The Dallas Stars were in playoff contention for much of the year, leading up to the trade deadline, but after shedding some veterans, they stumbled late, and five straight losses to end the season made it five consecutive seasons out of the playoffs. Off-Season Game Plan looks at a Stars team that has changed its General Manager, is still looking for a coach, and will be aiming for a new look going forward. By hiring Jim Nill out of the Detroit Red Wings organization, to replace Joe Nieuwendyk, the Stars are charting a new course. Nill needs to find a replacement behind the bench for Glen Gulutzan and there are many options. Lindy Ruff, Alain Vigneault, Tom Renney and perhaps Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett are all experienced choices while Texas Stars coach Willie Desjardins and Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill could get consideration as well. Coming from Detroit, Nill is likely to favour a puck possession game that has been the cornerstone of Detroits success and while its not easy to duplicate when you dont have Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg, the Stars have some skill up front, but can probably use more if they are going to get back into the playoff picture. Theres no rush, as the Stars have a solid group of young players and Nill is expected to build through the draft. He told the Dallas Morning News, "After studying the organization and where we have our players in the minors or juniors or Europe, I think this draft offers the opportunity to set ourselves up for a long time going forward." Nill has had several opportunities to be a GM in the past, but he was finally swayed by Dallas, an organization that, while theyve missed the postseason for five straight years, has also improved their organizational depth, with a number of promising young players ready to contribute in the next couple years. The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- plus-minus, hits, blocked shots, giveaways, takeaways, penalty differential and faceoffs. (Stats are listed in this format: G-A-PTS, +/-, PIM, GP). Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be 70-plus, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013 regular season ratings with a 93.65. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com. GM/COACHJim Nill/Vacant Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Cap Hit Jamie Benn 73.07 41 12 21 33 -12 $5.25M Ray Whitney 73.07 32 11 18 29 +1 $4.5M Loui Eriksson 67.24 48 12 17 29 -9 $4.25M Cody Eakin 64.52 48 7 17 24 +1 $637K Antoine Roussel 62.73 39 7 7 14 +3 $613K Vernon Fiddler 61.57 46 4 13 17 +2 $1.8M Erik Cole 60.98 47 9 4 13 -6 $4.5M Ryan Garbutt 60.32 36 3 7 10 +1 $575K Reilly Smith 57.15 37 3 6 9 0 $900K Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Class 12-13 Cap Hit Eric Nystrom 59.46 48 7 4 11 -3 UFA $1.4M Tom Wandell 53.54 18 1 0 1 0 RFA $893K Stars Forwards Usage Chart from somekindofninja.com A protracted contract negotiation likely hampered Jamie Benn and the result was a season slightly less productive than the level he had already established to this point in his career. The 23-year-old is a great combination of size and skill and could be a point-per-game scorer with the right linemates. Hes the cornerstone piece as this franchise builds for the future. Ray Whitney turned 41 shortly after the regular season ended and, while he missed time with a broken foot, it was the second straight season in which he scored better than 0.90 points per game (29 points in 32 games). Since 1990-1991, Adam Oates is the only other player in the league to cross that 0.90 points per game threshold twice after turning 38-years-old. Hes also had very strong possession numbers in those seasons. As such, the Stars should feel comfortable enough that Whitney can provide offence again next season. A staple on most underrated lists for several seasons, Loui Erikssons production dipped (29 points in 48 games) last year after three straight seasons with at least 70 points, so he may be more properly rated now. Nevertheless, hes a skilled forward who plays a strong defensive game as well so, even coming off a down season, the 27-year-old remains a central figure on one of Dallas scoring lines. Acquired from Washington for Mike Ribeiro, 22-year-old Cody Eakin had a solid first season with the Stars, the speedy forward providing perhaps a little more offence than expected at this stage of his career. Eakin could potentially work his way onto a scoring line and is already a reliable contributor in the Stars top nine. He didnt play a lot (9:24 per game), but agitator Antoine Roussel was more productive than expected, based on 36 points in 146 career AHL games. There was some serious luck involved, the kind of which isnt likely to be duplicated, but there can still be room in a fourth-line role for a guy who can get under the skin of opponents. Checking forward Vernon Fiddler takes a beating in the possession game, but also takes the hardest minutes, starting most of his shifts in the defensive zone and facing quality opposition. Put into a more significant role for the final month, he tallied 11 points in 13 games, which was a significant departure from his previous scoring (six points in the first 33 games), but it might suggest that, with the right linemates, Fiddler can chip in some offence from the third line. The Stars surely hoped that they would get more production out of power forward Erik Cole, who didnt record an even-strength assist in 28 games with Dallas despite playing nearly 17 minutes per game. A new regime may investigate sending Cole back to