It’s Already Been a Busy Off-Season For the Dallas Stars
July 12, 2010 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
The Dallas Stars, last season, were a disappointing 12th in the Western Conference. Inconsistency plagued the team as, late in the year, their playoff dreams faded fast.
When a team misses the playoffs, the main job for the GM is to bring in players or coaches that will help the team have a better shot at making the playoffs next season. What makes it worse for Dallas is they have very limited cap room, and were expected to be fairly silent during free agency.
Surprisingly, the Stars signed ex-Blackahawk Adam Burish to a $1.15 million contract as well as Andrew Raycroft to a $700,000 contract. The signings brought the Stars closer to the magic numer of $45 million, leaving people to wonder if there is anymore wiggle room for restricted free agents Nicklas Grossman, Matt Niskanen, and James Neal.
The signing of Raycroft is a very smart one. His contract is structured so he could either be sent to the AHL and be paid only $105,000 instead of the $750,000 if he’s in the NHL. That’s only in the first year though.
With Marty Turco testing free agency, the Stars’ number one goaltender is Kari Lehtonen. Raycroft has the chance to beat out Brent Hrahn for the back job behind Lehtonen, but if he doesn’t he’ll be a fine fit in the minors.
Already the Stars are making some moves that, their GM, Joe Nieuwendyk, makes them “tough to play against.” Signing Burish is a great step in achieving that.
Burish doesn’t get you a lot of points, but he brings a lot of energy and toughness to the ice. He’s not afraid to come up with a huge check, or even drop the gloves.
Many questions still linger over what will be the outcome of the restricted free agents, Grossman, Niskanen, and Neal .
Neal has a very good chance of receiving an offer sheet. Nieuwendyk said he and his team are prepared if it comes to that. The Stars would be able to match any offer sheet, but who’s to say the offer becomes too expensive for the Stars to match?
“We’re not afraid of an offer sheet,” Nieuwendyk said. “I think that threat has been there. We can’t conduct how we want to put the team together in the fear of an offer sheet being thrown at us. James Neal we fully anticipate will be on our team and that’s what we’re looking at.”
Those restricted free agents will remain the main component of the Stars’ off-season signings. They’ve managed to surprise a lot of people by singing a few free agents, but I am almost positive it stops with them. The cap room has to be tightening.
By trying to build a “tougher” team, the Stars and their staff are attempting to bring some hope into the franchise and its fans. It’ll be interesting to see if it works out as planned next season.
This post is sponsored by Markland-Hanley
Founded by Dale Markland and Tara Hanley, Markland Hanley is a Texas based law firm with a national practice.
Mike Modano Retirement Would Be Fitting
July 12, 2010 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Retiring Now Would Be A Fitting End to an Already Great Career
Long-time Dallas Star, Mike Modano, was very “disappointed” that he won’t be in Dallas anymore, the franchise he played for his entire career. Dallas thought it was time to move on, and for Modano to move on as well.
But to where?
In recent interviews, after the Stars announced they would not be resigning Modano, Modano says that he still wants and thinks he can play for a NHL team. The 40 year old center isn’t getting any younger, casting doubt on whether he can take the brutality of another full regular season.
My advice for the man would be to retire. Modano is already an American hockey legend. He holds records for the most goals scored by an American-born player(557), most points by an American-born player(1,359), most playoff points by an American-born player in a career(145), and the most game played by an American-born forward(1,459).
Modano also holds 15 franchise records. They include games played, power play goals, goals, shorthanded goals, assists, even strength goals, points, game-winning goals, overtime goals, power play assists, penalty shots attempted, shots, goals in a season by a center, highest plus/minus in a season, and most hat tricks in a season.
Retiring now would cement Modano’s already huge reputation and the amount of respect he has with many NHL fans around the world, and it would also prevent him from somewhat losing some of that respect and reputation by playing a few more, non-productive seasons.
Everyone loved Ken Griffey, but the last few years were painful to watch, and it made many people happy that he choose to retire, knowing he couldn’t play at this level anymore. Modano can save himself from those last few years by retiring now. It would not be a bitter retirement. He’d have all the love and praise from the franchise he loves and that loves him so much as well.
