Tom Szczerbowski – USA TODAY Sports
If the Dallas Stars are going to have a better season than they did in 2011-12, they will need an increase in scoring and another strong performance from goaltender Kari Lehtonen. The team dealt Mike Ribeiro to the Washington Capitals, traded Steve Ott to the Buffalo Sabres for Derek Roy and signed Jaromir Jagr in the off-season as they shape a roster that they hope to make the postseason with.
Jagr’s last great season came after the 2004-05 lockout and saw him score 54 goals while reaching 123 points with the New York Rangers. He had 54 points with the Philadelphia Flyers last season and was having a solid season for Kladno in the Czech league during the lockout so all indications are he has at least one good season left in the tank. Roy will likely still miss part of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery.
Signing Jamie Benn will be the first order of business once the lockout is officially ended. Benn has gotten better each season with the Stars and had 26 goals and 63 points last season. New addition Ray Whitney might also provide some clutch scoring, coming on the heels of a 77 point campaign with the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Stars will also look to some young talent to help out. Cody Eakin and Reilly Smith have been off to a great start with the Texas Stars of the AHL. Somewhere in this mix is a potent lineup that can help return the Stars to glory, it may just be a matter of time until they get it right.
