STAR POWER: Dallas Stars Top 10 RANKED so far this Season – Who’s Leading the Charge in Big D?

STAR POWER: Dallas Stars Top 10 RANKED so far this Season – Who’s Leading the Charge in Big D?

Who have been the best Dallas Stars so far this season? I’ll share my top 10 list. We’ll also preview the Anaheim Ducks. And it looks like the Stars could be getting some bodies back. All that and more on Locked On Stars. You’re Locked On Stars, your daily podcast on the Dallas Stars, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. Howdy Stars fans. I’m Joey Ericson, 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. Welcome to Thursday edition of Locked On Stars, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every single day. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting fanduel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. We’re only 13 games into the season, but I’m going to share with you my top 10 players of the season so far with the Dallas Stars. Let me know yours in the comments below. I want to see if we match up. Maybe there’s some big disagreements, but I have to put this out in the universe. So, stay tuned for that. We’re going to preview the Anaheim Ducks and uh the Stars could be getting some bodies back. Rope Bay Hints potentially will make an appearance tonight against the Ducks. are no slouch this season. They really haven’t been a slouch recently for Dallas, but certainly not this year as they’re off to a great start. But let’s have some fun and rank the best Dallas stars so far. I think some of these may be controversial, some of these may be obvious, but would uh love to to compare with uh some of your list uh in in the comments. So, I I was going to just do top five and then it was just too hard because I I feel like I wanted to to shout out some some more guys. So, we’re doing I guess essentially almost half a starting lineup. But top 10 players, we we’ll start from 10. Uh actually, we’ll start from one because I think some of these are are more obvious. One goes to to Miko Ranson and I I think it’s it’s pretty cut and dry. 17 points, his three power play goals. He’s leading the stars offensively has been everything you could have hoped for as he begins his first full season in victory. Green, even with the injuries, continues to produce. It doesn’t matter really who he’s playing with. Whether that’s a Sam Steel, whether that’s Hence, whether it’s Johnson, Robertson, you name it, he fits in. He He’s finding a way to to get the job done. Number two, Wyatt Johnston, who’s just quietly sort of being his his sidekick this season. He is uh growing again. Like, every year he seems to improve. He’s 22 years old now. What is he still 21? It doesn’t matter. He He finds a way to improve. You You look at his game. He He’s shooting more. 28 shots on goal. That’s second most on on the team at at five on five. His points per 60 is 1.74. That’s third, just behind Rantin. You name it, he’s he’s all over the place. 14 points. He has seven goals. He uh he just continues to be a stud. And he’s played with Bourke. He’s kind of been up and down the lineup and has just found a way to produce uh and really has I think even maybe been better than I I could have expected coming out of the gates, although I predicted him to score 40 goals. Um I think 40 or almost 40 I either way. Um I I think he’s pretty obvious. He’s at least been top three. Uh the third I I went with Miro. Uh playing a ton of minutes. He’s played the most minutes. playing in all situations. Some of it is more recent. Of course, he has been excellent really during the seven game point streak for for Dallas. Has been superb. We’re starting to see him skate better. I I thought the first dozen or half dozen games or so, he just wasn’t moving quite like we’re used to seeing lately. It’s what you would come to expect of number four. has his fingerprints on all situations. The Stars power play’s great. He’s a big part of that. U scored a big-time goal the other night. He’s he’s just doing it all. Uh killing more penalties this year. Um they’re they’re putting a a hard load on him and he’s he’s looked like a number one defenseman. Um uh and is coming into his own here this season coming off an injury too. Uh a big one. Um although I know he came back at the end of the year the playoffs in the spring but y’all know what I mean. Um this is where it got tough for me for it was between Otter and Robertson. I gave the edge to to Jake. I think he’s been really good. He uh had to make some big time big time saves early. Had a baby as well. Uh maybe that factored in. Not that it has anything to do with his on ice performance, but they they were asking him to do a lot early. His team was not very good defensively and um he he had to weather some of that storm. I mean, that game against Colorado, he just completely stole it. Uh had the shut out the other night. Um he’s looking better. It helps that the defensive game in front of him is getting better. Um you know, he’s he’s got pretty decent numbers here to to begin the the season. you know, 5-2, a 913 save percentage, 2.53 uh goals against. I could I could see an argument to make him lower. I could I had Robo right behind him. Uh Robertson, I would like the the goal production to maybe be up a bit. That’s just nitpicky. He’s got three in 13 games, 11 points in 13 games, but has um has looked good. I I think he’s skating better than we’ve seen um at least anytime last year. Uh you know, the first couple games I was like, God, he’s moving extremely well. Like he’s hunting. Um I’ve highlighted his his shot on goal numbers. 