If Modano decides not to retire, there is no doubt he will get offers. As I am writing this, Espndallas.com reports Modano was contacted by the Detroit Red Wings as well as some other teams. All is still up in the air, but there are some teams that I think Modano could most likely head to.
One of those teams being the St. Louis Blues. Former Stars GM Doug Armstrong is in the St. Louis organization. It’s not uncommon for players to head somewhere a former coach, or in this case, GM is. St. Luis, a young up-and-coming team, would highly benefit from a veteran like Modano.
Another intriguing team would be Phoenix. Where former Stars’s coach Dave Tippett is. It’s another case of going where a former coach or GM is.
Phoenix surprised many teams and fans last postseason, playing extremely well against the Red Wings, almost beating the Wings. The team defiantly has talent. Could Modano want another shot at a Stanley Cup with a different team. His knowledge would defiantly help the young players on Phoenix.
Other than that it’s fair game, and totally in the hands of Modano.
This post is sponsored by Markland-Hanley
Founded by Dale Markland and Tara Hanley, Markland Hanley is a Texas based law firm with a national practice.
Mike Modano done as a Dallas Stars
June 29, 2010 by Matt Lawrence · Leave a Comment
1310 the ticket just reported that Mike Modano will not be playing as a Dallas Star next season, if he decides not to retire. The talk in Dallas has been that Mike Modano will be retiring this offseason. Personally, I hope he retires instead of going the route of many other athletes, you know playing for a team in the twilight of their career only to disappoint. However, whatever Mike Modano decides he will always be remembered for Stars Stanley Cup win and being the best American born player in the NHL. It is no surprise that the Dallas Stars are ready to move on, Modano’s production has dropped significantly over the past three seasons. He has actually finished the season in the minus for all 3. Whether Mike Modano retires will no doubt be a difficult decision for the long time Dallas Star, however whatever he decides it was a pleasure to watch him play and set some of the following records.
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Dellas Round Up: Rangers Still on Top | Offseason: Cowboys Mavs Stars
May 27, 2010 by Matt Lawrence · Leave a Comment
World Cup betting players in Dallas won’t find anyone from FC Dallas in the American team, but there is plenty of action in and around the city that it won’t be a big deal for most people.
The Rangers sit atop the AL West by two games over Oakland, but they didn’t have the best week, dropping two of three in Chicago against the Cubs in interleague play, and then they split a two-game set in Kansas City. However, the big news comes off the field, where the Rangers will be funded in the interim by Major League Baseball until the team’s bankruptcy case concludes. On the field, it doesn’t get any easier for the Rangers as they travel to Minnesota for a three-game set against the Central-leading Twins, then they head to Chicago again, this time to face the White Sox.
The Cowboys’ NFL betting odds will be based on their receivers’ ability to provide targets for Tony Romo, and Roy Williams is already hinting at a fierce competition in the group. However, the Cowboys took a step backwards as rookie Dez Bryant left OTAs (Organized Team Activities) with stomach problems, although he should be fine in the long term. Bryant has already battled a hip pointer, and his life in Dallas is off to a rocky start.
Dirk Nowitzki would obviously make Germany his World Cup Group D betting choice, but will he choose to stay with the only team he has ever played for? The former MVP surprisingly opted out of his contract for next season, making an already-historic free-agent class even better. The odds are very good that Nowitzki will stay in Dallas, and given his production, he’s earned the right to see what he can get on the market before a new CBA is installed. In other news, Mark Cuban was fined $100,000 for letting everyone in on the worst-kept secret in basketball: owners are interested in LeBron James.
Dallas Stars
The Stars are slated to pick 11th in the NHL draft, which will take place on June 25-26 in Los Angeles, and most seem to think that they’ll aim to take defenseman Derek Forbort, a massive player who laces them up for the US Developmental Team. Forbort is 6’4” and almost 200 pounds, but at 18 years old, he’s still has yet to fill out, really. The Stars weren’t a great defensive team last year, and they’ll be looking to shore up that part of the team first. If Forbort is gone, the play could be Nino Niederreiter, a Swiss winger who plays in Portland, or Stanislav Galiev, a Russian winger who skates for Moncton. But above all, the Stars are just looking for a small boost to their online betting odds for next season.
