Dallas Stars' bottom six forward group already looks like a mess
Photo credit: TSN
The Dallas Stars may be built to contend at the top of their lineup, but when you break down the bottom six, it feels like chaos.
Nathan Bastian's signing earlier this week has only added more confusion to a forward group that already looked overcrowded.
Dallas brought back Radek Faksa after a season in St. Louis, with the expectation he would reclaim his familiar spot as a fourth-line centre.
Sam Steel, Oskar Back, and Colin Blackwell were also lined up as options after each re-signed at different points last year. That rotation seemed like enough.
Instead, the addition of Bastian creates a five-for-three squeeze on the fourth line. Someone will inevitably be forced up the lineup, but who can deliver on a third line that desperately needs production?
Dallas Stars' lack of scoring depth puts pressure on aging veterans
The third line is shaky as it stands. Jamie Benn is coming off a brutal playoff stretch where his scoring dried up completely. If he doesn't rebound, Dallas will be forced to lean on Steel, who managed only six goals last season.
Evgenii Dadonov's departure to New Jersey is even more glaring, considering he put up 20 goals in the same role a year ago.
That puts massive weight on the Stars' top-six forwards. Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin are still skilled but no longer consistent point-per-game threats.
«Dallas can't expect to win with only the first line producing,» one analyst told The Hockey News. A frustrated fan added, «The bottom six looks like nothing but fourth-liners shuffled around.»
I believe Jim Nill has built a Cup-caliber core, but the lack of clarity in the bottom six could haunt them when the games matter most.
If they don't get unexpected scoring from this group, the Stars' playoff hopes will lean too heavily on their top line.
