Dallas Stars Player RANKINGS Unveiled with Gavin Spittle!

Dallas Stars Player RANKINGS Unveiled with Gavin Spittle!

Gavin Spittle joins the show and it is a jam-packed episode of Locked On Stars. We’re going to rank the best Dallas Stars on the current roster. The biggest training camp storylines, plus a new system from Glen Gulitson. Will it provide a new identity for the Dallas Stars? 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 Ericson, former producer of 105 Through the Fan. Please be sure to subscribe. We are free and 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 list. And I hope everybody enjoyed a Labor Day weekend. Got some good food, hung out with the family, and enjoyed some time off. But we’re right back into action here on Locked on Stars and got a fun episode for you today. Gavin Spittle of 1053, the fan, more importantly, of course, Spits and Suds, the host of that wonderful Dallas Stars podcast, as well as joining us today. Gavin, thank you so much. Uh, how are you, good, sir? Well, since I’m the boss of 1053, the fan, I don’t know if it’s more important. Fair. Yes. Hockey season is coming up. This is so amazing. I’m super excited. I I’m I’m jacked. I feel like yesterday we were talking about, you know, what are we going to do against Edmonton? And here here we are now with new coaching staff, new players, and uh it’s uh it’s going to be great. Training camp is just a couple of weeks away now. I be believe it begins September 17th, 18th around that time down in Fris. We’re going to talk about some of the biggest training camp storylines or at least ours. We’re also going to talk about Gulletin, the new system, and maybe what to expect. But, uh, first, I wanted to do this exercise with a guest. I did this episode a couple of weeks ago where I ranked the best Dallas stars because we were asked to do this as a network. Uh, we’re going to put together a top 100 list of the top 100 players in the NHL. So, they ask each host of the respective teams to put together a list of their one through seven or eight depending on how deep your roster is uh your rankings of uh of the players. So, I thought this would be fun to do a little comparison and would love to to hear your thoughts because there was a few uh that I got to a point where I was like, “Oh, this is a little bit more difficult than than I thought.” So, I’m curious to to hear your list and we’re going to compare a bit, but I’ll I’ll sort of let you you have the floor and you can start off and let me know why you came to this decision a bit and you can elaborate some as well. Okay. There was a battle at the top actually and the reason are is because both are premium at their position. So, at the end of the day, I put Miro Hkin first because I think there is a lot more value as far as a number one defenseman. So, Miro Hastenan, who I have in my top 10 as far as NHL defenseman, falls as the number one top star. I think if he leaves this franchise via injury, as we saw last year, they have to make some moves to account for that. Uh, number two, I have Mo Ranton. Um, there’s no surprise that in many top 10 fantasy lists, Miko Ranton is in the top 10. Point production is there. The consistency is there. The guy’s a dog. He wants to win. So, Miko Rantin is my number two. I’m expecting a big year. I’m excited for him. Uh, I don’t think we’ve had a superstar like this in the franchise probably since Mike Madano. Um, as far as the aura surrounding um, and kind of a one of those guys that you go to 20 people and ask, they’re going to say, “Yeah, elite.” So, I I there’s no question about Mo Renin’s skills. Number three, the other premium position, I have Jakeer. Um, one of the best in the league. Once again, you go around the league and you ask people and they say he is one of the top goalenders in the league. Easily in the top six. So, of course, he’d be in the top three for my Dallas Stars list. Number four, borderline top 10 defenseman now. And I think by the end of this year, he will be in the top 10. By many lists, he might already be in the top 10. Let’s see how he performs in the Olympics. I think he’ll make the Olympic team. Thomas Harley, uh, terrific defenseman. Of course, we don’t want it too high because that’s good negotiating power for Jim Nan as that contract’s coming up. But what a story Thomas Harley has been. That number one uh or that first round draft pick certainly has paid major dividends. So, this is where the list gets interesting because I actually you told me that you might actually have seven. So, I went seven. Okay. Okay. Next on my list, Matt Duchain. And the reason is, wow, the consistency throughout the career of Matt Duchain, number one since he has become the Dallas forward on the Dallas Stars, one of your top point producers, as well as I call him a line solidifier in that. to me. You look at Sean’s performance, you look at Marchman’s performance, and then when those guys go down, you look at Granland’s performance. Matt Duchain provides chemistry. Now, this is just a Dallas Stars list. I