[#67] Colorado Irritants @ Dallas Stars, 7:30 PM CST (FS-SW)

[JesusNPucks]

Faksa was the only 30 point center who got votes for the Selke last season besides Sissons who came in 14th and only had 27 points.

I guess you and I simply value a 7th place Selke finish differently.

 

[Kcb12345]

Faksa isn't going to breakout like Couturier. He's just a defense-first 35 point C- which has more value to the team than the trade market.

Dickinson is a ........ 20 point player, with no specialties.

Dickinson is a great defensive player. No specialities lol what he's been fantastic for us all season as a defensive center. If given PP time he'd probably be a 30 point guy as well easily. I'd take Faksa anyday over him but you guys act like Dickinson is trash or not good defensively or something lol. Been a PK specialist for us all season too. I really don't get the hate he gets

 

[JesusNPucks]

Faksa is literally one year younger than Couturier. He's not going to magically become a 70 point player.

That would be pretty nice, though, wouldn't it? It's makes Couturier's breakout even more impressive.

The Stars currently only have two 30 pt centers that are good at defense: Seguin and Faksa. I would disagree with your statement that they are easy to replace, otherwise we would have four.

Ha ha ha! One of those is not like the other. I think part of my contentiousness about this is that I don't want the Stars to hang on to players too long, which tends to happen when a team overvalues their own players. Generally tired of mediocre hockey. Tonight's game was fun, but we've witnessed a lot of mediocre, defensive hockey this year and it's hard to watch.

However, I will say this: if the Stars make the playoffs, I could easily see Faksa's game shine. It's built for playoff hockey.

 

[Satan]

Dickinson is a great defensive player. No specialities lol what he's been fantastic for us all season as a defensive center. If given PP time he'd probably be a 30 point guy as well easily. I'd take Faksa anyday over him but you guys act like Dickinson is trash or not good defensively or something lol. Been a PK specialist for us all season too

Compare Dickinson's deployment to Faksa's this year and then increase his ice time by 5 mins. I'm not convinced Dickinson is ready for it. Faksa was muuuuuuuuch better than JD at JD's age.

Faksa had no powerplay time last year and had no issue cracking 30 points-Dickinson has trouble staying in the lineup.

 

[Satan]

That would be pretty nice, though, wouldn't it? It's makes Couturier's breakout even more impressive.


Ha ha ha! One of those is not like the other. I think part of my contentiousness about this is that I don't want the Stars to hang on to players too long, which tends to happen when a team overvalues their own players. Generally tired of mediocre hockey. Tonight's game was fun, but we've witnessed a lot of mediocre, defensive hockey this year and it's hard to watch.

However, I will say this: if the Stars make the playoffs, I could easily see Faksa's game shine. It's built for playoff hockey.

You don't think Seguin is good at defense?

 

[JesusNPucks]

You don't think Seguin is good at defense?

No, not disagreeing; he's very good at defense. I was laughing because Seguin is something like two tiers or more above Faksa in terms of talent. It was just funny how they were used together at that moment.

 

[LT]

JD shows that he's an okay hockey player every now and then.

RF is pretty dependable.

RF has a higher PPG than JD despite being tasked w/ a more defensive role.

It was mentioned a few times, but JD is significantly better at home than on the road. Not sure how much of that is just him compared to the whole team, though.

 

[Satan]

It was mentioned a few times, but JD is significantly better at home than on the road. Not sure how much of that is just him compared to the whole team, though.

could be a matchup thing? or a fluke??????

 

[LT]

I really hope not/kinda doubt it. Would be an unusual time. I think he was just trying to be very serious and professional

It’s a bit of a weird, change-of-subject question at what is clearly an emotional time. English isn’t his first language either, so it could’ve been misspoken simply.

Nothing to read into IMO.

 

[LT]

could be a matchup thing? or a fluke??????

Who knows, the whole team plays WAY better at home. He hasn’t produced enough to see a blatant trend in one direction.

On RF vs JD, I think they are upper-end (dare I say, elite?) 3 and 4 Cs respectively. Both can be moved all over the lineup, both are good defensively, both have some offensive talent. Faksa is just better at most aspects than JD, though, if you break it down into individual elements.

Who would take their spots if we trade one? Spezza’s old, Hintz is probably better suited for a top 6 wing position (or with any luck, the #2 center spot), there aren’t any other options.

I think the only time you consider trading one is if/when Dellandrea gets onto the roster. Assuming we have a 2C by then, now you have a logjam. Then maybe a decision has to be made. But that’s probably a good 2+ years off.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

I respect the hell out of the way your team plays, guys. It's not exciting, no question. But it's suffocating and I think if one of us "playoffs but not serious contenders" is going to make a run I think it's the Stars. I include the Blues in that group with the Stars, btw.