Hello Bankruptcy, Goodbye Tom Hicks
May 24, 2010 by Matt Lawrence · Leave a Comment
The Texas Rangers can finally start to close the book on the Tom Hicks era of baseball in the metroplex. The inability of Tom Hicks and his team to reach an agreement with their lenders forced MLB to move in and force the team into bankruptcy protection. None the less progress is finally being made and the new ownership is supposed to step in by the middle of the summer. The only positive to come out of this is the fact that the Rangers are no longer owned by Tom Hicks.
If it takes a Texas Rangers Bankruptcy to force this sale and get the team of a meager budget that threatens to handcuff the team again this season at the trade deadline I am all for it. The team may still be handcuffed at the trade deadline because of the Rangers Bankruptcy, but at least we know we won’t be losing anymore first round draft picks this summer because Tom Hicks is a financial doucher.
The only reason that I am not more excited about the teams sale is because of after watching how messy this got before finally a Texas Rangers Bankruptcy forced the sale of the team is knowing that the Dallas Stars are about to go through the same thing. Hopefully the Hicks and his band of village idiots will be able to learn something from this process, but I doubt it because no matter what they say, it will always be about the bottom line not the team.
Rangers Holding Onto Top Spot; Mavs, Stars Going Through Motions
May 24, 2010 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Take a break from those Champions League betting odds for a minute, and check out how Dallas’ teams are doing right now as only one is in season, while the other two are looking at their offseason options.
The Rangers rebounded from a sweep in Toronto to take both of their games at home against the Los Angeles Angels, and they took the first game of their two-game set with Baltimore on Wednesday. Nelson Cruz led the way with nine RBIs over the last week, while Vladdy Guerrero added a homer and six RBIs. Starters C.J. Wilson and Rich Harden struggled over the week, but Naftali Feliz converted both of his save opportunities.
The next week brings a visit from the Chicago Cubs, and MLB baseball betting odds should favor the Rangers at home, where they were 16-7 as of Thursday. Then, the Rangers will head to Kansas City for a two-game set with the lowly Royals.
The Mavericks are still trying to figure out if they have cap room this year, as Dirk Nowitzki has a player option for $21.5 million this year. It’s highly unlikely that the Mavericks will be parting ways with their star, who has spent all 12 of his NBA seasons in Dallas, but their major mission would be to get rid of Erick Dampier, who is slated to make $13.1 million next season, which is outlandish. Caron Butler’s contract is also expiring like Dampier’s after next year, but the thing with him is, he can be productive. The Mavericks may try and re-sign Brendan Haywood, who took Dampier’s job after he was traded from Washington with Butler. The Mavericks likely won’t be a major player in this year’s free-agent bonanza, but they should have plenty of cap space for 2011, when there will be an impressive list of players on the market.
Dallas Stars
NHL betting players saw Dallas decline to offer another contract to long-time goalie Marty Turco, who will be looking for a new team after eight years with the franchise, and the Stars instead signed Kari Lehtonen to a $10.65 million contract over four years. The Stars picked Lehtonen up from Atlanta in February, and even though he played just 12 games in Dallas, it was enough to make him the No.1 guy going forward. Lehtonen is 26 years old, so he’s heading into the prime of his career, and he has career numbers of a 2.87 GAA, and a .912 save percentage. Those are decent numbers when you consider that he played behind some pretty awful defenses in Atlanta. With Lehtonen between the pipes, the Stars could be a solid betting darkhorse next season.
Dallas Stars New Ownership
April 5, 2010 by Matt Lawrence · Leave a Comment
We all know that Tom Hicks is a broke ass, and needs to unload the Texas Rangers, but a rumor that he needs to sell the Stars too has been floating around. This rumor has become a little more substantial now that ownership groups are starting to surface. One of these groups is led by Mike Modano, Brett Hull, and the “Great One” Wayne Gretzky. However, there is no guarantee that these 3 Hall of Famers / Future Hall of Famers will get the team, because there are others. Also if the sale of the Stars goes anything like the Texas Rangers don’t hold your breath because it may take a while to please all of Tom Hicks creditors.
Here are some quotes from the Dallas Observer Blog Post: Wayne Gretzky Interested in Buying Your Dallas Stars
“It’s nothing formal, as if they’re about to sign on the dotted line,” says one source. “But it’s gone past kicking the tires. This could happen.”