think Matt Duchain is vital to this franchise for the next will the four-year contract, Will it get tired? Will it get old? We don’t know. But for now, that’s a great signing for Jim Nil because I think Matt Duchain provides more to this team than the next two players. Next up, Rupe Hence. The question with Rupe Hence is the consistency to be a number one center that we’ve seen elsewhere. I mean, you look at top centers across the league and what do they have? They have the two-way game, which Rohance has, but they have consistency. And I’m not saying that Rupe Hints doesn’t have that ability, but whether it’s injury or we have to face the facts, Joey, there are some games where you wonder is Rupe Hints on the ice. That’s not necessarily the case with a Copitar or a Barkoff and you the top centers in the league and day in and day out they show up in some capacity. It might be a block shot to the end of the game, might be a big goal, might be an unbelievable assists. Those are the elite level. I don’t have Rupe Hint at that elite level right now. Uh I probably definitely have him knocking on the door as far as best centers in the league, but to me, you know, he’s on the outside looking in. And then I end my list seventh with Jason Robertson. A terrific player, could be on team USA for the Olympics. Contract’s going to be a huge situation. uh at the same time, terrific ability to uh have the puck find him. And for people that don’t say that’s a skill, that’s a skill because you need to know where to be when that puck pops out. And I think Jason Robertson does an amazing job. Real nice shot. You know, he’s one of those guys where if you scout, you’re going to say, I don’t know, he doesn’t flash on the ice. He’s not the fastest skater, but you know, he scores. He puts up points. He put up big points toward the end of the Edmonton series. I think he’s a little bit underrated as far as a two-way forward. Uh I think he makes some big blocks at times. Uh and he’s a gamer. So, I do like Jason Robertson. There were some times where it needed to get gritty um during the playoffs and Jason Robertson actually stepped in and he was the guy coming off the injured list. So, for that reason, Jason Robertson rounds out my list. Well, round of applause, Gavin. I gave him that prompt just a couple hours ago and he brought the heat. That was that was awesome. We fished a lot of the same pond. So, we had the the same seven players, a little bit different order, the battle for first place. I edged out Mo. I I put Mo up there as number one. It could be some recency bias just coming off of that playoff run. I know he dipped in the Western Conference final, but everybody else did on the Dallas Stars as well. So, I I gave him the edge o over Meera. I think some of that was just playoff production and what Mo um can can bring there. He’s he’s established as a guy that will play big in big moments in score. Idottner number three too. Um he needs uh he needs some love. Um I had Robo number four actually. I was a bit higher. I put Robo a bit for uh a bit higher. I think part part of that is sort of predictions thinking he’s going to have a big year. So, so I put him there and a full healthy season hopefully um after kind of coming into training camp, coming into the season last year, not perfectly 100%. I had Harley at number five and then I went hence a new Shane, which I think hence may have been the biggest surprise um doing this list just because we’ve thought of him so highly. But this this year going into the season, I was like I I I I just couldn’t put Rope any higher than that. after Harley’s big season, his his elevation of play. Um, Robo, we we understand what he can bring. Um, we know that scoring touch is in there. I I ended with Duchine just because it it just it felt like Duchaine needed to needed to be on this list after what he did last year. Um, and I think it could be fair to put Duchine above Rope if you really wanted to. Um, if you wanted to have that argument just because, as you mentioned, Duchain just so consistent throughout the season. He led the stars in points for goodness sake. and he’s in his his mid-30s and hopefully he can continue that. So, loved loved hearing your your list in your reasoning. Um, again, we had all the same players, so we’re kind of fishing in the same ponds, but wanted to do that exercise, get your input, and um I thought it was a a little little fun uh little fun game there. Um, and looking forward to see how these guys will uh will take the ice here in just a couple weeks time. and some some big big bigs big big big big years for of course Robo I mean Harley that that has some deals at the end of the of the year. So uh or not Harley I suppose or no yeah he does yeah he does he’s only got that he only had that little bridge deal I forgot. See this has been a long summer Gavin I’m already I’m already forgetting so nil’s going to be busy but let’s get into some bigger trading camp storylines as well on the other side. I want to hear Gavin’s big big storylines in just a