The Stars Looking to Improve their Offense

Stars

We’re not going to get hyperbolic half way thru October with the NHL standings. Through the first eight games of the season, there are trends that start to reveal themselves. Even with the ebbs and flows of a now 84 game season.

For the Dallas Stars, their biggest struggle is blatant for everyone to see. While their defense, and goaltending is holding strong their offense ranks near the bottom of the league. You can’t win games if you cannot outscore your opponent.

Injuries don’t help

For the Stars, Matt Duchene has been sorely missed. Out for at least three months for a core surgery. Duchene is one of the best play makers on the team. Setting up others to pot home a goal, and scoring a few himself. Dallas will be ready to have him back later, and hopefully healthy for the playoffs.

If you want to win, and win in the playoffs injuries are no excuse. All 32 teams deal with it. Nobody’s going to go easy on you because of whoever you’re missing in the lineup. Best thing to do is for guys who are healthy, and active to dig in and step up. It’s like the old saying goes; next man up. A winner can’t afford the passengers.

Crash the net!

One of the biggest reasons why the Stars are having trouble getting goals is their inability to get guys in front of the net. They’re not making the other team’s goalie to work hard enough. Nor are the Stars got enough guys close enough to the paint to poke home rebounds.

Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, and Wyatt Johnston are three of the Stars best bets to get in the grill of the goalies. But it needs to be a team effort. If Glen Gulutzan wants to see a better idea of what you need to do to get more physical in front of the net, watch what the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes do and replicate the physicality. The goals will follow.

Trade rumors already out there

Trade rumors with the Philadelphia Flyers involving Matvei Michkov circulated online. As far as we can tell, it’s just fan speculation. But with the Flyers having a historically bad start in the franchise’s history, a trade like this with Dallas isn’t totally farfetched.

Just a couple days ago, Stars GM Jim Nill made a move to help out the scoring problem. Signing a 38 year old Stanley Cup vet in David Perron to a one year deal. Somebody who’s proven to find the back of the net in his now 20th year in the NHL. Perron can prove to be a good addition to the team’s obviously lacking depth.

Photo credit: Getty Images

With Dallas putting together their first winning streak of the season with a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and the sudden rise of Arttu Hyry, hopefully the Stars can string together more wins and pick themselves up from the near bottom of the NHL goal scoring stay line.

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