Meet the Dallas Stars–Long-term Outlook is Promising

Jun 11, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Bruins center Tyler Seguin is interviewed during media day in preparation for game one of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

If you’ve been paying attention to Gone Puck Wild lately, and shame on you if you haven’t, then you know school has begun as Wild fans brush up on their knowledge of the new teams within Minnesota’s division. This week, that new team just so happens to be ”the old team”–that’s right–the Dallas Stars. Going through Sunday, we’ll break down Dallas’ major additions and subtractions, strengths and weaknesses, prospect pool, 2013 draft class and team outlook.

Well, another week in “Meet the Division” has passed. So far, we’ve covered the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche, and we’re about to wrap up our series on the Dallas Stars with the team outlook.

It’s a fresh start for the Stars with new ownership, management and coaching, and an influx of elite, young talent. The prospect pool is full, a few top-end rookies are ready to make an impact as early as next season and the top line now features a young man with superstar potential in Tyler Seguin. Blue line depth has been shored up by the signing of Sergei Gonchar, and the team has been reinforced down the middle.

Questions remain, however. Will Tyler Seguin not only survive, but thrive, in Dallas? Can Kari Lehtonen carry the brunt of the workload in net? Will Stars GM Jim Nill find a suitable backup for him by, or before, the trade deadline? Will one of the young guns rise to the top and claim their place in the lineup?

There are certainly a lot of questions to be answered in the near future, but the long-term outlook of the franchise looks to be quite promising. Stars fans have a lot to be excited about. Stay tuned, Nashville Predators Week begins tomorrow as we save your Minnesota Wild for the end, and the start of the preseason.