Stars' Gamble on Tyler Seguin Paying Off In Spades, Goals

In Dallas, a hockey market that's untraditional to say the least, there will be a nightly offensive display during the NHL season that may be unmatched in the league. That display will be headlined by ringleader Tyler Seguin, with his tremendous cast of supporting characters. Seguin's story since his trade from the Boston Bruins embodies the team.

It seemed beat writers and columnists couldn't wait to hit send on their juicy story about Boston Bruins young center and 2010 second-overall pick Tyler Seguin. The moment he left Boston, the stories started to pour in, like droplets in a deluge of beer. After enough gossip and innuendo the reasons for Seguins trade became very clear. He didn't fit their so-called culture. He was immature. He drank too much, he partied too late, guards had to stand outside his hotel room to make sure he stayed in.

Seguin's character was dragged through the streets and his reputation was destroyed in the weeks following his departure from Boston. The narrative was easy to pick out: all that wasted talent.

Seguin felt burned. He was a part of a winning team, with contributions being felt all over the ice. Just because he wasn't filling the scoresheet, didn't mean he wasn't contributing and didn't mean the talent wasn't there. The change seemed to have worked wonders for Seguin.

"If I got a contract or a trade to come back here or asked, I don't think I would come back," Seguin told reporters on Nov. 6, 2013. "I think in the end you want to play where you are wanted. I have great relationships with our coach and the GM here, and I know how much they want me. It feels good to play here. I guess that is all I want to say on that."

On a more practical note, Boston didn't have time for a project player. Their window is open now. They don't have time to wait for Seguin to blossom. While they won their first cup with Seguin, the return they could get would ostensibly make them a better team in the present. At least that's what Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli was hoping he he pulled the trigger on the deal that sent Seguin to Dallas.

The narrative should (and will) be about how tremendous of a hockey player Tyler Seguin is. Of the 21 skaters that Seguin has played with for over 200 minutes, one has a higher shot attempt percentage when they are on the ice without Seguin, as opposed to with him-Michael Ryder, who played with Seguin his rookie year in Boston.

For Seguin, it's a fresh start. He topped over a point a game last season and took the Stars to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Maybe he struggled to adapt to the life of a professional athlete or maybe it just took a while for him to mture. Nobody knows the full story, not even Boston management. Regardless of any off-ice issues, this is a story of redemption, a story about producing at an elite pace and making all the players around you better. Dallas is going to be fortunate recipient of the that redemption.

Hockey was built in the 1990s in Texas. The NHL looked to southern expansion and Dallas, a big sports market, seemed like a strong destination. What followed was some highly talented, shut-down hockey teams that epitomized the trap-era of hockey. This team will be similar to those elite defensive teams—in the sense that they will be good at hockey—but different in the sense that it will look like the two teams are playing different sports at times.

Joining Seguin will be Jason Spezza, a top line center who asked for a trade out of Ottawa.

"He's an elite hockey player," Stars General Manager told Sportsnet, of Spezza. "He's over a point-per-game player in the NHL. They don't just fall out of the sky. He's in the prime of career. He's a big body, he's got great hands, great vision. He's going to help our power play. He's played in the Stanley Cup playoffs before and the Stanley Cup Final and the world championships. We're getting an elite player in the prime of his career."

Spezza, 31, has hovered around a point per game his entire NHL career. He's always been an elite offensive player, quietly performing the last few years on some mediocre Senators teams. Last year, he managed 66 points in 75 games, a year removed from missing a season due to injury.

The veteran center is excited at the opportunity to work with Seguin on refining his game, and giving the team depth down the middle.

"I think that's imperative to have a successful team is to have depth through the middle, and we should have that now," Spezza told KESN-FM 103.3."Tyler's a guy that's still young and still growing and still can even be a better player than he is. So if I can help him out and make him even better than he already is, then I think it could be pretty special for the team because he has skills that you can't teach."

Coming along with Spezza is Ales Hemsky, who put up 17 points in 20 games after coming to Ottawa and playing alongside Spezza. Hemsky, who will also be 31 when the puck drops in October, adds to the overall offensive skill of the Stars line up.

"Ales Hemsky is an accomplished, skilled winger who has great vision and finish," said Nill, in a press release. "His right-handed shot will complement our forward group nicely and provide balance throughout our lineup."

The two will join the already established talent in Jamie Benn, whose skill broke through in a big way this year.

It's too early to prognosticate or to be the oracle of the NHL, but the Stars are improved. How much? That will rely on myriad factors: injuries, chemistry, goaltending, etc. There's no sure thing in the NHL, but bet on the Stars being must-watch television on a nightly basis.