couple weeks time as the Stars will hit the ice um in Fris. Today’s episode of Locked on Stars is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL season is almost here and FanDuel is making sure you’re ready for kickoff with a can’t miss offer. Of course, we got the Dallas Cowboys versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. Hey, you can listen to the game on 105 through the fan if you would like if you’re in the area in DFW. But right now, new customers can bet just $5. If your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. FanDuel is great. It’s easy. You can make a same game parlay. You can bet on the live action as you’re watching the game unfold on Thursday night. It’s quick, easy. Have a little fun on Thursdays and of course on Sundays with football season right around the corner. So, are you ready to play? Download the FanDuel app today by visiting FanDuel.com to get started. That’s fuel.com to place your first $5 bet. So, a lot of intriguing storylines. Of course, a guy with the Dallas Stars, we got a new coach. Uh, free agency was a bit dull, but to be expected. They did bring some some guys back. Um, I don’t think we’ve talked though since the signing of Nathan Bastion. So I would be curious maybe to kind of kick this off uh just because with Gulson and some of the sightings bringing Fox back as well. It looks like the Stars have an idea a bit of how they they foresee this fourth line whereas in year past under under Pete Dbor it’s been more of a skating line and he would like them to score a bit and chip in offensively but right now it looks like it’s going to be sort of that prototypical checking line with like like the Como days, right? The the FCC line. So, curious your thoughts on that signing um and and sort of where you see the the stars heading into training camp. I absolutely love it. I mean, I am elated with Nathan Bastion. First of all, we need to talk about the contract because the contract’s really important when it comes to the Dallas Stars because they do have cap restraints. So, you’re basically looking at you got Bastion on an NHL deal for what some minor leaguers are getting paid. So terrific late off season signing by Jim Nil and his crew. Here’s what he brings to the table. So last year he played in just over 50 games. Um big body, 6’4, very Bishelike, a wide body. Um but here’s the fascinating thing is he is one of the better checkers in the league, but he doesn’t take a lot of penalty minutes. He’s a clean checker. And that to me, when you look at checks, the amount of checks and the amount of penalty minutes, that to me says a lot because there is an art to check. And if you’re late or if you go in with, you know, the shoulder too high, that’s going to draw penalty minutes. Uh the other thing I like uh about Nathan Bastion, he’s won’t necessarily start, but he’s not afraid to stick up for his teammates. Uh quickly you’ll see on the Bastion tapes out there that um he threw with the best of them and they were because they took out one of his teammates. So had a nice conversation with Colin Blackwell and he played with Bastion in Seattle and really liked him a lot. So he says he’s a good room guy. So I I think this does a couple of things. You’re right Joey. It establishes what they want to do with the fourth line, which I really like, but it also provides a layer of depth where you don’t necessarily have to make a call from Texas that a Bastion can a Bastian play a third line, you know, role for a few games. Absolutely, he can. I mean, this is a guy that has years of experience in the league, but he’s not that old. I think he’s like 27 years old. So, you know, he’s on a one-year deal right now. So, there’s a lot of incentive for Nathan Bastion to have a career year. So, I’m excited all around. I think it provides depth. I think it provides physicality. Uh, and you know what, he actually has some soft mittens as well around the net. So, you know, maybe he can score you five, maybe he could score you six. U, but he’s not afraid to shoot either. Um, so I I think all, you know, it’s not going to be one of those signings that is going to be like, oh my goodness. But you know what else wasn’t one of those, oh my goodness, signings last year? Colin Blackwell. And I think we can all agree that Colin Blackwell, same thing two years ago with Sam Steel. These are under the radar signings that don’t necessarily get the fanfare, but at the end of the year, you’re like, “Wow, this was a really good signing.” Yeah. We were we were discussing the the potential uh call up of maybe a Justin Ritskcoian or even R2 Huru coming um in training camp, but maybe the the stars saw those two guys as as players that are just not going to play a full 82 or at least have the opportunity to make the opening roster and play a a full season. Whereas Bastion, he has uh established himself um in the NHL. He packs a punch. Um, and let’s face it, um, he’s a different style than than Uhuru or Scovian, who if they’re coming up, you’re hoping they can maybe provide some some scoring, um, even or at least some, uh, some minutes on that fourth line. Bastion, I think, fits that role better. Um, and you can tell there I think there’s a pretty obvious uh direction that the stars and goldson are are going with some of those those story lines to be a bit tougher, which we’ll get to to some u a bit later on in the show. Another storyline I would throw out there and curious your take is is is where’s Johnson going to play? Where is he he going to to fit up front? Is he going to stay at center and kind of hold down the fort there where we know the stars have always had a lot of strength down the middle or does he get an opportunity to jump up higher in the lineup? Does he play with a rantin or a robo? Maybe does he play on the wing? Where do you see Johnston and his role heading into 25 26 because he’s consistently been better and better each season he’s been in the league. His goal totals have gone up. His point totals h have gone up. This could be a huge huge season. Um, and it’s crazy. He’s only 22. We’re still talking about him. He’s had such a a good young career already. I I like him at center and I think they should keep him there and I have him as, you know, probably the first or second center and that might mean Matt Duchain moves to the wing. Um, I think the best part of this year with the addition of Mo Ranton is you don’t have to do this on the fly. So, you can go through practices and pregame and you are not alarming your team because you could say we’re going to sit hints tonight, which is something they do now as a regularity in the preseason. They have their starters play, some starters play one game, some starters play the next. So you could try out that connection and you’ll see it in practice as well. So I would not be surprised if Wyatt Johnston moves up and Rupe Hint moves down. I would not be surprised to see Rupe Hints move to the wing. There are a lot of options and I think that Glenn Gullson has the time to uh sort it out. So, um, my biggest thing is is that, you know, with Robertson and the contract, am I going to pay someone 112 million to not be on my first line? So, that’s something that is in the back of my mind as well. But, you know, we’re not there yet. So, um, I see Wyatt I could easily see Wyatt Johnston playing on that first line, centering Robertson and Ranton and and then you move hints, you know, down and and you you go from there. Yeah. And Roe, he doesn’t he he doesn’t play a ton, at least minutes wise, like last year, uh, Wyatt just he he just played more. Um especially down the stretch I I feel like um Wyatt was given more opportunities and um I think there’s going to be less balance too under Goison. It’s Pete kind of like to roll four lines. I don’t think you’re going to see Goolitson afraid to just like kind of load up some minutes on some of these young guys. And if you did put wide on that top line as you mentioned, which I would be very very in favor for, and give Ro some less minutes, maybe that way he can be a bit fresher because we all know he he’s a bit fragile at times. I I don’t mean that as a criticism, but he he finds ways to he gets hurt. Um or whether it’s it’s on him or darn like two hand slashes his boot. Yeah, absolutely. And and you know, let’s go a step further. One of the things we don’t talk about because it’s not really an exciting topic is spacing. And one of the aspects that Miko Ranton brings to the table is you have to account for him for that shot that one-time off to the side. So you cannot cheat and go into the middle. And let’s look at the p highest percentage of Wyatt Johnston goals. Almost all of his effectiveness is straight up the middle. So if you put him on that first line, he’s going to have space in that middle. And I kind of like that aspect. And analytics will tell you that. So whoever plays with Mo Rantin gets more space. And we don’t necessarily talk about that. We look at point production, but we don’t necessarily talk about the space on the ice that Miko Ratin specifically. We see it on the power play. You cannot cheat on Mo Ratin. You have to play that side. Therefore, it opens up that middle bumper position on the power play. And I think that goes right into the the the criticism or or conversation Stars fans had with with Johnson last year, especially down the stretch in the playoffs. He was clamped with Jamie Ben and of Guinea Donov um who I just are not going to bring out the best in Wyatt Johnson. Wyatt playing with with Rantin is going to to elevate his game. Uh because as you mentioned like they have to take into account they have to try to stop 96 and now 53 whereas when Johnson’s playing with Ben and Donov it’s like okay we just got to try to slow down 53 they can key in on him a bit more and whoever he put on the other flank rant and it could be robo now you’re like oh my god now there’s a lot of issues and I think Johnston I I did an episode on this as well uh I think he’s really going to thrive now in this sort of new role getting to to play alongside maybe just some better