the Eastern Conference, where hes been more productive but, since hes one year removed from a 35-goal season, it would also be reasonable to give him another shot in a top six role. A hard-working energy winger, Ryan Garbutt has traveled an unlikely path to the NHL, through Brown University, the Central Hockey League, ECHL and a couple of AHL stops, but the 27-year-old played all of his games in Dallas last year. Hes on a very reasonable one-way deal, but his fate will be determined by the new regime. Its that way for all players, but especially those on the fringe of the roster. Reilly Smith scored 58 goals in his last two collegiate seasons, yet only finished with three goals in 37 games for the Stars. There is still reason to hope that he can be an offensive contributor, and despite his lack of points, had good possession stats. After 229 games with the Stars, Tom Wandells role has decreased, playing a career-low 8:27 per game in 2013, and he split last season between the AHL and NHL. With a number of forward prospects bucking for a spot, Wandell could be hard-pressed to stick around. Its certainly possible that a few Stars prospects will be pushing for jobs next season and that may be the best plan of attack, taking the top one or two from a group that includes Brett Ritchie, Alex Chiasson and Matt Fraser. Otherwise, there could be room for free agents like Nathan Horton, Ryane Clowe or Stephen Weiss, while Valtteri Filppula, who has a history with new GM Jim Nill from Detroit, could be a natural fit in a second-line centre role. Or maybe Brad Richards, if hes a compliance buyout in New York, would sign at a discount rate coming off a down season. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Cap Hit Alex Goligoski 72.88 47 3 24 27 +4 $4.6M Trevor Daley 67.66 44 4 9 13 +1 $3.3M Stephane Robidas 67.27 48 1 12 13 +2 $3.3M Brenden Dillon 65.85 48 3 5 8 +1 $900K Aaron Rome 62.42 27 0 5 5 -2 $1.5M Philip Larsen 61.26 32 2 3 5 -10 $1.025M Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Class 12-13 Cap Hit Jordie Benn 63.33 26 1 5 6 -4 UFA $525K Stars Defence Usage Chart from somekindofninja.com It may have gone largely unnoticed, but Alex Goligoski scored at a career-best rate (0.57 points per game) while playing more than 22 minutes per game. Goligoski doesnt play a physical game, but hes mobile and has strong possession skills. Steady and unspectacular, Trevor Daley has played more than 21 minutes per game for the last five seasons, averaging between 0.29 and 0.33 points per game in all five seasons while missing less than four games per season. At 36-year-old, Stephane Robidas remains a significant part of the Dallas blueline, playing more than 22 minutes for each of the last five seasons and routinely taking on the toughest defensive assignments. Robidas plays a hard-nosed game and, going into the final year of his deal, could be an interesting trade chip should the Stars want to get younger on the blueline. Brenden Dillon is coming off an impressive rookie season, one in which he started in a depth role, but quickly earned more ice time and more difficult matchups. Dillon has good size and isnt afraid to use it, ranking fifth among defencemen with 133 hits. Its taken parts of seven NHL seasons for Aaron Rome to accrue 201 career games and, after signing with the Stars as a free agent last summer, he struggled. Hes 29-years-old and has yet to emerge beyond a part-time role, so thats really the only fair expectation for him going forward. After making some progress in 2011-2012, Philip Larsen took a step back last season, playing fewer than 15 minutes per game while playing just two-thirds of the shortened schedule and yet he still had the worst plus-minus rating among Stars defencemen. Larsen is still just 23 and has mobility and puck skills that show potential, but he needs a strong season if hes going to hold off challenges from an increasingly deep pool of prospects. 6-foot-7 Jamie Oleksiak played 16 games for Dallas last season, his first as a pro, and seems like a good bet to make the jump next season, but the Stars have options from within their organization. Kevin Connauton and Cameron Gaunce were both acquired last season and have enough pro experience that either one could be called up to fill-in, while Joe Morrow, picked up from Pittsburgh in the Brenden Morrow trade, has more long-term potential. If the Stars wish to have a more immediate impact on the blueline, they could dabble in free agency, with steady vets like Ian White, Jordan Leopold, Ron Hainsey and Toni Lydman among those that would add stability and maybe give the Stars a little more time to be patient with their young defencemen. Returning Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Kari Lehtonen 71.42 36 15 14 3 2.66 .916 $5.9M Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class 12-13 Cap Hit Richard Bachman 50.02 13 6 5 0 3.25 .885 RFA $625K There are a dozen goalies that have played at least 150 games over the last three seasons and Kari Lehtonen ranks sixth among them with a .917 save percentage in that span. Hes a real asset for the Stars, so long as he stays healthy, and that has been less of a problem in Dallas than it was earlier in his career with Atlanta. When it comes to the backup spot, Richard Bachman has a .901 save percentage in 32 games (after a dismal .885 save percentage in 13 games in 2013), so hes okay, as a cost-effective option, but also easily replaceable if the Stars want someone more proven or someone that gives them a better chance on the nights that Lehtonen needs a break. Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Brett Ritchie RW Niagara (OHL) 41-35-76, +35, 53 GP Jamie Oleksiak D Texas (AHL) 6-27-33, +19, 59 GP Alex Chiasson RW Texas (AHL) 13-22-35, +3, 57 GP Radek Faksa C Kitchener (OHL) 9-22-31, -1, 39 GP Joe Morrow D Texas (AHL) 5-14-19, -4, 66 GP Ludwig Bystrom D Modo (SEL) 3-3-6, +7, 30 GP Matej Stransky RW Saskatoon (WHL) 40-45-85, +32, 72 GP Jack Campbell G Texas (AHL) 19-13-3, 2.65 GAA, .905 SV% Patrik Nemeth D Texas (AHL) 1-11-12, +11, 47 GP Kevin Connauton D Texas (AHL) 9-22-31, -10, 69 GP A 6-foot-4 power forward prospect who really came into his own playing alongside top Islanders prospect Ryan Strome in Niagara, Brett Ritchie finished the year in the American Hockey League, scoring four points in five regular season games then adding two points in nine playoff games. As the Stars get bigger and younger, Ritchie is a big piece of their future, but might be well-served to spend some time in the AHL to establish that he can score at the pro level. While Jamie Oleksiak did get a chance to play with Dallas last season (two points, minus-5 in 16 games), he was overmatched when it came to puck possession. Thats fine, hes a monstrous 20-year-old who skates very well and he was tremendous in the AHL as a first-year pro. Maybe he needs a little more seasoning, but its entirely possible that hes a part of the Dallas blueline next season and for many years to come. 22-year-old winger Alex Chiasson had a decent first pro season (13 G, 22 A, 57 GP) in the AHL before getting a call up to Dallas, where he burst onto the scene with six goals and seven points in seven games. Scoring on 46.2% of his shots could set up preposterous expectations, because he wont do that over a larger sample of games, but he has good size and skill, enough that he could potentially find his way to a scoring line in Dallas next season. A first-round pick last summer, Radek Faksa endured an injury-plagued 2012-2013 campaign. Hes only 19, so young enough to bounce back from it and continue to develop his offensive ability to combine with an already sound defensive approach. The 23rd overall pick in 2011, Joe Morrow was moved out of the Penguins organization fairly quickly, part way through his first pro season, so there are naturally some questions raised about whether his stock has fallen, but Morrow played better upon joining Texas in the AHL. He skates and handles the puck well, so he could be challenging for a spot in Dallas soon, maybe after another year (or most of it) of development. A second-round pick in 2012, Ludwig Bystrom has played 51 games in the Swedish Elite League over the last three years, which is quite a bit of time playing against men for a player who is still 18-years-old. Since the Stars have a decent crop of young defencemen already, theres no need to rush Bystrom and he can use the time to get stronger and round out his physical game. Taken 11th overall in 2010, Jack Campbell was a very highly-touted goaltending prospect, but his play since then has been entirely uneven. He has a .907 save percentage in 52 AHL games so far, which doesnt suggest that hes ready for the NHL, but hes 21, so maybe over the next couple of seasons, hell figure it out. A big stay-at-home defenceman, 21-year-old Patrik Nemeth came over to North America last season and played well enough to remain in consideration. He doesnt have a lot of offensive upside, but could fill a strictly defensive role. Drafted in the sixth round in 2011, Matej Stransky has scored 79 goals over the last two seasons in the WHL. He has good size to go with that skill, so if he can handle the adjustment to the pros, Stransky might turn into a nice value selection. Kevin Connauton was added in the Derek Roy trade and the 23-year-old is close to challenging for an NHL job after three years in the American Hockey League. He could be more physical and better without the puck, but he moves it well and had 11 points in 18 (regular season and playoff) games after he joined Texas. When the Stars decided to clear out some veterans last season, they bolstered their prospect list, so they still have some quality options in the pipeiline oustside of the group mentioned above. Forwards Alexander Guptill and Devin Shore are still in college, Cameron Gaunce and John Klingberg add to the defence pool and winger Matt Fraser has merely scored 70 goals in two AHL seasons. DRAFT10th - Bo Horvat, Max Domi, Hunter Shinkaruk.28th - Robert Hagg, Michael McCarron, J.T. Compher FREE AGENCYAccording to www.capgeek.com, the Stars have approximately $44.6M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 17 players. Check out my possible Stars lineup for next season on Cap Geek here. Needs: Two top six forwards, one top four defenceman.What I said the Stars needed last year: One top six forward, one top nine forward, depth forwards, one top pair defenceman.They added: Ray Whitney, Jaromir Jagr, Derek Roy, Brenden Dillon, Aaron Rome. TRADE MARKETErik Cole, Philip Larsen, Aaron Rome. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Black Friday Bulls Jerseys . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Bulls Jerseys Online . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. http://www.cheapbullsjerseys.net/ . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Wholesale Bulls Jerseys . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Womens Bulls Jerseys . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.NEW YORK -- Jason Kidd became one of the best by making others better. He turned around a longtime-losing franchise, guided another to a championship, and helped his last one to its first division title since the year he came into the NBA 19 years ago. Teammates loved him. The U.S. national team needed him. But he looked more burned out than brilliant in the final weeks of the season, and on Monday he decided to end one of the greatest careers for a point guard in league history. "My time in professional basketball has been an incredible journey, but one that must come to an end after 19 years," Kidd said in a statement released by the New York Knicks. "As I reflect on my time with the four teams I represented in the NBA, I look back fondly at every season and thank each and every one of my teammates and coaches that joined me on the court." Kidd won an NBA title and two Olympic gold medals, is second on the career list in assists and steals, and was a 10-time All-Star. But he missed 22 of his 25 shots in the post-season and was scoreless in his final 10 playoff games shortly after turning 40, and decided to walk away with two years and more than $6 million left on the deal he signed last summer. His retirement comes two days after fellow 40-year-old Grant Hill, with whom Kidd shared Rookie of the Year honours in 1995, announced his retirement. Kidd went on from there to have big impacts on every team he joined. He led the Nets to two NBA Finals in 2002-03, helped the Dallas Mavericks win the 2011 title, and was on the first Knicks team to reach the second round of the playoffs since 2000. He averaged 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.93 steals in a career that also included a stop in Phoenix. Kidd had numerous ways to make his mark on games, ranking third on the career list with 107 triple-doubles while finishing third all-time in 3-pointers made, despite being considered a poor outside shooter when he came into the league. Dirk Nowitzki, who played with Kidd on the Mavs title team, wrote on Twitter that Kidd was "one of the best point guards ever and one of the fiercest competitors I have ever played with." "Amazing career," Nowitzki wrote. "He always put the team and winning first. All the best to him in retirement." The Knicks signed Kidd away from Dallas last summer with a three-year deal, and he helped them flourish with a lineup that often featured two point guards. They won 54 games and their first Atlantic Division title since 1994, which was just before Kidd was drafted by Dallas with the No. 2 overall pick. "Jasons value to the Knicks and the National Basketball Association cannot be quantified by statistics alone," Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald said. "Everyone here in New York saw firsthand what a tremendous competitor he is and why Jason iss considered to be one of the best point guards, and leaders, the game has ever seen.dddddddddddd" He got off to a rocky start with the Knicks, arrested on a drunken-driving charge shortly after signing last July -- Kidd was also arrested on a domestic violence charge while playing with Phoenix in 2001 , acknowledging he struck his former wife -- but he turned out to be the leader the team sought. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 76 games for the Knicks but lost his likely Hall of Fame-bound game in the post-season. He missed all 17 shots across the final 10 games, seeing limited minutes in the last two games of the Knicks loss to Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Veteran leadership on and off the court was a huge factor for our team that recorded 54 victories and an Atlantic Division crown," coach Mike Woodson said. "Jason provided an incredible voice inside our locker room and I considered it an honour to say I coached him." Grunwald had said he expected Kidd to return, though Woodson said things could always change. Kidd becomes the second player on an aged Knicks roster to retire, following Rasheed Wallaces decision in April. Kurt Thomas, nearly six months older than Kidd, broke his foot late in the season, and his status is unclear. Kidd was a five-time selection to the All-NBA first team and was voted to the All-Defensive first or second team nine times. Phoenix traded him to New Jersey after his legal troubles, and he would go on to lead the Nets to their greatest NBA success. The 6-foot-4 guard is the teams career leader in most playoff categories. "Jason Kidd was the captain of the Nets during their most successful period in the NBA, and is considered the greatest player in the Nets NBA history. On behalf of the entire Brooklyn Nets organization, we congratulate him on his Hall of Fame career," general manager Billy King said. Along with his NBA greatness, Kidd had an undefeated career at the senior international level during an era when simply wearing a USA jersey no longer guaranteed victory. He helped the U.S. win gold in the 2000 and 08 Olympics, along with FIBA Americas titles in 1999, 2003 and 07. The Americans didnt win any of the three major international events without him during that time. Respected around the league, Kidd won the NBAs sportsmanship award this season, becoming the first player to win it in consecutive seasons. Commissioner David Stern said that was equally important as the way Kidd played, saying Kidd "embodied the ideals of team sports." "On behalf of the NBA family and basketball fans worldwide, I want to thank Jason for all he has done for the NBA and the sport of basketball, and hope he will continue to help us grow the game," Stern said. "We wish him and his family all the best." Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Cheap NFL Jerseys Throwback Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Hoodies Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '