ears a little more than my mouth um and do as uh I’m told. Always important uh adage. You should you should listen more uh than you speak.” Uh one from Minger here. Uh always always good to get Otter in the mix. Compared to the summer I had before, I felt like I had two summers because I didn’t get married and go on a honeymoon. So, I actually got to, you know, be home. uh when you’re uh in our kind of role, when you look at your schedule in the summer and you have three weeks in a row where you’re not committed to anything, it’s like you tear up. You’re so happy. I had a lot of that this summer, just a lot of family time, got to chill. I feel like it’s always a good sign to end the summer that I was dying to get back here. That’s what you want. So, he’s able to get away from the game. There’s a great video um on on social media that the Stars put out about all the guys travels. Otter said that he got a house built in in Minnesota. um he spent a lot of time with his wife there and there was a trip to Italy of course for Mir Hastenan’s uh wedding. Uh Miko Ransin got engaged. So there was a a lot of busy busy stuff happening um in uh in in these uh in these guys lives over the the the three months. So uh they’re well rested and ready to get back at it and and great to see um the boys back in camp and uh they’re going to be thrusted into action here already tomorrow uh Saturday night. blues and uh and stars. So, we’ll we’ll discuss maybe uh what we’ll see there um and uh the opportunity to see some young cats as well. So, uh we’ll continue to discuss that in just a moment. The St. Louis Blues coming to the American Airline Center Saturday night to take on the Stars. The first of I believe three or four preseason games for the Stars or maybe it’s uh six. I could be completely uh wrong uh on that. I don’t have the exact uh number of preseason games on hand. Apologize. But I know they’re they’re playing a couple against Colorado, Minnesota, and the Blues as well. The Stars will be um in St. Lewis on the 30th, so towards the end uh of the month. You know, the Blues are interesting. Uh I I I like a lot of their young core, you know, Kyu, they have Buchavvich there. Um and you get Jim Montgomery, of course. So, there’s storylines uh galore, it feels like. Um there was uh an article from the hockey news about how they uh opened up training camp. Montgomery says uh is pretty good. First day says intensity was good. pace was slow in a couple drills but uh were really good in other drills um when we had to really battle each other. I like the way our second and third effort is naturally being there on the first day. Execution was not there where we would like but you kind of expect that um on day one they got some some new faces um as well. Um, you know, that’s a team like they were what, two seconds away from playing the Dallas Stars in the second round and may may have been a worse probably would have been a lot worse of a matchup for Dallas because at least with Winnipeg, they got a hella buck that was a bit in his head and wasn’t able to to figure it out um fully until maybe it was probably too late. Bennington, I think, would have given the Stars nightmares. Um, Skinner has given the Stars nightmares. Um, and Bennington has in the past. So, they may have lucked out um that the that the Blues ended up uh kind of messing uh messing that up and made a mess of that game seven against the Jets. I believe it was a a game seven Fox had scored in that game. I think he was in line to get the game-winning goal. Uh but they got P Sudter. um remember that uh tweet out about him potentially going to Dallas like in the middle of the the season last year and we we did an episode on it. Uh what what a waste that was. But um he he signed um uh for two years. Um they ended up adding uh Buchat as well so that they just they got a bit heavier um some more veterans um on the bottom six. Um they acquired Zack Bullduck uh from the Montreal Canadians. Um, so that’s a guy that could potentially win a, you know, be a more steady defenseman at the NHL level. Uh, like they have a lot of new faces, um, and some interesting interesting cats. But, of course, we’re uh, of course focusing on Dallas, um, and kind of seeing what, um, what what Dallas is going to throw out there. I I don’t think Ben Johnson Branson is going to get a lot of welay. Um I I I feel like you’re you’re going to you I think Borc would be really interesting on that line. Um Bourc or or Robo. Um I I think if if they had to make some switches to the line combinations that we we talked about in the first segment. Um and I would probably keep the bottom six the way it is. I just switch Ben and Robo. Potentially put Ben with hints um in Bourc. Um, and then Robo gets to play with Johnston and Ranson. And, you know, putting that in the universe, I think I think that’s probably better for for Ben that he plays with a guy like Herbort just because of of