It is not clear who else is involved in the group’s bid and it’s too early in the process to have developed an ownership structure. It is certain, however, that the Gretzky group would keep the Stars in Dallas.
The proceedings won’t begin in earnest until Hicks’ sale of the Texas Rangers is completed. Incoming Rangers’ owner Chuck Greenberg said last week he expects the deal to be finalized the week of April 19.
Dallas Sports Roundup: Mavericks – Stars – Rangers
April 2, 2010 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Dallas Round-Up – Mavs headed for playoffs, Stars headed home; Rangers try to make a deal
Even though Final Four odds are hot right now, there isn’t much going on in Dallas in the world of college basketball, so let’s take a look at the pro teams who are in different phases of their season right now.
The Mavericks are on the cusp of winning the Southwest division for the first time in three years, and they’re currently in second place in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers, although they still have to hold off Utah, Phoenix and Denver. After Thursday’s game against Orlando, the Mavericks then host Oklahoma City on Saturday before getting three days off prior to next Wednesday’s game against Memphis. Most people have been pointing to either Dallas or Denver to push the Lakers in most sportsbooks, but the Mavericks probably have the edge right now as the Nuggets are dealing with some off-court stuff, like the cancer treatment of coach George Karl, as well as injuries.
Dallas Stars
The Stars have one foot on the golf course already, which means a few of them will be curious about Tiger Woods Masters odds. While the Stars aren’t officially eliminated yet, they were seven points behind eighth-place Colorado with five games left. They need to win both home games against Edmonton and Chicago this week, along with their trip to St. Louis, but they’ll also need the Avalanche to slip up. The Blues are a point ahead of the Stars, so that game is crucial, and they’re tied on points with Anaheim, who they will host next Thursday night. They’ll also have a close eye on Friday night’s game between Colorado and Calgary, as the Flames trail the Avalanche by two points.
The Rangers are 9-17, which is good for last place in the Cactus League, but most of the news surrounding the team has to do with off-field stuff. First there was the Ron Washington scandal, now the Rangers don’t think that Ian Kinsler is going to be in the Opening Day lineup because of an ankle injury, which is disappointing after the second baseman broke out last season. Finally, the Rangers look to have come up short on a deal to acquire Mike Lowell from Boston, as the 36-year-old third baseman is due to make $12.5 million this season, and the Rangers want the Red Sox to incur some of that salary, but the Red Sox aren’t budging. There is still plenty of time to make a deal, but there are plenty of questions about this deal, namely, Lowell’s age and injury history. Will he boost the Rangers’ MLB betting odds? Stay tuned.
Dallas Update: Mavericks – Stars – Texas Rangers
February 19, 2010 by Matt Lawrence · Leave a Comment
Dallas Mavericks (33-21, 1st in Southwest Division)
The Dallas Mavericks have been a sports betting enigma so far this season but they are hoping that a recent trade deadline acquisition will help right the ship. The Mavericks are just 8-10 in their last 18 games and their division lead has shortened to just one game in the Southwest.
The Mavericks made a move to find that consistent No. 2 scorer behind Dirk Nowitzki this week and that man is tabbed to be Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards. The Mavs had to part ways with Josh Howard but in turn they received a former All-Star in Butler and Brendan Haywood, who is all of the sudden a valuable addition now that Erick Dampier is hurt.
Overall, this team is still a big mixed bag but they did improve themselves. We’ll see if they can mesh down the stretch of the season and become a true playoff contender. At this point, fans are skeptical.
Dallas Stars (28-21-12, 4th in Pacific)
The Dallas Stars are on break right now as the Winter Olympic Hockey tournament takes place and the only topics where they have come up is NHL trade rumors.
The Stars would be on the outside of the playoffs looking in should they start today but the good news is that they are just one point out of it and just three points out of seventh.
The good news for Dallas is that eight of their first 11 home games will take place at home, where they have been dominant this year. They are 18-6-5 at home and have just two regulation losses there since the start of January.
If they want to make a serious push, now will be the time when the NHL is back.
Texas Rangers (Offseason)
Baseball betting tips are just around the corner as teams start to report shortly. This year, there is far more optimism for the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers went into last year with a pitiful pitching staff and a weak group of outfielders. Now the pitching is there and it’s the hitting that needs the focus.