56 shots on goal. That is the most on the team this year. Um and he’s he’s got a a shooting percentage of 5.4%. You would think that’s going to tick up. So, uh, if if that kind of regresses or I guess um improves to the mean, he’s going to be in good shape and the goals should start coming for him uh a bit more regularly. I would uh I I would think I’m curious what his goal uh is expected goals would be. It’s 4.4. It’s the highest on Dallas. Yeah. Um so I think the goals will start coming uh a bit more regularly. Uh six I’m going with Sean here. I I think Sean has just been a lifeline to some degree for for Dallas with the injuries. He’s had to fill in, play center, play wing, and made a a real jump um this this season coming on uh a a side where they’re without their captain. Made a jump in leadership is where he’s going with that. um he’s he’s sort of had to to been the the the pseudo leader for Dallas with without their captain and um and has played a a pretty darn good game as well. You know, five points in 13 games, has filled in on the power play. Um and I I just think has has been a real a real great sort of surprise for Dou and he’s playing 18 minutes. Like he’s playing more than I think they would rather have him playing. um and hasn’t um hasn’t dropped off too much. It’s no secret Duchaine helps his game. So um it’s tough, but he’s also being asked to play with like an Adam Ernie, play with Blackwell, playing with Bastion at some point. So he’s not going to get those prime opportunities that he would with with Duchine in ter in the offensive zone, but I think deserves credit for for what he’s done and filled in this year. Seven, I went with hints. Um, I know he’s been injured recently, but a point per game since has has actually, you know, it’s easy to forget since we haven’t seen him recently, but has has been really strong for for for Dallas. Um, in a lot of ways, uh, him with with Rantin is a great combination, too. But, as I’ve stated, I don’t know if they go back to that after what we’ve seen with uh with Robo and Johnston. Uh, but has has has been excellent this season. has been flying around. Um they they miss him on the power play, too. He’s he’s usually always a weapon for them. Uh and I I think uh when when he gets back, he’ll he’ll fit right back in. And he’s key in the dots, too. Um you you forget like that part of the game when when players like him are out, Duchain um as well. Adai went with Lindell. Um I think that’s just pretty self-explanatory. Uh although the PK hasn’t been great. I know he’s a big part of that, but uh I just I I think he um he’s been quiet um and just sort of does what Lindell does. Um you know, blocks a lot of shots. Um doesn’t give up a ton of chances on his end. Um and he’s a plus four on a team that is a combined minus 28. Um, I know plus minus isn’t always a a great way to measure a player, but you know, he he he is usually keeping the bad away. Um, this is tough. I went with Harley. Um, I think Harley deserves credit. I know he hasn’t been great lately. Uh, but he got off to such a roaring start. He’s got nine points, leads all defenseman for Dallas. Still still a dangerous threat on the power play. He um he’s had a couple a great place to set up goals. He set up the one for Ritz Scovian on his first career goal against Florida. Um deserves some credit for what he’s he’s done. Um he needs to get back to some of it, but he deserves some credit for um for the good. Um and hopefully he can write some of the the mistakes um that uh he’s he’s made here recently. Um, but sometimes easy to harp on that and you gota you got to point out the positive was Harley and and he’s he’s still been um a threat for Dallas and you know they’re asking him to play with Leouchkin again and um it it stinks that that Lungquist is out. Um they were a pretty hot pairing uh to begin the season. 10 I I kind of cheated. I I went with Bourc Steel. I I wanted to give credit to to both of them just for for what they’ve done. Look, the the the numbers aren’t eyepopping offensively, but Steel strong penalty killer has looked good with Rantin. He’s looked good with Sean here recently. Um, you know, he’s he’s he’s turned it on late. I think he just does a lot of hard grimy work and it doesn’t get noticed enough. And I think Bour’s sort of in that same similar category. I hope the production starts to increase really for both of them. But Bourke especially feels like he could really pop off here with what we’ve seen. So that’s my top 10 stars so far this season. We may do this throughout the year. Uh but as of 11:5 November 5th when I’m recording this tonight, those are my top 10 stars of the season. Let me know your uh yours in the comments below. Maybe we’re completely different. maybe uh maybe we’re pretty similar, but uh would love to to to compare some lists and uh see uh see where uh maybe we uh align with. But uh those uh are my