the speed. Um, and then, you know, Robo, uh, we all know what what he can provide. Um, defensively, too. Like, let’s be he’s he’s pretty underrated defensively. Um, we’ll see if Johnson continues to grow um in that area. Um, but I think I think Ben with in and Bourke actually could be um intriguing just because you know Ben look we we saw it. He’s sort of you know kind of a fourthline checker um at least last spring. Um let’s let’s not let’s not write him off too early. I I think that’s that’s fair to say. I had some Shawn takes at the end of the spring. Uh but we were emotional. Um let’s not write him off uh completely yet. Uh like let’s see what he can bring. Um and and maybe he has some some juice left um in those in those legs, right? Maybe he’s he’s got some some juice left at at 36. Um and he can make something happen. And if they put him in spots to succeed, they put him with some players that can uh help compliment him, I think he’d have a good year. Um, I really do. Um, I think a a nice expectation for Ben. You know, he came off a season, he had 49 points in 80 in 80 games. I I think it’s I don’t think it’s out of the question that that Ben can can get to 20 goals. Um, and, you know, he hovers around, you know, 45 to 50 points. I think that would be big for Dallas. Um, you know, 20 goals and he hovers around 40 points even. I think that’s okay. Uh, maybe not in a top six role. Um, but as you know, a power play guy, he scores five to 10 power play goals. Uh, and maybe he does get dropped down in the lineup. Uh, maybe he’s, you know, playing in the bottom six. Um, he can still contribute there. I think that’s reasonable. I think that would be big for Dallas. I think it’s probably asking maybe a bit more than um than than you would uh than you would normally um expect. So, um, Stars and Blues. Uh, they got Milan Luchich by the way as well. So, he he was added. They they got a lot of uh young young stars. You’ll see Jimmy Snugarude. Um I’m sure they got their couple uh couple young guns like Robert Thomas. Uh Neighbors, they got a lot of good good players. Um uh and Monty, we know he’s a good coach. He’s he’s a great coach. Um, and uh I think I think the Blues are just going to be a a real they’re just gonna be a thorn in a lot of a lot of lot of teams side the next like five to 10 years. Just they have a really really young core. Um that they got some experience. They got a taste of it last year. Uh like they were so close to to winning a playoff round. once they do that and and Bennington really found himself again. Um really from the four nations face off on he was great. Um so I’m looking forward to it. Um I perhaps uh may do a crossover episode um with Haley of Locked on uh Blues um in the next couple days as well. So we may uh break down the the game and talk about some of our takeaways. So that uh could be a lot of fun um as well. I’ll try to get some some crossovers going with certain teams uh before we uh uh kick it into gear uh for opening night in what under a month now. Stars versus Jets. That’s going to be a big one. So, I can’t wait. But uh Blues uh versus uh Stars um tomorrow uh puck drop at the uh American Airlines Center um on Saturday night is scheduled six o’clock 6:00 at the AAC and uh and then uh we’ll talk about on Monday. Um and uh hopefully we’ll talk about Stars Win and maybe there’s some interesting interesting things uh uh we get to to take a look at. And and by the way, praise praise the one above for victory plus and having these games now that we can watch. Like it’s it’s it’s awesome that we get to watch. Remember a couple years ago like it was so hard. You were you were hoping they had an NHL network um game, but uh now they’re we’re able to watch them all. So uh it just uh it it’s it’s great. It’s it’s a great time to be a Stars fan. That’s what I’ll say. But please hit the subscribe button, drop a a comment as well. Thank you as always for the love and support. I’ll be uh working some games this weekend. The Ice Rays opening their their season um against the Brahmas um Friday, Saturday. So I’ll be busy. Be nice to get back in the booth and uh yeah, just just yell a bit, screen, have uh have some excitement. Hopefully uh nice grades um get a couple uh uh wins uh this weekend. So uh enjoy your weekend, Stars fans. Um, enjoy the game Saturday night and we’ll see you in the next episode of Locked On Stars, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every single day. So long, Stars fans.

On today’s episode of Locked On Stars, Joey Erickson breaks down all the sights and sounds from Dallas Stars Training Camp. Jamie Benn playing with Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston? Can he keep up with the two young stars? How will Nils Lundkvist fair along side Thomas Harley? Plus, the Stars play their first preseason game of the year tomorrow against the St. Louis Blues.

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