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Dallas Stars mid-season report card

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The Dallas Stars officially hit the midway point of the season last week, but with their bye week this feels like the informal halfway point.

On a whole, the Stars are in a good spot. They’ve become one of the best defensive teams in the NHL, look like a playoff team, and are starting to get contributions throughout the lineup.

But what about the individuals? Let’s grade out each player currently on the active roster.

Dan Hamhuis

Expectation: In the final year of his contract in Dallas, Dan Hamhuis was supposed to fill a veteran role and act as a safety net for a young defenseman. He would be a penalty killer and a player that Ken Hitchcock would trust late in close games. He would also likely work well with Julius Honka or Stephen Johns, allowing them to roam a bit more and create offensively.

Reality: Hamhuis has been a veteran in a shutdown role, he kills penalties, and when the game is close he racks up big minutes. The surprise? His defensive partner is Greg Pateryn, not Julius Honka or Stephen Johns. Since he and Pateryn were first paired together in late October that pairing has become the go-to shutdown unit for Hitchcock.

Best game: The easy answer would be Oct. 17 against the Arizona Coyotes. In that game Hamhuis had a goal and an assist, it’s his only multi-point game of the season, and the Stars won a very Hitchcock-esque 3-1 game.

But the better example of a Dan Hamhuis game would be a 3-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 21. It was a peak Hamhuis game, he led the team in time on ice and for the 23 minutes, 33 seconds he was deployed essentially nothing happened.

The Stars had a 26-15 edge in shot attempts while Hamhuis was on the ice, and most of the night he was starting in his own defensive zone. Hamhuis wasn’t driving the offense, he didn’t even register a shot, but he effectively helped Stall out the Canadiens. At the end of the game Hamhuis ended up plus-two because he was on the ice when Tyler Seguin scored into an empty net.

Grade: A: It might be far from exciting, but Hamhuis is playing some of the best hockey of his career. At 35 he’s setting himself up for a nice payday next season as an unrestricted free agent in a weaker class of UFA defensemen.

John Klingberg

Expectation: Klingberg was supposed to take another step under Ken Hitchcock and he was likely going to do so playing with Marc Methot. The offensive talent was always evident, but how Klingberg performed in this new system would determine how reliable he was as an overall defenseman.

Reality: It’s worked out pretty well so far. Klingberg leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 39 points (six goals, 33 assists) and is a top-pairing defender for a team that wins closely-contested defensive hockey games. He has added the penalty kill to his resume, but it’s still secondary to the power play where Klingberg now spends more than 90 seconds of each two-minute stretch on the ice.

Best game: The last game before the break was Klingberg’s best in a 5-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers. He had a goal and two assists, his third three-point game of the season, and did most of his work at even strength. It was a game that just oozed of confidence for Klingberg, and it was the type of game that brings up the question, “Should he be a Norris Trophy candidate?”

Grade: A: You can’t ask for much more. Some detractors will point at his turnovers, but the rewards have outweighed the risks this season and the Klingberg is slowly turning into a more complete defenseman. He probably won’t win the Norris because he doesn’t log enough minutes, and the outside perception that he’s not even the best defensive defenseman on his own team. He’ll likely still end up in the top-five of Norris voting and he’s playing a game that works best for the Stars.

Julius Honka

Expectation: This was supposed to be Julius Honka’s year. He was supposed to play a large role, became part of the top-six defenseman, and become a staple on the second power play. Sure, there were a glut of defensemen in training camp, but Honka was supposed to be the cream that rises to the top.

Reality: Honka hasn’t seized the role many thought he would and with Marc Methot coming back from injury he is likely headed back to a string of healthy scratches. When Honka plays he does a good job driving possession, but is terribly sheltered and isn’t trusted late in close games.

Best game: Honka scored his only goal of the season on Dec. 11 against the New York Rangers, a 2-1 shootout win for the Stars on a night that Ondrej Pavelec stole a point for the home team. Overall it was one of Honka’s best nights, even if he only played 12 minutes and 21 seconds.

Grade: C: Honka hasn’t been put in the best situation, but he also hasn’t taken command and forced the issue, proving that he should be in the lineup. Overall incomplete might be the best grade for Honka, but if we are sticking with a letter grade it has to be C.

