Jake Riepma Previews The Dallas Stars 2025–26 Season | Shan & RJ
The season gets underway tonight for your Dallas Stars. They’ll be at Winnipeg to take on the Jets. What? No, I get mad every time I see Jersey Jerry on TV cuz everybody on Twitter has started saying I look like him on the far left there on the Barcel. Looks like a combo of you and Shippy. He looks He looks like a He looks like a a chubby Shippy. Shippy pre-party and postparty. Sean, RJ, and Bobby Choppy is out today and tomorrow on vacation and in studio. Stars Insider are going to be living at the AC throughout the entire year. He is dressed in all green. That is not for the football jets. That is for your stars. He is Jake Reedma, also co-host of Fan University Saturday mornings. Good morning. You ready to go? Yeah. Good morning. Happy hockey season. All right. All right. I I’m I’m amped up. the espressos flowing. But I know I just Hey, it’s game one tonight. We we got 82 of these things. Soon to be 84. The NHL season’s going to be a little bit longer coming up. How much have you miss playing with the kids? Oh, I am excited for the big all kinds of block party and the whole I got the email there with the kids. Yep. Everything that’s everything that’s going on for the home opener Tuesday night. But let’s let’s temper our excitement. We got two big road games before the home opener. Word in the building here is that you can’t say the word Saturday. Yeah. What’s Don’t go into detail. Great detail. Yeah. I I posted this yesterday because I’ve never received such an email, but we do the Texas State Network Sports Reports. They go out to a number of different stations, but we love our TSN reports. And I got some feedback I’d never heard before, but apparently I don’t pronounce the T in Saturday. Okay. So, how would you regularly say it? I have no idea. That’s the thing. It’s So, just give me the days of the week starting with Thursday. Yeah. Hey, there’s a big game coming up Saturday. So maybe you’re saying it like a D like Saturday. Great center for the Colts, Jeff Saturday. I I think you’re I think you’re trying to say that. No, I know exactly in the moment, but like I think what happened maybe cuz I’m like how could you ever How else could you say that? Say that Saturday. Saturday. You could do that. What’s the What’s the thing that Corey hates the way Greg Olsen says it? Ah, there’s like there’s something where he says he doesn’t say a T in the middle of a word or something like that. Or it’s like maybe it’s a subtlety like what people say with your name, which I still don’t understand the difference between where apparently your name is said different than Sean. Okay, so that’s your name or that’s the name. And what’s the other way to say it? Sean. That’s the same thing. It’s like a U and a W. Sean, you drunk it out a little more. Sean. Sean. So, Saturday, I don’t know. I listen. The very first time I was on air with you, you said I said some word funny and now I’m just I’m very up uh very uh nervous that I’m I’m gonna say something wrong. All right, Jake. Why should we believe? Do you believe that the Stars are better just as good as last year or step back? I think they’re better because of the breath of fresh air that Glenn Golson can provide. And I’m choosing to be optimistic because the other side of the coin is yeah, you know, you fire a coach that’s been to the Western Conference Finals backto-back years, that’s pretty good. You’re among the four best teams in the NHL. And there’s certainly something to be said about that. However, however, any sport you look at, sometimes complacency is a component of it and a shot in the arm, something to shake things up and it starts at the top. Glenn Goldson is a fiery guy. I remember being on with you guys when he was first hired that you can go on YouTube and find clips when he was the head coach for the Calgary Flames of just going crazy on guys. And listen, I know we accuse some of these Stars players for being a little bit soft when Pete Dbor did this. However, I do think it’s a breath of fresh air. It’s a new voice. And what he’s made his mark on is being a power play genius. That’s how he made his mark with the Edmonton Oilers. and they had one of the best power plays in the NHL, the best power play in the NHL. And it helps when you have the best players, but at the same time, the breath of fresh air, shot in the arm, a different voice with the same core. It’s exciting. It’s exciting. So, how do you reasonably justify breath of fresh air for a guy that Jim Nell fired 10 years ago? Great question. Totally different situation in 2011. I think you could look uh in every single layer of this d of that Dallas Stars team where they were coming back, the the uncertainty with the league. There were a lot of different factors at play there. And I think too uh in the past, as long as that is, you look at what Gooson has done since then. I mentioned his time with the with the Flames. He didn’t get over the hump there, but he has some head coaching experience. And then, oh, by the way, he goes and and is really successful as an assistant coach. I think if you believe in second chances, and that was a long time ago, hey, here’s now a time with a really established organization like the Dallas Stars, who have been to the