Man, we never see eye to eye. I hate most of the moves the Stars have made this off-season, starting with their geriatric coaching retread.
That's true! So much so that I do a double take every time we do, because I immediately come to question myself
.
I don't know how it is possible to not acknowledge that the Stars have had an AWESOME market. Straight up different planets here.
Sure, I agree that Hitch is a risk with his age and how he ultimately wore down at the Blues, but this is not some Bylsma level idiot here.
He did very well with the Blues for the majority and his teams just couldn't overcome the fact that their GM NEVER got a genuine 1C AND that their goal tending would eventually come below regular season standards when it mattered. They bowed out against very good teams on the regular.
The Stars is a team that won the Western Conference two seasons ago, despite a terrible defense and evident lack of defensive structure (Ruff-style). They declined even further on that last year, at the same time as their weak goal tending took a turn for disastrous and injuries took its toll on their depth.
So, they already had super stars on offense, and they go out and get a coach who is justly famous for getting team D sorted. Then they add a nr. 1 goalie which plugged a really big hole. Then they get a very competent stay at home top4 D-man in Methot, who should work very well with Klingberg and really help them in the playoffs.
Then they add the best 3C on the market (or shut down 2nd line C depending on utilization) - and Dallas know what they're getting having seen Hanzal in division for a long time. After that it is a quick, aggressive fourth liner who can score some in Pittlick, at a good cap hit. And the cherry on the cake - the best UFA forward in the market at a more than decent contract. Someone who can help share the burden of creating while at the same time playing hard nosed hockey.
Unless you take your "Hitch will fail" line and see absolutely everything through that prism, saying that you hate most the Dallas makes absolutely no sense. Unless you - like me - are actually envious of pretty much every one of them (save Bishop for whom we have no need/use).