Martin Hanzal

Expectation: When the Stars signed Martin Hanzal to a three-year contract on July 1 they were hoping for a shutdown center that could play against the other team’s top players on a nightly basis. He would kill penalties, take key face-offs, and while he probably wouldn’t play all 82 games, there was a hope that it would be a relatively healthy season.

Reality: Hanzal hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Five different times he’s dealt with injury and when he’s played there have been rare occasions where he’s actually at 100 percent. When he is at full-go, Hanzal is the player Hitchcock wanted when he was signed. Hanzal takes those big face-offs and is used often on the penalty kill. Offensively he’s been a bit of a ghost, albeit a very large one, and only has seven points in 28 games.

Best game: Dec. 23 against the Nashville Predators. Hanzal scored at even strength for the first time this season, won a season-best 13 face-offs, and was on the ice for the majority of a 5-on-3 penalty kill in overtime. The Stars eventually won in a shootout and Hanzal had a 65.2 CF% with 21 of his 23 zone starts coming in the defensive zone.

Grade: C: Hanzal’s injuries and missed time were somewhat expected. In his career he averages close to 60 games per season, so this much missed time isn’t anything new. He’s had a couple moments this season where he’s looked like the player Dallas hoped it signed, but more often than not he’s been a passenger for most of the game when healthy.

Radek Faksa

Expectation: Radek Faksa was locked into a third-line center role when the Stars went and signed Martin Hanzal in July. Faksa was going to play tough minutes, perhaps against the other team’s top players, and would also be used on the penalty kill. Offensively he would take a step forward and maybe pick up some responsibility on the power play.

Reality: Faksa has been the Stars most consistent forward and has found a nice home centering the third line between Antoine Roussel and Tyler Pitlick. Faksa has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists), even though he hasn’t gotten any power play time. He leads the team with a plus-15 and his CF% is impressive at 52.8 with most of his shifts starting in the defensive zone.

Best game: His first career hat trick against the Vegas Golden Knights would be an easy choice, you could also make a strong case for his three-assist game against the San Jose Sharks on New Year’s Eve. Both those games came with offensive impact, but Faksa’s most-complete performance came in a 3-2 shootout win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 2.

Faksa scored midway through the third period and spent most of the night going head-to-head with Patrick Kane’s line, and in that game the Blackhawks winger didn’t have a shot on goal until the shootout. Faksa also won 9 of his 14 face-offs, most of them coming in his own zone.

Grade: A: This was one of the easiest grades to give out. In addition to filling his role, Faksa has provided rare secondary scoring and is doing so while playing against the other team’s top lines. His work in the face-off circle has also improved, and his line is often the Stars best unit on a nightly basis.

Mattias Janmark

Expectation: Mattias Janmark missed all of last season with a genetic knee disorder, he looked good in training camp, but there were still concerns about his status as an every day player — how would he hold up when hit or having to deal with extended minutes?

Reality: Janmark looks like Mattias Janmark of his rookie season. He’s confident with the puck, smooth on his skates, and his natural speed has returned. He’s been a bit juggled on lines this season, but he is still on pace for more than 40 points.

Best game: Janmark had a goal and an assist on Oct. 10 against the Detroit Red Wings in a 4-2 victory. It was the third game of the season and it was the contest that erased any doubt about his ability to compete in the NHL this season. He looked confident, was creating chances throughout the game, and had quickly proven that missing all of the 2015-16 season wouldn’t be much of a hinderance on his career.

Grade: A: Janmark’s season could have been a disaster and worst-case scenario his NHL career could have been over if he didn’t have a strong return from the knee injury. There have been some up-and-down moments in his offensive game this season, but overall the Swede has been one of the Stars most consistent forwards.

Jamie Benn

Expectation: It’s the first-year of an eight-year $76-million contract for the Stars captain and he was expected to deliver on that price tag. In addition the Stars went out and added more firepower in the off-season with Alexander Radulov, potentially giving Benn the best line he’s played on in his career.