top 10. Hope you enjoyed that. Thought it would be some fun uh to to break up some of the seriousness, some of the serious hockey talk we have on Locked on Stars because of course you all know I have the answers here on Locked on Stars and um this is my medium to get it out. Um and that’s what I do. share all the right answers and uh eventually um it will come to light. Uh let’s preview the Ducks. Uh I watched a bit of their game the other night. Uh want to talk about them, some some uh some potential dangers the Stars have to be aware of and stay uh away from here um tonight against Anaheim. We’ll do that in just a moment. Today’s episode of Locked on Stars is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get on the action than with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the MBA. Even if you miss the start of the game, you can ride the hot hand. FanDuel has live bets. They also have a same game parlay, right? It’s all about trying to find that bigger payout, and that’s where FanDuel comes in. Same game parlays. You can do individual player props. There’s multiple ways for you to get in on the action and just try to find that better payout and it keeps every game exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. And uh the fun thing about uh FanDuel right now is FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when you play that first $5 bet and you win. So head to fanduel.com to sign up. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. The Anaheim Ducks are off and running or paddling I should say this season. Uh as I’m recording they are first. Yes, they are number one in the Pacific division 83 and one. You know it’s it’s interesting when you look at the standings right now uh just throughout the NHL. At at one point, every team was above 500 in the Eastern Conference, but there’s a lot of teams that I at least came in thinking were going to be contenders to at least make the playoffs. St. Louis, um, and some others, man, St. Louis got cranked tonight, 6-1. They have just been abysmal. Um, you know, Minnesota as a team, they haven’t been great. It’s been, you know, the Ducks, Seattle, Utah, man, they have really, really surprised. Um al although you know Utah was a team I I said when I made predictions they were going to be the one that really bites me in the rear end. Um and they certainly are uh so far uh this season. But yeah, Anaheim’s playing some some really really good hockey. Uh they’re coming off a 73 victory over the Florida Panthers. Their power play went nutso. Uh two for seven in the contest. I I watched the the third period, the majority of it. Um it became a real penalty fest. There was like six successive penalties. I was like, what am I watching? Um but look, they are starting to reap the benefits of a team that’s drafted high forever. Um and you know, they made some moves over the summer. They went out, they traded for Paling. Uh go Huskies. Uh they they they shipped off Zegris. Uh they brought in some some bodies and um they’re also just finally reaping the benefits of some you know really good talent. Uh Joel Quinnville is now behind the bench uh for for them. They are missing Granland who actually got off to a nice start. Eight points in eight games. Um it would stink if if Granny’s not able to play but a lower body injury. Um he’s expected to be out two three weeks so the Stars will not see him. Uh, but Cutter Goceier, who is 22, had a hat-tick in the game against Florida, so he comes in rolling. And Leo Carlson, who I feel like we’ve talked about for a couple years. Yeah, he’s damn good. 18 points um in 12 games. He leads them offensively. And then you have Troy Terry. Yeah, he’s got 15. I I mean, like they just have talent out the the rear end. Uh like these are young extremely extremely good players and they are strong down the middle. McTavish you know they add a Granlin for some depth Carlson um and they have like they have good veterans right Krider and and Trouba uh you know they brought in some some guys like Kilhorn right to just give them uh you know some maturity and they are really led from the net on out. Lucas do stall um is probably the best goalender in the NHL right now. U he’s he’s up there has just been superb. 912 save percentage, 2.59 goals against I I I know that the numbers um aren’t glowing. Um but when you look at some of the analytics, I mentioned goal save as expected. He’s number one in the league uh this year. They just they have good young depth. Uh and and they get help from everywhere, right? It it’s not just one line, not one guy. They do have some size, too. They just have a good makeup. This is a good young team um that that could be around all season. I know it’s a great start. You don’t want to get over your skis, but could be around. Fifth this season in goals for 47 goals against 37. So, they’re about middle of the pack. five on five game has uh has eluded them a bit. They’ve been a team um that has had a decent power play to begin the year. PK’s decent. They’re about middle of the pack. Uh but you know, they’re first in the league in goals per game. Uh 3.92. Um and and they’re scoring a lot. They you know they’re they got 35 on five goals this year. Uh you look at you know the shots four shots