Stars Open Season with Rematch Against Jets
WINNIPEG, MB – The Dallas Stars begin their 2023-24 NHL season Thursday with a challenging road matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, the team they defeated in six games during the second Round of last season’s playoffs.The Jets, who finished last season with a 52-26-4 record and 106 points, will host the stars at their home arena.
Dallas is looking to build on a strong 2022-23 campaign where they whent 22-4 and accumulated 116 points. This season marks the return of Glen gulutzan as head coach after seven years as an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers. Gulutzan previously served as head coach for Dallas (2011-13) and Calgary (2016-18), compiling a 146-125-23 record. He’s enjoyed a accomplished preseason run with the Stars, posting a 5-1-0 record.
“We certainly know who the top teams are,” Gulutzan said. “I like it right now, we’ve got to get war tested.”
The Stars will be without key players Jamie Benn, recovering from surgery to repair a collapsed lung, and Oskar Bäck, sidelined with a lower body injury, both placed on IR. This creates opportunities for newly signed free agent adams and top prospect Justin Hryckowian to possibly enter the lineup, having alternated on the fourth line during Wednesday’s practice.
gulutzan has been experimenting with his top lines, with the following combinations seen at practice: Sam Steel with Roope Hintz and Rantanen; colin blackwell with Duchene and Seguin; and Jason Robertson with Wyatt Johnston and Mavrik Bourque.
“You want them to do some of the dirty work,” Gulutzan explained, referring to players like Steel and blackwell. “Get pucks back, get to the net, be a bit of a retriever, keep things alive, and bring energy. But you have to have enough skill to do that in those top lines, and they both do.”
Robertson emphasized the importance of the early-season test. “It’s good to get right on the horse and play the Presidents’ trophy winner in their building,” he said. “It shoudl be a good test.”