Western Conference Finals, uh, three consecutive years, and give him this opportunity to get him over the hump. Jake Rema in studio to preview the Star season. So, with Brian Shottenheimimer, we we were looking for early indicators that were different from McCarthy, like more motion. Bobb’s been talking about condensed formations. Uh Bris and Zach Wilche are fighting about concepts in the run game, but give us some like tangible things to look for with Glenn Gulletson differences. The first thing that comes to mind to me is is physicality. Can this team be more physical with the a lot of the same roster? You mentioned the power play. Obviously, we’re going to be judging that early. Yeah, the power play is an easy one where you literally have statistics for it. Okay, how is the team on the power play? But I was listening to his postgame press conference after practice yesterday and any coach would tell you this, but it’s going to take some time. You know, we’re not going to watch the game tonight and say, “Oh my goodness, it’s a different Dallas Stars team.” But he talked about how every single player on this Dallas Star team plays with a cerebral approach. They’re smart players, you know, and we know how gifted they are physically and and how uh talented they are. Guys like Miko Ranton, some of the best in the game. and defensively he could not stop singing the praise of how deep this team is defensively. And I think you’ll see that as uh you know part of this kind of new age stars team where all of a sudden you know every guy in that blue line is playing an impactful brand of hockey. That’s part of what he brings. And then he talked about just the acclamation process as well where it’s going to take a couple of games. We’re going to we’re going to continue to make adjustments. He’s big on in-game adjustments and that sort of thing. and what we did today isn’t necessarily what we’re going to need to do tomorrow. Um, but at the same time, the biggest adjustment is going to be with the centers and their ability to play two-way hockey. And and that goes without saying, any coach will tell you the importance of that. But at the same time, there is a a shot in the arm. I keep going back to that, you know, where there’s going to be a new look to this Dallas Stars team because of the influence from Glenn Gooson. Give me an X’s and O’s example if you can of difference on the power play. What what does Glen Gullin he’s going to draw up? How does that work on on a power play of what could be different? Yeah. Well, the easy answer is just, you know, get McDavid dry side there. Um, but, you know, I I think spacing is a big part of it as well. Um, zone entry is huge on a power play. And, you know, different uh if there was a perfect cookie cutter approach, everybody would do it. But zone entry, you can always tell on a power play how successful or at least the chances that you’re going to generate on that zone entry and the angles and the way that they can approach that. You know, whether it’s a it’s a dump and chase or it’s the the strategic angles of of a certain pass where you’re going to break into that offensive scoring zone entry because every good power play starts with that puck possession in a zone entry. And so those are all big things to preach, but now going out and executing it is where I’ll look to see how this Dallas Stars power play is different. Before we totally leave coaching, Neil Graham was a loud name around here as a replacement, as a promotion. You think he could have a significant impact this year? Oh yeah, you saw my cheat sheet, Sean. You saw it. You saw it. We preview things on this show. That’s right. No, I think in all seriousness, I think this is a perfect um runway for for Neil Graham where you could look at his resume and say, “Man, he deserved an opportunity.” Or you could look at the other side of the coin and say, “All of a sudden, he’s going to get the opportunity to learn at the at the NHL level. We know the success he had in the minors, but now take the next step in that development process as a coach.” He’s only 40 years old, and I truly believe he is the coach in waiting. Not to say Golden’s a a bridge coach by any means cuz again, you got a team that went to the Western Conference Finals the last three years. You’re not hiring a bridge coach, but at the same time, a guy like Neil Graham who has so much continuity with all of these young stars, why Johnson, Jakeer, the list goes on. And that’s how the stars have become as prominent. Yes, Otter is better. That and how they’ve become so good and that developmental relationship from a coach to player. And again, that is where not to just throw at Pete Dbor because that that is in the rearview mirror, but that was some of the shortcomings with Dbor. Now you got Goldson at the at the helm, but Neil Graham to kind of be that players coach in his role and then take the next step at the NHL level. So when you uh get hired by an NFL team, you’re essentially expected usually early on to pay homage to the starting quarterback and to walk in there and make sure all right, let me make sure I got a good relationship here with the quarterback. Is that priority one? Walking through the door is all right. Pete Dbor in large part is out of here because of a bad