New hitting coach and former Colorado Rockies manager, Clint Hurdle, is in charge. His first order of business will be to get the 2,633 swings and misses down to a more reasonable number and make the team more patient at the plate. The Rangers were the worst in both categories last year.
If they can improve on that, a playoff berth is not out of the question.
The Demise of Marty Turco
February 11, 2010 by Matt Lawrence · Leave a Comment
The Dallas Stars might be one step closer to fixing their goaltending problem after trading a draft pick and top prospect Vishnevskiy to the Atlanta Thrashers for net minder Karl Lehtonen. What does this mean for current Stars goalie Marty Turco? Well one thing is for sure this doesn’t help his future with the team, which has been in question since last season.
Lets take a look at the contracts and stats of the Dallas Stars Goalies so that we can get a clear picture of what the teams goaltending future will hold. The stat I am interested in is the Save Percentage, the reason for this is that goals against average is more of a team defense statistic.
Marty Turco Bio – Contract – Statistics
Age: 34
Height: 5-11
Weight: 189
Save Percentage:
06-07: .910
07-08: .909
08-09: .898
09-10: .911 season in progress
Marty Turco’s Future with the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars Goalie Marty Turco will be a free agent at the end of this season. He will receive 5.7 million dollars this year, and most fans do not think that he is worth it anymore. I defended Turco from the naysayers before, but can’t do it anymore. At his age he is on a slow decline, so prayers that Marty can return to the form he was in while setting the modern day goals against average will probably go unanswered. His stats have been on the decline since the 06-07 season and has also had his fair share of struggles in the post season.
My belief is that with the arrival of Karl Lehtonen, Joe Nieuwendyk and the Dallas Stars front office are actively shopping Turco before the trade deadline. A rumor that he was going to the Flyers has gone cold, but expect him to be traded before the deadline. And if Turco isn’t traded I don’t think he will be resigned unless he is willing to take a major cut in pay and playing time.
Karl Lehtonen – Contract – Statistics
Age: 26
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215
Save Percentage:
06-07: .912
07-08: .916
08-09: .911
09-10: N/A Back Injury
Karl Lehtonen’s Future with the Dallas Star
The Dallas Stars newly acquired goalie Karl Lehtonen is definitely positioned to be the Stars goalie moving forward. Out of the 3 goalies the Stars now have on the roster, Lehtonen is the only one that will be a restricted free agent after this season. Both Turco and Auld are unrestricted free agents at the end of this season. Lehtonen is owed 3 million for this season.
Lehtonen has posted better save percentages than Marty Turco since the 06-07 season, and has done it while playing for the Atlanta Thrashers who aren’t that good. The only knock on Karl Lehtonen is that he is injury prone. If he can play at the same level he did before his back surgery and stay healthy the Stars will vastly improve their current goaltending situation.
Alex Auld – Contract – Statistics
Age: 29
Height: 6-5
Weight: 221
Save Percentage:
06-07: .888 Florida Panthers
07-08: .919 Boston Bruins – .880 Phoenix Coyotes
08-09: .911 Ottawa Senators
09-10: .894
Alex Auld’s Future with the Dallas Stars
Journeyman goalie Alex Auld was signed for this season as an insurance policy in case Marty Turco couldn’t hack it this season. Auld posted good numbers with the Bruins and Senators, but those are two pretty salty squads.
Lehtonen has been given chances to take over the starting position this year, but has not done much to impress with his chances. I think that the Stars will probably let him walk after this season. He signed a one year contract for 1 million and will be an unrestricted free agent at the seasons end.
Conclusion
I would definitely recommend against buying a Turco jersey right now, it looks like he may not even end this season as a Dallas Star. I don’t know why you would, but I would also recommend against buying an Auld jersey as he has not done much to secure a spot for next season.
My hope is that the Stars will part ways with both Turco and Auld and make Lehtonen the starting goalie and bring up a goalie prospect as the Stars backup next season. However with Lehtonen’s injury history Auld or another journeyman / veteren goalie will probably be the backup next season.
Resources:
Defending Big D – Dallas Stars Hockey Blog
Yahoo! Sports – Player Statistics
Hockey Buzz – NHL Salaries