Reality: The Benn-Seguin-Radulov line is one of the most exciting in hockey, but Benn is only pace for a 75-point season — good but, not $9.5 million per season good. Part of his point production is tied to the Stars system, the team isn’t trading chances like they used to, and his expanded roles in other parts of the game. There have been stretches where Benn can dominate a game, but there have also been stretches where he’s slipped into the background.

Best game: Early in the season the Stars weren’t winning games if the top line wasn’t producing, and Benn helped put the team on his back on Oct. 19 against the Arizona Coyotes in a 5-4 victory. He scored on the power play in the first period, and had a pair of assists to Tyler Seguin in the third period.

Grade: B: Benn has been one of the Stars better players, and recently he’s been a dynamic all-around player. However, this is a grade for the entire first-half of the season, so when considering the occasional no-show performances and the amount of times he’s claimed “I have to be better” after losses, Benn ends up with a B.

Devin Shore

Expectations: After playing all 82 games last season Devin Shore was supposed to have an elevated role this season as a top-nine forward. He would be a key cog in the defensive end, and might even flirt with 40 points. He was supposed to be a strength for the Stars depth.

Reality: Shore instantly became one of Ken Hitchcock’s favorite players, and that’s led to unexpected opportunities. Shore has gotten first-unit power play time on the point, played on the first line, and often plays with the Stars best players. Despite those opportunities, Shore’s numbers have been horrendous. He’s minus-15, worst on the team, and his 48.5 CF% is way to low for a player with his chances. He’s started to finish recently, but there were also long stretches that, no matter how good the chance, it seemed like a certainty Shore wouldn’t score.

Best game: On Nov. 21 Shore had a goal and an assist and essentially led the offense in a 3-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens. Shore scored an even-strength goal to tie the game after Jeff Petry had given Montreal a 1-0 lead and then assisted on a goal by Jason Spezza on the next shift.

Grade: C: Shore isn’t an easy player to grade, as evidenced by the polling that has results all over the map. As an individual, Shore would probably have a “B” grade if he were being used in a proper role throughout the season. But his inability to really prove himself as a top-six forward, and the coaching staff’s willingness to keep pushing him into that role leads to a C.

Tyler Pitlick

Expectations: An injury-prone player throughout his career, there was slight concern when the Stars signed Tyler Pitlick to a three-year contract back in July. Sure, Pitlick has had some strong moments in his career, but the injury history made this a red flag, especially with another player — Mattias Janmark — entering this season with similar concerns.

Reality: It’s a gamble that paid off. Pitlick is part of an extremely reliable third line with Radek Faksa and Antoine Roussel and is one of the Stars best penalty killers, a role he never played before his time in Dallas. It wasn’t a big signing, but his contract is one of the underated moves off the off-season for Stars general manager Jim Nill.

Best game: One of Pitlick’s strengths this season have been his ability to impact the game in limited minutes. That’s what he did in a 4-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 21. Pitlick scored twice — one of three two-goal games this season — and only played 10 minutes and 46 seconds. Dallas also had to kill two penalties in the third period, and Pitlick had more than two minutes of shorthanded time.

Grade: A: Perhaps the best indicator of Pitlick’s season is how difficult it is to find a bad game. Sure, he’s had a couple drop offs, but overall Pitlick has provided an impact on a nightly basis as either a penalty killer, scorer, or energy player. A somewhat unknown heading into this season, he’s smashed expectations.

Antoine Roussel

Expectations: The exact line combination wasn’t determined, but Antoine Roussel was going to be part of the Stars third-line, would pick up the occasional point, and would be a complete pest that other teams hate to play against.

Reality: There may not be a more-hated player in the NHL for his on-ice antics. He is the pest that everyone thought he would be. There are times he needs more self-control, but Roussel has actually done a better job this season of toeing the line and drawing other teams into penalties. With Radek Faksa and Tyler Pitlick he’s part of one of the top third lines in hockey, but you would like to see a bit more offensively.

Best game: On Nov. 18 against the Edmonton Oilers Roussel only had 7 minutes, 14 seconds of ice time and a team-low 15 shifts. But during that time he had a goal, two assists, and 12 penalty minutes.

