Three more days.... three more days...three more days until training camp begins. Stories about the Stars are finally beginning to fly.
1.Joe Nieuwendyk has confirmed that Mike Ribeiro isn't going anywhere. Shocking, I know.
2.Jonathan Cheechoo is going to begin practicing as a winger with Ribeiro and Morrow.
3.James Neal and Matt Niskanen negotiations have picked up.
4.The sale is never going to ever happen.
Fortunately, we have plenty of time to discuss all of these topics and more. For my first post of the new season I want to introduce a feature that is done every off season for the Cowboys, and probably every football team in America. I want to take a weekly snapshot of how the 23 man roster could shake out. For the initial installment we'll have quite a bit more detail than usual due to the fact that we need to determine the main battles of camp.
We'll start with the forward group. This list at first isn't going to assume anything about where the players will fit in the lineup. This is just an initial projection of what the roster will look like. Also, for these purposes, I'm going to assume 100% that James Neal will get signed.
The guarantees (9): Brad Richards, Brenden Morrow. Mike Ribeiro, Steve Ott, James Neal, Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, Toby Petersen, and Adam Burish
Notes: Toby Petersen is versatile so the chances of him not making the roster are remote. Adam Burish comes from the Blackhawks system which is similar to what the Stars miserably attempted to implement last season. He could play a bigger role initially than one would normally anticipate from such an under the radar signing.
The “if things go horribly wrong they're in trouble” group (4): Tom Wandell, Brandon Segal, Krys Barch, and Brian Sutherby.
Notes: Tom Wandell is one of the top 12 forwards on this team. Unfortunately he missed a good deal of time, and he should still be able to go to the minor leagues if rusty. I don't anticipate that happening, but I wouldn't call it impossible. Krys Barch signed a two year deal so he should be ok unless something goes terribly wrong. Brian Sutherby should definitely be on the team, but Marc Crawford seems to not like him much so who knows.
The “if they aren't top 6 forwards how do you justify keeping them” group (2): Fabian Brunnstrom and Jonathan Cheechoo
Notes: At this point in his development Fabian Brunnstrom needs minutes. The Stars forward defense was dreadful last year, and if they want to seriously compete this year a player like Brunnstrom doesn't fit on lines geared towards defense. It sounds like Jonathan Cheechoo will begin camp skating with Morrow and Ribeiro. If he doesn't work out there you could see Brunnstrom with an opportunity. At this point it appears that they want to give Cheechoo a chance first so I will give him the nod as the final forward on my mock roster.
The defense is in remarkably similar shape. The main battle in the forward group is to see who the final forward will be. The defense primarily needs to have its 7th member decided. This isn't meant as a vote of confidence for the defense, but more of a consequence of the reality that the Stars are broke.
The guarantees (5): Trevor Daley, Stephane Robidas, Mark Fistric, Nicklas Grossman, and Matt Niskanen
Notes: The Stars aren't going to risk losing any of the younger guys yet, and Robidas/Daley are entrenched.
The “Skrastins” group (1): Karlis Skrastins
Notes: I could see Skrastins getting the bump if someone like Philip Larsen really impresses, but I doubt it. If Brad Lukowich outplays him the Stars could have a decision to make.
The “#7” group (2): Severin Blindenbacher and Brad Lukowich
Notes: This spot is Blindenbacher's to lose. I imagine he has a pretty good read on the situation or else I imagine he would have signed elsewhere. Even if Lukowich outperforms him in camp the Stars would be nuts to keep Lukowich over Blindenbacher. If Lukowich makes it I think he would have to unseat Skrastins.
The goalie situation has little question surrounding it. We know the starter is going to be Kari Lehtonen. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a major breakout season. I think the backup position is a toss up at this point. As of now, the goalies look like this.
Goalies (2): Kari Lehtonen, Andrew Raycroft/Brent Krahn
In summary:
Forwards (14): Richards, Morrow, Ribeiro, Ott, Benn, Neal, Burish, Segal, Eriksson, Wandell, Sutherby, Petersen, Barch, and Cheechoo
Defenders (7): Daley, Fistric, Grossman, Niskanen, Skrastins, Robidas, and Blindenbacher
Goalies (2): Lehtonen, Raycroft/Krahn
I will update this weekly as training camp goes along. Stay tuned for analysis of each major roster battle starting with the competition for the final forward spots on the roster.
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