players I think that’s fair to say like Ben we saw at the end of last year. He’s his game is is is not what it once was. Um to Donov all the credit in the world he had 20 goals. Um but he’s not a special player like like a Ranton or even a Robo that Johnson may consistently get to play with next season. Whereas last year he played the most amount of minutes with with Donov and Ben. And I think that just seemed to run its course. I think this is the first time we get to you know he’s proven himself now. now he’s going to get the opportunity where as you said he could be that number one center for for Dallas and they’re going to ask him to to play some of those higher leverage minutes which also comes with a bit of a learning curve too. Um the Stars could maybe shelter him down that third line whereas now he’s going to have to play against some of some of the best and he’s already had that opportunity of course um and he’s had a lot of success uh in the postseason albeit I know it was a rough one this last year with the the plus minus and all that good stuff. Um that that certainly did not go well. Um, but where are the stars going to go from here? Where are they going to make some changes? Glen Goldson obviously has this direction, this philosophy in mind. So, I’m curious to hear Gavin’s thoughts on what is this new identity? Will we see one from the Dallas Stars in 2526? We’ll discuss that in just a moment. So, I I’m actually really excited. I’m probably a lot more excited for for this Star season than I was the last couple years. Um although we know the Stars were good and they had a chance to to win a cup. Like that that was sort of obvious. But I I am excited just because there is some changes. Uh like there is some unknown here. Whereas I felt like last year it’s just like okay we know the Stars are good. They’re going to get in. Okay, the playoffs is really the the real test for them. But now we got and it’s just change in philosophy potentially a new system. So, I’m curious where you think that the Stars are are headed. And how do you think Gooson is going to get the best out of this this roster? Because right before Dbor, the Stars were so good defensively, they maybe lacked some depth. They struggled to to score enough. And then under the Boore, they found a good balance. There was always a good balance of scoring, defense, goalending, but it always seemed to unravel at the wrong time. So, where does Golitin go from here? because he even said there cannot be this, you know, 18 20% change. It’s about 1% to see if they can get them over that hump. But where do you see Gooson and potentially where is this new stars identity going to live between that physicality but still being skillful enough and all that play fast? I think it’ll be a huge compliment if we don’t like notice it. If we notice it but don’t notice it. If that if you know what I’m saying. And partly because you know basically everyone in hockey kind of plays the same system or knows the systems and stuff. It’s just how you execute and your consistency. So I expect this team under be under Glenn Gullson to stop that roller coaster start and stop. You know for years we’ve talked about these first periods and it’s like okay now you guys going to start playing because it’s the second period, right? So, I expect a more consistent team out of the gate. I think they have less talent, but I think they’re going to do a couple of things differently. I think we’re going to see a much more aggressive forche, which I absolutely love. They’re going to try to create turnovers. Um, we can talk about McDavid dry with Edmonton, but that forche was a force and they had those Dallas defenseman pinched the last couple of years. So I could easily see, you know, that is a big thing. And when when Golson talks about physicality, we kind of have to throw away the mindset as far as dropping the gloves. What we need to think about is tying people up along the boards, winning those board battles. You know, those those 5050 battles in the corners, that’s something as the playoffs wore on, the Stars were not winning those battles. That equals a lot more defensive zone time. Winning the net front. absolutely of that nature. And I think that he will promote within the lines and the blue line those players that are maximizing their effort. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Liam Bishell’s name has been mentioned a few times as far as how impressive he’s been and how Gullson watched him in the series and was like, “Wow, we knew he’d be good, but we didn’t realize he was this good this quick.” So that becomes the question, you know, is Liam Bishell going to be that fourth defenseman? So, might not start the year there, but might end the year, you know. So, I could see Bishial’s minutes uh going up. So, I think that’s going to be, you know, a change. So, I don’t think he’s necessarily going to break the whole thing down and start it back up. I think it’s just a different mindset. I like how he’s saying the 1% because the 1% can make a huge difference. And I think he will try to find that line chemistry and that defensive chemistry in the preeason so he can on that first game. It’s it’s it’s go time. And you look at different strategies. Maybe Duchaine is matched up with Jamie Ben because maybe it’s like, hey, we have to maximize Jamie Ben because we are down on left wingers. Yeah. We need more scoring out of Jamie Ben. So that could be something that Golson focuses on. And you know, automatically we will all think like if Jaime Ben like we got to be honest, since January of last year, Jaime Ben’s been a fourthline player. And that’s nothing, you know, it’s just he’s older and the point production wasn’t there. Jamie knows that. But at the same time, it’s like, okay, maybe you try him out with some higher skilled players and maybe you raise his level back to where it was at one point. Remember, he has familiarity with Sean as well. Maybe, let’s just say, you throw out Duchain, Ben, and Sean as a line. So, those are the kind of things that I’m expecting Gulletson to to work on. The other thing is is I just a no firsthand knowledge of this, but it just seems as though these players are excited for this year. Yeah. Just from hearing the interviews, from me doing interviews, from others talking, it just seems as though they are excited to play for Gullson. And even though they might not have had him as a coach, and this is the interesting thing about Gullatson, they’ve had a relationship with Gullson. And then you throw in the relationship they’ve had with uh Neil Graham. Neil Graham. Yeah. Texas stars. And the players love Nazertine. So that’s going to be interesting as well. and how much play does Graham and Nazerdine have as far as you know the power play and special teams because you lead in that category. So I think that’s a that’s a change we’re going to see as well where it’s not Dbor system it is a coaching system. Yeah and and sort of by committee right as you mentioned and go look it’s probably easy to to say it that he wants Nazertine and Graham to to have uh their input. it’ll be another challenge to actually uh be able to to execute that. But from what it sounds like, it is going to be sort of a coaching by committee and some of those special errors. And Graham’s going to have his input and I know he did an interview recently where he said I’d be sort of stupid not to use Golitin as a as an ally there after what he’s been been able to to produce um in Edmonton. Um so I think the Stars have done a lot of great things. Um Ben is a great point there. They have to, as you said, maximize. I don’t care how old Jamime Ben gets the rest of his career. He can play till he’s 45. He has to have more than one power play goal in a season. I’m sorry. He he he should at least he should at least have three or five. I I don’t care if he’s playing 50 years old. David Ben’s too good. You just throw him up in front of the net and find ways to to get him goals. Um and I know he started to tail off last year, but still, one power play goal is just like my goodness, Ben is too good. I know he’s not going to play as many minutes there as as he once was, but that has to be done. But yeah, the the physicality and I I think one I I I I’m curious you brought the forche if maybe Golden watching a season ago saying they were a bit too bit too heavy relying on on the oddman rush. So, they were relying on that counterattack where the Stars were pretty good off the rush, but they struggled to to produce scoring chances um when they were cycling or they had offensive zone time. They just struggled to get pucks to the net and they were just relying on, you know, a mistake by the opposition. So, uh that that that aggressive forte as you mentioned to go win some of those battles and then be able to filter that puck. It’s one thing to win the puck, but can you filter it to the to the front of the net because that’s where you’re going to get opportunities. And that’s where, credit to Edmonton, they just shut down Dallas. Felt like Stars just could not get anywhere near Skinner really the last two years. Yeah, Skinner had it easy. And I know we touched on this following that Western Conference final. Again, you just like why aren’t they testing him enough? they they are unable to test Skinner who’s proven he is very very shaky um at points and the stars just weren’t making it hard enough on them well and you look at the acquisitions of Edmonton you look at Ekhome on defense you look at Corey Perry as a forward you look at Evander Kane I mean say what you want about these players but they’re larger size players and the stars got bigger in the off season and they changed their makeup I am excited as Well, because I didn’t want them to run it back. And at the beginning, I thought they were going to run it back, but now with the coaching change and now with the player acquisitions, um, you know, I’m I’m interested. I’m intrigued because they can’t run that same system back because it won’t be effective because the skill set isn’t there. Yeah, the first 15 games