Turco must win, Turco must win!

by Richard S  Pollak, the Hockey Guy

Two years ago, Dallas Stars number #1 Goalie Marty Turco was named one of the 100 most influential men in ice hockey by the Hockey News. The revered grand daddy of all hockey publications, it was  the first hockey magazine that I ever got paid to write for. Today, Turco didn’t even make it as one of the top 5 goalies in the Pacific Division. In order for the Stars to go anywhere into the playoffs, this season ,  Turco must win. At 34, he is in the last year of his $5.7 million dollar per year, no trade contract ,that makes him the second highest paid player on the roster, eight highest paid goalie in the league  and a Free Agent at the end of the season.
Backup goaltender Alex Auld gave the Dallas Stars their best performance  of the season in their first victory as he stopped 21 of 23 saves against the previously unbeaten Calgary Flames in the Pacific Northwest. Auld looks to be the backup goaltender than the Stars did not have in their organization last year. Turco is now projected to play in 10-15 less  games this season because of Auld than last season.

If the Stars don’t get off to a fast start on the season under new coach Marc Crawford and his new system which asks the defensemen to be more aggressive charging up the ice and expects the forwards to come back more defensively on the transition, Turco is in for his most challenging season ever. It will take a while according the team standard line for the players to learn this new system. Turco is  meanwhile  playing for a new multi year, big bucks contract which should be enough incentive to succeed. So far he hasn’t shown  the fans that stopper mentality on the his  most crucial game challenge for Turco the shootout. It used to be a given that he would stop every opponent in an overtime shootout but has lost that edge in losing his first 2 shootouts this season .

The Stars look ahead to their first test of the season against an Eastern Conference powerhouse in the Boston Bruins. The Bruins boast  All-Stars:  Netminder Tim  Thomas,  6 ft – 8 inch Defenseman  Zdeno Charo plus  premiere Forwards Marc Savard, Patrice Begeron and Milan Lucic. The Bruins will be hosting my hometown Philly Flyers in the annual outdoor ice classic at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day.