against. uh they have more shots against than shots for. They’re giving up some chances. So, they will give you some, but it’s Do Stall who who cleans it up and and and usually uh saves their their bacon when you do get some of those looks. And um I want to say he had an excellent start last year uh against the uh against the Stars in Dallas. Uh so, this is going to be I think a really good t I’m excited for for this one. Uh he’s 10 and1 against Dallas career. Um 2.95 goals against 1910 save percentage. So uh nothing crazy, but I think he had a a performance of a lifetime um the other the other season. I I can’t remember exactly. I wonder if I can find it. Um I can’t find it right off the top. But uh yeah, he’s he he he’s a stud. So, um, look, there’s there’s a lot of guys you got to you got to look out for, right? Um, and they’re they’re going to have speed. They play hard. They play fast. And that’s where I I think Dallas can get into some trouble. Um, if if if they’re not prepared, uh, you know, they they put a drumming on Florida 73. Uh, Florida was a bit stuck in the mud at points um, in that contest. So, uh, really really excited for for this one. I I really am uh a lot more than I’ve probably been for Ducks Stars games in in a long time. The Ducks come in, they’ve won four straight. They’ve won six out of their last seven. So, yeah. Uh get ready. Um it’s uh it’s not going to be an easy one tonight at home for Dallas. So, um those are um some some things to look out for tonight um as the the Ducks roll into Big D. Stars could be getting some bodies back. I want to get some updates on some injuries for the stars and maybe rope hints. It’s going to be back in the lineup hopefully. Let’s get into that in just a moment. Today’s episode of Lockdown Stars is brought to you by Riet. Let’s be real. Making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve all heard them before. It’s just stress. I’m tired. It happens to everyone sometimes. But when it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support. And that’s where Regia comes in. Ria.com offers fast, exciting doctor prescribed treatments for ED designed to help stop making excuses and start making moves. Regette makes it so easy to get started. You connect with a board-certified doctor. It’s 100% online. No awkward waiting rooms, in-person appointments. If you get prescribed, ships discreetly to your door. It’s fast. It’s simple. It’s all about confidence so you can start being back in the moments that matter. Visit reje.com/lock.nhl. NHL to get 15% off your first order. That’s ruggit.com/lock.nhl. And don’t forget to use our code lock.nhl so they know we sent you a G. Stop making excuses and start making moves. So, Robert Tiffen, shout out to him. Stars thoughts uh did put out a comprehensive sort of look um at all the injuries the the Stars have gone through and some updates. So, wanted to roll those out to you uh as uh we uh prepare for tonight. You know, Mika Rans did not skate uh yesterday. Um but uh he’s not dealing with an injury. Um just just a maintenance uh day and yeah, he probably deserves it for for what he’s done here in the opening month of the season. Radic Fox was a bit of a surprise. He was ill. um he did not play last game so he was dealing with an illness and um there’s a chance he’s back um in the lineup tonight. Uh Duchain who took that big hit against Minnesota but you know came back for a game and then we haven’t seen him since. He still turned day today. Uh Duchain is skating um and they were just waiting for his body to kind of be there. They say it’s just lingering. Um he he was not, by the way, diagnosed with a concussion, which is good news. Uh but I am fascinated to kind of maybe what the effects are. It just stinks and I hope it’s not something that’s like going to constantly linger. Um and they they can get him back out there quickly. It says uh Robert put we haven’t seen Duchain on the ice for a week after the practice, but it’s possible he’s been skating separately with two other injured teammates as he recently did on October 28th. So, um hopefully he’s back soon. Uh Ben, of course, we we kind of know underwent surgery. Um Goldson did say hopefully he can skate starting sometime this week. So, um that that’s pretty good news. I’ve kind of said Thanksgiving is kind of where I see a likely return for Ben. Anything earlier I think is is sort of a win. Um, of course has not played yet after suffering the collapse lung in the preseason game. Uh, hence um did hasn’t skated like fulltime but he’s kind of been you know around. He was at morning skate the other night ahead of the uh the Oilers game. Um it’s an upper body injury. Uh hence is participating. He’s still officially dayto-day. Um and and uh Robert puts here he would guess he’s closer than Duchain kind of feels right. Neil Zungquist of course we haven’t heard about in a while. He said something happened in game. Uh he’s just going to have it looked at. We’re pretty optimistic um that was um back a few weeks ago. He’s you know still week to week. Um and um it it stinks since man and he’s he’s getting these opportunities and now he’s gotten hurt each of the the last two seasons. He is on the LTIR. Um so I don’t think he’s available quite yet. Maybe