Grade: B: If he were just a fourth-line pest, Roussel would get an A for filling his role this season. But the Stars have needed more from the winger offensively. When Dallas has struggled, it’s been in part due to a lack of depth scoring, and that’s a role that Roussel could help fill. He’s on pace for close to 25 points, when ideally he would have flirted with 35 this season.

Esa Lindell

Expectations: Esa Lindell learned a lot during his rookie season, and was supposed to make major strides in his sophomore season. With the Stars signing Marc Methot, Lindell was expected to move down in the lineup, and with that role he could thrive and build a long-term pairing with Stephen Johns or Julius Honka.

Reality: With a knee injury to Marc Methot, Lindell has spent the first half of the season on the top pairing with Klingberg. Lindell hasn’t taken major strides, but he’s taken positive steps forward and reads the game better. He also understands what he should and shouldn’t do while partnered with Klingberg, which is a valuable asset that gets undervalued. His role might change with Methot healthy, but Lindell has proven he’s a top-four defenseman in the NHL.

Best game: On Oct. 10 against the Detroit Red Wings Lindell had team-high 26 minutes, 14 seconds of ice time in a 4-2 victory. He started most of the game in the defensive zone, but ended up with a 65.2 CF% that game, tops amongst Stars defenders. He also picked up a secondary assist on Mattias Janmark’s second-period goal.

Grade: B: Since I’m not giving plusses or minuses in this exercise, I had to go with a B. Lindell was close to A- or a B+, but I believe there is still room for improvement. Overall he’s had a good season and it’s going to be fascinating to see what his role becomes once Marc Methot is healthy.

Brett Ritchie

Expectation: The Stars were going to need depth scoring and they needed a winger from that bottom-six group to step up and potentially fill a top-six role, maybe even on the top line. Brett Ritchie was the trendy pick for that spot, he has an all-pro shot and is considered the prototypical “power forward.”

Reality: Ritchie hasn’t delivered on that hope. He has just seven points in 34 games, has been a healthy scratch in nine games, and his goals haven’t exactly been indicators of future success (two goals came in one game while playing on a line with Curtis McKenzie, another recently came where a power play shot deflected off him).

Best game: There aren’t many options, but Dec. 3 against the Colorado Avalanche stands out. Ritchie scored twice in the third period of a 7-2 win, and was playing in a fourth-line role.

Grade: D: There aren’t any failing grades at the mid-point of the season, because players still have ample time to improve. But Ritchie’s first half was pretty close to failing, and after each game you have to ask yourself, “why is he still in the lineup?”

Stephen Johns

Expectation: Stephen Johns was going to be a second-pairing defenseman, possibly with Esa Lindell, and would start to play a smarter game in Ken Hitchcock’s system. With his heavy shot he could be a power play option and he was always going to be one of the most physical players on the team.

Reality: Johns is a lineup staple, but it’s been in a third-pairing role and he’s actually battling Julius Honka for a lineup spot with Marc Methot returning from injury. There are a lot of raw tools and they’ve created some ideal moments, but Johns has also had mental lapses and made noticeable mistakes that have led to goals against. You do have to grade him with a curve, because he’s been asked to play on the left side when paired with Honka.

Best game: Johns did all the little things right in the Stars 4-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 21. He was asked to play a bigger role late in the game, Marc Methot was struggling that night, and Johns blocked five shots and had three hits. He also added an assist for good measure.

Grade: C: It likely would be a C+ if we were using such things, but since we aren’t we had to stick with a C for Johns. Part of this isn’t his fault, he really is better suited playing on his strong side, but there have been too many mistakes that led to chances against for a B.

Greg Pateryn

Expectation: Greg who? Greg Pateryn was the forgotten man heading into training camp. If he was still around at the start of the season, it would be in an eight defenseman role and in all likelihood he would be traded or waived at some point.

Reality: Expectation was reality for the first two weeks of the season, Pateryn was the eighth defender. But after injury opened up a chance in late October, Pateryn seized a role with Dan Hamhuis and has become one of the Stars shutdown defenders. When the game is close and the Stars need to hold a lead, Pateryn is on the ice.