I also think Miro is the most underrated player, not rookie, but player, in the NHL. Teams simply don't score when he's out there. You can't pay enough for that. And he's roughly 16 years old. Crazy.

 

[Kcb12345]

I respect the hell out of the way your team plays, guys. It's not exciting, no question. But it's suffocating and I think if one of us "playoffs but not serious contenders" is going to make a run I think it's the Stars. I include the Blues in that group with the Stars, btw.

I also think Miro is the most underrated player, not rookie, but player, in the NHL. Teams simply don't score when he's out there. You can't pay enough for that. And he's roughly 16 years old. Crazy.

Can't tell if this is an attempted jinx or not but thanks

Also Miro is definitely very underrated, but he's not even the most underrated player on his own team imo (Esa Lindell)

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

Can't tell if this is an attempted jinx or not but thanks

Also Miro is definitely very underrated, but he's not even the most underrated player on his own team imo (Esa Lindell)

It wasn't! I come in peace. I just am irritated that my team has to face number 4 for the next 20 years. He's so good at suppressing the other team that it drives me crazy. I might get arrested on HF for saying it but I'd take him over Dahlin.

 

[LT]

I might get arrested on HF for saying it but I'd take him over Dahlin.

HF POLICE HERE, OPEN UP

 

[Zapp]

HF POLICE HERE, OPEN UP

 

[Kcb12345]

Heiskanen has really been dominant defensively these past couple of games and dangerous offensively. Nice to see again after a little rough stretch for him. Would love to see him start picking his goal scoring back up. With Klingberg though he seems to embrace a more defensive role for the most part but still gets his chances to jump up occasionally

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

HF POLICE HERE, OPEN UP

I swear I’ve had like 2 beers

 

[Magic Mittens]

Why are we comparing Dick and Faksa? Both are great defensively and have some offensive to there games. Both play physical also

I'm happy to have both on our team

 

[justanomade]

Ranger(Zucc)-fan here. This team is looking really dangerous lately. Exciting. The s(S)tars are really waking up.

 

[Webster]

Really playing well now, playoffs here we come

I think Zuccarello's presence in the locker room helps, he's a big addition when it comes to leadership.
Can still contribute off the ice despite the injury, it wouldn't surprise me if he travels with the team on the next road trip.

Sign him while you can, and things are looking good next season.

 

[Dynamite Time]

Now if the Stars can play like this consistently heading into the postseason with Zuccarello as well.

 

[Zapp]

Really playing well now, playoffs here we come

I think Zuccarello's presence in the locker room helps, he's a big addition when it comes to leadership.
Can still contribute off the ice despite the injury, it wouldn't surprise me if he travels with the team on the next road trip.

Sign him while you can, and things are looking good next season.

#IsItZuccTimeYet?


Cant wait.

 

[ElGuapo]

Now it's time to see if they are going to have their usual losing streak that matches their winning streak. If not, good times ahead.

 

[LT]

Hey, I'd love it if Faksa pulled a Couturier who, after four 30-point seasons, will end up with two straight 70-point seasons. For him, it happened around this time. Faksa would win the Selke every year if that happened. Or, he could wind up just another 30-point center who is good at defense. Those aren't that hard to come by.

I missed this - Couturier always had high-end offensive talent. For a long time, he was the bonafide #1 pick in his draft year. Even on draft day, he fell a bit. Philadelphia kind of shoe-horned him into a defensive role because that's what they needed and he was good at it. Once he got his offensive opportunity, he exploded and showed them they weren't using him fully the whole time. Couturier's offensive ability was never in doubt, it was just being stifled by his usage in Philadelphia.

I do think Faksa has some untapped offensive ability - he shows it every now and then (like his last goal and apparently in practice). But he almost certainly does not have the same ceiling as Couturier. I'd be very surprised if Faksa ever breaks 45-50 points. I could see him putting up decent-to-good 2nd line production, but I think his biggest benefit to the team is on the 3rd line.

 

[Frozen Failure]

I missed this - Couturier always had high-end offensive talent. For a long time, he was the bonafide #1 pick in his draft year. Even on draft day, he fell a bit. Philadelphia kind of shoe-horned him into a defensive role because that's what they needed and he was good at it. Once he got his offensive opportunity, he exploded and showed them they weren't using him fully the whole time. Couturier's offensive ability was never in doubt, it was just being stifled by his usage in Philadelphia.

I do think Faksa has some untapped offensive ability - he shows it every now and then (like his last goal and apparently in practice). But he almost certainly does not have the same ceiling as Couturier. I'd be very surprised if Faksa ever breaks 45-50 points. I could see him putting up decent-to-good 2nd line production, but I think his biggest benefit to the team is on the 3rd line.

Faksa is our Alex Steen and personally, Alex Steen is good enough at hockey. Just languished forever, but eventually put up 60.