another week or so before he’s at least eligible to come off uh the LTIR. I look that’s that’s a a large sample size. I mean look at that. Uh so if you just take ranting out of it, Foxa, Duchain, Ben, Rope, Hints, U that’s four like really coming into that’s four top six go three top six guys in Fox. So who’s a fourth line, your fourth line center, man? And you got Neils who was your your top four Dman uh coming into this year. Like it it is it is key key guys. Duchain worries me just because as they say like it’s it’s lingering and I hope it’s not something where it kind of never goes away. Uh because that would just suck. So um I I I just I I I pray I suppose that um it’s something he can fully, you know, come back from and not allow it to to hinder him the rest of the year. just really it it it’s it’s it’s just crazy like you would think maybe concussion related cuz he got popped uh but he did come back for that one game I think it was St. Leis um and obviously maybe something wasn’t right. Um and and then he kind of he kind of shut it down. You know, the nice thing is the Stars are weathering the storm without some of these guys. So maybe you can feel like if your goal give these guys some extra time because it is still so early in the season. They want to be extra cautious, which um I I get. I I certainly I certainly do. But some point you want to get these guys in the flow of things. you’ve already had to deal with so much discombobulation with the new systems and whatnot. When you get these guys back, you’re kind of having to throw it all together once again. You kind of maybe have to relearn some things. Um hopefully not. Uh but I again, it’s going to it’s going to be different. Um and they’re going to have to to work through some of that when they finally get everybody back. Um which is probably not realistic. you’re probably not going to have everybody all at one time. It’s just the nature of the NHL. Guys are are going to get hurt, but um as healthy as possible, of course, is uh is the hope. But those are some updated uh updated injuries reports. Um and again, maybe Hint is back tonight um against Anaheim. That would sure help with skating in the morning skate the other uh the other day against uh against Edmonton. Uh should be a fun one tonight. Uh, this one is on Victory Plus. Two teams that have embraced Victory Plus, Anaheim and Dallas. So, I guess you could watch on either uh uh either call uh either broadcast team if you wanted. Uh but uh going to be going to be a fantastic affair. 83 and one Ducks, 73 and three stars coming at you tonight. We’ll be back tomorrow to break it down. I should have a an episode out Friday. um at a decent time is where I was going with that. I’m gonna have one out um I have a long road trip upcoming. I’ll be on a bus for quite a bit um tomorrow going to El Paso. So, um hopefully everything goes smoothly. Um I can maybe watch the game on the bus to some degree and then get an episode out when I finally get to the destination um and kind of get set up. But um yeah, just a heads up on that. As always, thank you guys so much uh for joining us on Locked on Stars. Thank you so much for making us a part of your day. We really really appreciate it. Um and uh uh of course uh uh love uh love you guys for coming along and appreciate all of you that are new as well. A lot of new subscribers here recently. So thank you uh for that as well. Have a a great night, Stars. Uh and uh we’ll see you tomorrow. So long.

Dallas Stars’ dynamic duo Mika Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston are powering a top-10 performers list as a refreshed roster eyes a return against the surging Anaheim Ducks. Joey Erickson spotlights key contributors like Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger, and Tyler Seguin while debating if Jason Robertson’s shooting luck is due for a turnaround. With Rope Hintz nearing a comeback and injuries sidelining Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn, and Nils Lundkvist, how will the Stars manage critical depth challenges? Anaheim Ducks surprise the NHL by leading the Pacific Division behind Lucas Dostal’s stellar goaltending and breakout stars Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. Erickson breaks down Anaheim’s offensive threat, special teams, and recent roster changes, setting the stage for a high-stakes matchup. Will the Stars’ resilience against adversity hold as they prepare for a pivotal showdown on home ice?

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0:00 – Stars Top 10 Rankings
Intro to the episode, Joey Erickson teases his list of the top 10 Dallas Stars players so far this season and previews the upcoming Ducks matchup.

2:11 – Season Standouts & Analysis
Joey Erickson goes through his detailed top 10 Dallas Stars player rankings, provides stats, reasoning, and shares thoughts on the team’s performances and surprises so far.

13:01 – Anaheim Ducks Preview
Breakdown of the Anaheim Ducks’ strong season start, key Ducks players, potential threats to the Stars, and matchup details.

21:26 – Injury Updates & Recovery
Updates on Dallas Stars injuries, potential returns for key players, and implications for upcoming games.

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