The season begins Wednesday. How did the Stars fare with the five questions posed before training camp?
1. How will coach Dave Tippett assemble the third and fourth lines?
To be determined. Tippett has experimented with several combinations, and injuries to three top-level forwards have forced him to use young players in skill positions. We still don't know if Tippett will go with a veteran such as David Oliver over a rookie such as Yared Hagos. We don't know if Jussi Jokinen will play down the lineup or share time with Antti Miettinen on one of the top lines. The guess here is it will be a grab bag every game.
2. The Stars are pretty much set with seven defensemen. How do you pair them?
Stephane Robidas has been the pleasant surprise of camp, while Trevor Daley has not advanced as quickly as hoped. Look for Martin Skoula and Sergei Zubov to play in the first pair, Robidas and Philippe Boucher in the second and Daley or John Erskine in the third with Jon Klemm.
3. What do you do with Niko Kapanen and Steve Ott?
Ott played at center and left wing in the preseason. Kapanen appears to be the team's checking-line center, but he might end up playing with Ott.
4. How will the new rules affect individual players?
It's clear defensemen Sergei Zubov and Stephane Robidas like the freedom to handle the puck and that speedy forwards Mike Modano, Vojtech Polak and Jussi Jokinen are excited about the open ice. But the surprise has been how easy it is for power forward Bill Guerin to get to the front of the net. Expect a lot of goals from Guerin.
5. Do the Stars need to carry a full-time fighter?
The fact that Garrett Burnett has made it through the entire camp is an indication that the Stars believe this position is important. However, look for Dave Tippett to go with skill early and see how that works. If Burnett goes to the minors, he's only a phone call away.
1. How will coach Dave Tippett assemble the third and fourth lines?
To be determined. Tippett has experimented with several combinations, and injuries to three top-level forwards have forced him to use young players in skill positions. We still don't know if Tippett will go with a veteran such as David Oliver over a rookie such as Yared Hagos. We don't know if Jussi Jokinen will play down the lineup or share time with Antti Miettinen on one of the top lines. The guess here is it will be a grab bag every game.
2. The Stars are pretty much set with seven defensemen. How do you pair them?
Stephane Robidas has been the pleasant surprise of camp, while Trevor Daley has not advanced as quickly as hoped. Look for Martin Skoula and Sergei Zubov to play in the first pair, Robidas and Philippe Boucher in the second and Daley or John Erskine in the third with Jon Klemm.
3. What do you do with Niko Kapanen and Steve Ott?
Ott played at center and left wing in the preseason. Kapanen appears to be the team's checking-line center, but he might end up playing with Ott.
4. How will the new rules affect individual players?
It's clear defensemen Sergei Zubov and Stephane Robidas like the freedom to handle the puck and that speedy forwards Mike Modano, Vojtech Polak and Jussi Jokinen are excited about the open ice. But the surprise has been how easy it is for power forward Bill Guerin to get to the front of the net. Expect a lot of goals from Guerin.
5. Do the Stars need to carry a full-time fighter?
The fact that Garrett Burnett has made it through the entire camp is an indication that the Stars believe this position is important. However, look for Dave Tippett to go with skill early and see how that works. If Burnett goes to the minors, he's only a phone call away.
