The Dallas Stars have a problem.
Yes, that’s a strange way to start a story after a 4-0 Stars win over the Kings, Scott Wedgewood’s first shutout of the season. But it was the other end of things that prompted the first sentence.
To be fair, it’s a good problem.
The Stars’ top line was dominant. The scoring distribution chart below shows it, but the centerman went on a hat-trick watch before the first intermission and Jason Robertson joined him soon after in the multi-point department for the evening. Joe Pavelski had an assist and barely missed out on scoring a goal in the third period.
There you have it. “Stars’ top line dominates a game,” a headline that has become commonplace for the better part of the past three seasons. Except this time, it’s referring to a slightly different unit than the one fans have grown accustomed to.
Tyler Seguin has moved up to anchor Robertson and Pavelski since Roope Hintz went out with an injury Jan. 8 against the Florida Panthers. In the six games since, Seguin has eight points, including five goals. His elevation has created a void lower in the lineup, but for Seguin himself, these games have been great. Stats aside, it’s the best stretch of hockey Seguin has played this season, some of the best he’s played in years.
Hintz didn’t accompany the Stars on their three-game West Coast trip but has been skating in Dallas and progressing well. By all accounts, he’s nearing a return. Before we get to the conundrum, which you’ve likely caught on by now, let’s discuss a few things.
Linemates matter. It seems like an obvious statement but often gets forgotten in player evaluation. The two greatest examples of this for the Stars are Seguin and Jamie Benn. The faces of the old Stars core have had resurgent seasons to varying degrees, and there are many reasons for that.
Benn’s pairing with Wyatt Johnston and the revolving third member of Ty Dellandrea and Mason Marchment has been huge, as has been the opportunity to play with Robertson, Hintz, Pavelski and Miro Heiskanen on the top power-play unit. Seguin started the season hot, with his only three-point night besides his game Thursday in Los Angeles coming in the season opener in Nashville. When his pairing with Mason Marchment was buzzing, so was Seguin. Dellandrea was initially part of that equation, but the absence of an impactful third member not only hurt the Stars but also hurt the other two members of the line. Robertson, Hintz and Pavelski are all great players, but the line is so great because of how well they complement each other.
Secondly, Hintz is clearly the best centerman on the Stars. Heck, he’s the best overall forward and probably the best player not named Heiskanen. His absence has been glaringly obvious the past two weeks. Again, it seems like a relatively obvious statement (votes for Robertson are also legitimate) but feels important to make clear before we dive into this Stars problem.
Here’s what coach Pete DeBoer now has on his hands. The easy thing to do when Hintz is ready to play is plug him back in between Robertson and Pavelski. Nobody will question the move; it’s arguably the right thing to do. The Stars’ top line with Hintz in the middle isn’t just the top line on the team; it’s one of the best in hockey in the world.
If Hintz goes back to the top line, the spotlight now turns to Seguin. Before his elevation, Seguin was left trying to figure things out with Dellandrea and a rotation of Fredrick Olofsson and Joel Kiviranta. Last month, DeBoer put the onus on Seguin.
“Tyler’s got to grab a line and make other people better,” DeBoer said. “He’s that type of player. He has that ability.”
What if he doesn’t, though? That’s not a slight on Seguin; Injuries and age are real factors. Clearly, as the past two weeks show, Seguin is still a capable top-six player on a contending team. But what if he needs those elite players around him to be at his best? What if the player who fits the picture DeBoer painted in those comments last month is actually Hintz?
“We’ll see what happens when we get to that situation,” DeBoer said on Seguin’s play translating to other linemates upon Hintz’s return. “But this should be — I think he was waiting for a stretch like this. I think he deserves a stretch like this. I think he worked hard for it. He’s finally getting rewarded.”
The Stars’ lack of that sixth piece in the top six will be a limiting factor regardless. It would be surprising if the pairing of Benn and Johnston were split up. They’ve had a mutually beneficial relationship and fit each other’s speed and game well. Marchment would likely serve as the second-line left winger. Then, it’s back to the same question that has plagued the Stars all season: What about the right winger on the second line?
The obsession of still trying to figure out Denis Gurianov is something that occurs more outside the organization than within it. Gurianov has had ample opportunities with numerous players and coaches and has failed to live up to his end of the bargain. If the Stars opted to shake up the top line, it would be to cater to Seguin and maximize his ability. Seguin has shown to be a player at least worth considering that sort of seismic move; Gurianov hasn’t. However, because of the lack of resources available, the Russian winger would likely get a look, especially given his history with Hintz years ago.
Should the Stars explore keeping Seguin at the top line, what could the lineup look like? Here is a potential look at a top nine:
Robertson — Seguin — Pavelski
Marchment — Hintz — Gurianov
Benn — Johnston — Dellandrea
If Gurianov, who played on the fourth line in Thursday’s win, continues to falter, swapping him with Dellandrea could be an option. To think that being paired with Hintz will serve as some sort of anecdote for Gurianov is a long shot, at best, but it’s one the Stars could choose to explore.
DeBoer could also look to play some guys out of position, something he’s done recently, even if reluctantly. Olofsson has shown some spark and could be an option on the left side of the second line, with Marchment switching over to the right side of Hintz. Marchment could also return to the third line with Benn and Johnston, leaving Hintz to figure things out with Olofsson and Dellandrea, something Seguin was tasked with before Hintz’s injury.
Seguin’s play in recent games has opened the conversation, but the most likely scenario is that Hintz reclaims his spot on the top line when healthy. The hope would be Seguin could ride his confidence from his success and take that to whoever he’s placed with next. As Seguin’s last six games have shown, he has more than a little something left in the tank. It’s a good problem for the Stars to consider.
Top line tallies
Seguin’s first goal was one that probably should have been stopped, but it was a strong shot that leaked over the goal line. Its impressiveness was in the leadup, with Robertson making a strong play along the boards to start the sequence.
And Pavelski making a great pass to Seguin to feed him ahead.
Seguin’s second goal was vintage Seguin. The Stars had the puck in the offensive zone and Seguin collected it and put a pretty shot on net.
Robertson’s goal later in the first period again highlighted his persistence. He took the feed from Seguin behind the net and tried for a wraparound goal. When it didn’t connect, he tried again and was not denied.
The secondary assist Heiskanen got on Robertson’s goal gave him 37 points this season, a career high.
Scoring lineup
1G1A (Robertson) — 2G1A (Seguin) — 1A (Pavelsky)
1A (Benn) — 1A (Johnston) — Dellandrea
Marchment — Glendening — Kiviranta
Olofsson — Faksa — Gurianov
1A (Heiskanen) — Miller
1G (Lindell) — Hakanpaa
Suter — Hanley
1.00 save percentage (Wedgewood)
Nils Lundkvist was a healthy scratch.
Three plays
These three non-scoring plays stood out.
Wedge-wall
Wedgewood was an absolute wall against the Kings. The Stars provided him with goal support, but this wasn’t a case of cruising to a shutout. Wedgewood made some monster saves in the third period, but the highlight of his night likely was his work on a Kings power play in the second period, including this save:
Heiskanen for Vezina
As part of his brilliant game overall, Heiskanen helped Wedgewood preserve the shutout in the third period.
Robertson’s reading
The Stars got in some trouble on the power play as the Kings tried to make something happen short-handed. First, Heiskanen did a good job to break up the threat and then Robertson read the play well moments later to get the puck for the Stars. Robertson’s hockey IQ is constantly on display when he’s on the ice, in big moments and small.
(Photo of Tyler Seguin shooting and scoring in the first period Thursday: Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
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