is going to be uh a lot of fun. They they get right into it. They got some tough opponents. So, they’re they’re going to have to to test themselves. Um and uh I I think it I think we’ll know probably maybe really quickly if if it’s going the right direction or maybe it’s it’s not. But, uh the Stars are they still have such a good roster. That’s where this is probably the best roster. If you had to make a coaching change, like this is fine. Um because it’s it’s not like this is a full rebuild. You’re not getting rid of a ton of core players. Like everything’s right there. It’s now just trying to to give him that extra push in in the rear end. Um, and hopefully it works. Well, the other thing Joey, you mentioned the first 15 games. If let’s take those first three games of the season and move them to January if at Winnipeg, at Colorado, and home for Minnesota. And you said, I’ll take three points out of that. Yeah. But at the beginning of the season, it’s going to be full panic mode if you only get three points. Yeah. I mean is I for those that don’t know playing Winnipeg with any kind of energy in that building that is a white out that’s a tough venue to play. Then you play a stacked Colorado team. It’s the deepest Colorado team I’ve seen probably since their Stanley Cup run. So they’re going to be a factor. And then you get Minnesota um and you know playing in your division is never easy. So and you most likely have a healthy Carrill Capri off playing in that game. So yeah, tough. I’ll be asking a lot of questions. They go 02 and one, Gavin. Uh, I’ll be asking a lot of questions. We may be out on the whole Gulitin thing. I’ve been pro gulletin, but 02 and one to start. We’ll be asking a lot of the the tough questions. But yeah, I I I like I said, I’m just this is most fun or at least uh most intriguing season upcoming just because of the different changes. Whereas in the last couple years under board, it’s like all right, we kind of we kind of knew what they had. Um, and it was just like, let’s just get through this 82 game slog. But now there’s some more intrigue in this 82 game uh slog. Who knows? Maybe they’ll they’ll run the table off the hop and, you know, we’re we’re here in January and we’re like, okay, like here they are again. Um, let’s see. Um, which I’d rather take over that than being on the outside looking in to a playoff spot. So, let’s uh let’s let’s hold on to a top three spot um and get geared up. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun and a lot of intriguing stuff um here in the next couple weeks with training camp right around the corner. Gavin, appreciate you you hopping on during the the lunch break. We get in here and get a pod out. I appreciate you taking the time. Always always good to hear from you. You were fantastic um today. That was a flawless nine innings um from you. So, not the no hitter, but maybe you scattered a couple hits. I love these collabs, man. I love doing these collabs with you. Uh, it’s a great conversation and the fact that we’re talking stars already. I mean, this is, you know, with everything happening here in DFW with the Cowboys trade, um, you know, Rangers back in the mix, but they were down for a while. Mavs are the Mavs. It’s ripe for the picking for the Stars and I think they know that. Hopefully that’s not added pressure. So, yeah, it’s it’s it’s great. It’s exciting off season, and uh I’m sure we’re going to have more of these uh collaborations to come, man. Always love being on with you. Thank you. Thank you. Be sure to follow Gavin Spittle. You can follow him on Spits and Suds. Yes, be sure to give him uh some love. You can follow his podcast there, Spits and Suds. He’s always got wonderful, wonderful guests on each uh every week. And he’s pumping out episodes um all summer long. He’s pumping out episodes all season long. So, be sure to follow him there. You can follow Locked OnStar as well. Subscribe, hit the notification bell, drop a comment below. We want to see your list. what is your list if you had to rank the best Dallas stars currently on the roster and maybe some of your expectations for Gulletson this upcoming year. But have a great rest of your day Stars fans and we’ll see you on the next episode of Locked on Stars and Spits and Suds respectively. So long Stars fans. [Music]

Dallas Stars shake up roster as training camp looms. Will new additions and coaching changes propel them to NHL glory? Gavin Spittle joins to break down the Stars’ top player rankings, with Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson battling for the top spot. The discussion heats up over Nathan Bastian’s signing and its impact on the fourth line’s identity. Wyatt Johnston’s role under new coach Glenn Gulutzan takes center stage, as the team’s system undergoes subtle yet crucial changes. Can the Stars overcome a challenging early-season schedule? Tune in for expert analysis on Dallas’s revamped lineup and their chances in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

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