relationship with Jake Hotinger. Let’s let’s start off right away by by making sure that’s off to a good start. No, I think there’s certainly some truth to that and I I have in my notes here where we also have to put a some of the onus on Otter. I mean, Otter has been so good and he’s earned that reputation and earned kind of that uh that voice in the locker room to be able to say, “Hey, you know, I’m not necessarily getting along with this guy.” But at the same time, he has an opportunity to establish himself as a a premier goalie in the NHL and make a case for a VZNA trophy. That’s the best goalie in the NHL. So for go from good to great. And oh by the way guys, this is the first time since 2014 where NHL players are playing in the Olympics. And I think that’s huge for us hockey players. So you got Jakeer who’s going to make a bid to be on that Olympic team. And obviously Otter is better than Connor Habibuk, but at the same time he’s the face of Americanb born hockey players of Americanb born goalies. Connor Hobbuk is. And so this is an opportunity for Otter to take that next step from good to great. So it’s a shot in the arm with Glenn Gooson. It’s a breath of fresh air. What are they missing with Pete Debor? I think uh experience is a big part of it. Um the the guy that’s been there, done that at the highest level. um he hasn’t gotten over the hump, but at the same time, yes, at the same time, he was consistently in the Western Conference Finals, not just with the Dallas Stars, but year in and year out. So, that’s a huge loss. But, Bobby, we can’t look in the rearview mirror. We got a game tonight. Let’s look forward. You got to know what you’re missing, though. You You got to know what you’re missing and what bases you got to cover. Nope. This is This is like the ex-girlfriend. You block her on every single social media account. You don’t respond. Did nothing good. Pet did nothing. Words in my mouth. You’re putting you’re putting words in my mouth. I’m not putting anything in your mouth. Debor did nothing good that I’m just saying like like what there there had to be something that it was it was a decision they had to weigh. It was not an easy just quick fire. What what are they going to where what are they losing by going gullets into Deborah? Yeah. They’re they’re missing an established coach that got them to among the best four teams in the NHL. So if you think about it in college basketball terms, it’s a coach that got you to the final four in two consecutive years. Did you sign up for that? If he doesn’t throw Otter under the bus in the press conferences, is he still the coach? Oh, that’s a good one. If does this feel a little McCarthy-esque, Bobby, to where that was the thing they were looking for or needed to set a pretext basically to go do what you wanted to do? Maybe. Uh, but I mean like it’s it’s such a bad history as we found out like like when we started really researching. He’s got a really bad history with goalies. Like like Peter Bour just seems to have some sort of it’s like Choppy what he always talks about like Draymond Green just hates European players or or like how some people are now like does Nico just not like the European players? What’s going on here? It’s there’s clearly it feels like there’s something Dbor does not like about goalies. Well, we talked about this when it all first transpired. I remember sitting in that press conference when it was happening uh after they lost to the Oilers. I know. I know. And I was just like, wait a second. Is he is he doing this? And I felt like that was the the straw that broke the camel’s back. Is that Is that the saying? I’m terrible with saying. Yeah. The straw that broke the camel’s back. It gave them the reason. Yes. Saturday. Saturday. The straw that broke the camel’s back. Oh, yeah. The straw. Uh it’s Jake Reema in studio previewing the star season right here on 1053 the fan. What do you think a full season of Mo could look like? Well, you play fantasy hockey. I do. Yes. But long story. Uh I know it’s the expressway. I don’t want to be long-winded here, but somebody in our league, it’s our it’s our league among Dallas Stars media people. And well, Mac Engel gave you the invite. Yeah, somebody created two teams by mistake. So, when I went to log in, I was exed out of the league cuz I was the last one to sign up for the league and so they drafted the team. And it’s like I’m a GM inheriting. I didn’t draft this team, but I’m gonna make the most. No, no, no. It this is the first league we’re doing it. And so where would um give me give me the top three stars that would be drafted for fantasy and about the range where they would go or top two. Yeah. Yeah. So one is you might think it’s it’s Conor McDavid. It’s actually not. He’s three. So give me Leon Dryidle ahead of McDavid as two. Okay. And and then Mar for Colorado. It pains me to say but and then the top stars. Yeah. Dallas stars. Not like hockey stars. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. By the way, 972 says, “I know nothing about hockey, but Jake’s energy makes me want to run out and buy season tickets.” Let’s do it. Yeah, I Yeah, I’ll see you at the PNC Plaza playing hockey with the kids. Uh, so the Dallas Stars in fantasy, how would they go? Like, is Mo definitely won? Mo’s the the top one because of the numbers he’s going to play. What range would he go? Like, he was like a seventh seven through 10 in that kind of round. Seven through 10 overall. Overall, yeah. Yeah. Um, and then Miro Hayeskin is going to be your top defensive guy cuz he’s another one that can stuff the stat. She is which is big. Um, and then guys, it’s interesting because you want to get guys that are going to, again, fantasy here. I’m not talking real hockey. Um, but like uh just like in fantasy football, guys that score touchdowns aren’t always like the best players, but guys that stuff the stat sheet on the power play, and we’ve talked a lot about that where we don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like. Um, but Wyatt Johnston is another one that I would I would take a flyer on. So I I everybody in the league are stars uh you know people that cover the stars. So they all everybody wanted to take the stars. So I think they were at a a premium in this league. So Mo, I mean just expect another stud year. Yeah. No, I have in my notes um if he could just put up 17 points in a six game span like he did in the playoffs, we should be good. No. And I was listening to one I think you could legitimately get 200 points out of Miko Ranton and Jason Jason Robinson. Robo. We didn’t talk about him a lot, but he’s on a contract year. He’s healthy. He’s ready to break out and he’s ready to make that money. Why was there talk about trading him this off season? Great question. Because his value was super high. You think he could yield a huge return? And there was conversations. I didn’t buy into this, but kind of the odd man out just given the way uh he had some shortcomings in the postseason where you’ve got a Dallas Stars team that is absolutely loaded up front. you could get a huge return for him, but he was kind of the odd man out. I I and again I and and I think Walchuck and I debated this a little bit that, you know, kind of really shake it up. But I I don’t believe that that was the move. I’m so glad that they held on to Robo because I I see a breakout year coming for him on a contract year, healthy, and ready to make a huge impact. What do they add or lose in the off season? Yeah, a big addition actually here is Radic Foxa who’s a name that you’re going to hear and and it should sound familiar because he’s had a tenure with the Dallas Stars. It’s an investment into some depth. So, he’s a fourthline center guy and it’s kind of odd to see a three-year deal for a four a guy that’s, you know, hey, you’re playing on the fourth line, but at the same time, it shows the commitment to the depth and I think that will be a a welcome addition for this Dallas Stars team. Jake Reema in studio previewing the season right here on 1053 the fan. Give us some other uh so ceiling. We we we did this the other day. Oh, I love this. The odds of making it back to another Western Conference final. Would you put your money right now that they make it back to another West Final or come up short? I would put my money there. And I was actually checking the odds again this morning just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything because I feel like the national conversation is oh, you know, the Stars are going to take a big step backwards, but the odds are actually they’re right among the elite in the Western Conference still. Edmonton is above everybody. They’re the favorite and I think the the new Conor McDavid deal is is more proof in the pudding that hey, now is the time for Edmonton. Everybody’s high on Vegas because they signed Mitch Marner which was a huge deal. So now the combination of Mitch Mner and Jack Eel um in Vegas there, which by the way, I watched them last night. They have the worst uniforms in sports. I I’m a big uniform guy. The the ugliest uniform of all time, the Vegas Golden Knights. It it is like what might come out of your nose if you’re not feeling you if you’re feeling under the weather a little bit. Um but it is a just a disgusting sweater. Um and then a lot of people are really high on the Carolina Hurricanes, which if you remember, that was the trade that the Stars made for Mo. and they’ve got Logan Stanovven who is a really bright young player. But yes, the odds for the Stars I saw were right at plus 900 and a team like Colorado plus 800. That’s another team that a lot of people are on. So maybe, you know, and this is to win the Stanley Cup. So if you’re talking about teams that have a legitimate chance to be in the Western Conference Finals, the Stars are absolutely in that conversation. Jake Rema, also the co-host of Fan University. Saturdays starting at 9:00 a.m. right here on the station.
Jake Riepma joined Shan & Bobby live in studio to preview the upcoming Dallas Stars season. He expressed his optimism on the team under new head coach Glen Gulutzan, breaking down his impact on the power play, in-game adjustments, and the team’s depth. Riepma discussed key players like Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Jake Oettinger, plus offseason additions like Radek Faksa. Riepma also shared his thoughts on the Stars’ Western Conference chances and why this season feels like a fresh start for Dallas.
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1 comment
3 years in a row in the conference finals.