Best game: The analytics of that game don’t look good — Pateryn had a 34.2 CF% — but he did everything the Stars are looking for from a shutdown pair to help setup a 4-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 30. Pateryn was second on the team in ice time with 22 minutes, 27 seconds, blocked four shots, and also had seven hits — if you were looking for a game to demonstrate Pateryn’s value to this coaching staff, that was the one.

Grade: A: Not really sure how you could give any other grade. Pateryn wasn’t even expected to be a true NHL player this season, and as we head into the second half he’s either forced Stephen Johns or Julius Honka out of the lineup when Marc Methot is healthy.

Ben Bishop

Expectation: Big off-season acquisition that was supposed to fix the Stars goaltending issues and make those timely saves when needed. His puck-handling would be an asset, while his ability to calm down a defense would help enforce better defensive hockey.

Reality: For the most part he’s live up to expectations. Bishop is carrying a heavy work load and early on this season he was particularly sharp as the Stars were rounding into defensive form. While he’s been good, the collection of bad goals he’s allowed in the third period of games is concerning.

Best game: Bishop had a 34-save shutout against the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 28 in a 3-0 victory. It was a game that will be remembered for Radek Faksa’s hat trick in the second period, but the Stars needed Bishop early and late in that game. Adding to that game’s lore — it’s the only time this season the Golden Knights have been shutout in Vegas.

Grade: B: He’s been goal, but there have been times that the Stars have needed better. The amount of bad goals allowed in the third period also bring down his grade. However, overall Bishop has delivered as a starting goalie.

Kari Lehtonen

Expectation: Kari Lehtonen was stepping into the back-up role. He would play second fiddle to Ben Bishop, wouldn’t play that often, and when he did play he was expected to deliver a strong performance — something the Stars always lacked from back-up goalies when he was the starter.

Reality: Lehtonen has embraced the back-up role. He’s still preparing every game like a starter, but he’s taking the time for extra work with goalie coach Jeff Reese and has a higher even strength save percentage than Bishop. His 5-5-1 record is misleading, because of his five losses two have come when he’s had to enter the game in relief.

Best game: Lehtonen wasn’t the best goalie in the game on Dec. 11 against the New York Rangers, but he had to nearly perfect for the Stars to claim a 2-1 shootout victory. Lehtonen stopped 24 of 25 shots in regulation, a couple key saves late in the third period, and was perfect in the shootout.

Grade: A: As a back-up goalie, you can’t ask for anything more from Lehtonen. He’s doing his job effectively and during an Eastern Conference road trip he actually pushed Bishop for more starts, lighting a fire under the 6-foot-7 starter. Sure, the money looks bad with a $5.9 million cap hit, but Lehtonen has been the ideal back-up goalie.

Marc Methot

Expectation: Marc Methot would be the defensive anchor for the Stars after arriving in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. He would likely end up on the top pairing with John Klingberg, would kill penalties, and would be the safety net that would allow Klingberg to turn into an elite all-around player.

Reality: Methot has only played 16 games and missed 26 straight with a knee injury. When he returned it was a one-game cameo, and the following game before the bye week he was a late scratch with a sore knee. He’s been ok when playing, but there is an extremely small sample size of his time in Dallas.

Best game: The Stars lost on Oct. 24 against the Colorado Avalanche, but Methot had one of his best games before the knee injury.

Grade: C: This really should be incomplete, but I’m sticking to letter grades and Methot has been hard to judge.

Remi Elie

Expectation: Remi Elie was going to be a depth forward for the system, he’d start the season in the AHL, might get a call-up. But in all likelihood he was going to play more AHL games than he would in the NHL.

Reality: Elie started the season in the AHL but was quickly called up and has appeared in 35 games. His skating and willingness to go hard to the net have been noticed by the coaching staff, and he’s played up and down throughout the lineup.

Best game: Elie only had 7 minutes, 51 seconds of ice time in a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 30, but it may have been his most impactful game of the season. Elie scored in second period and was second on the team with six shots on goal. It was the type of game where you wondered why he didn’t get more minutes.

Grade: B: We could probably grade Elie more harshly and give him a C — he’s been good, but not great. But based off what was expected we’re grading on a curve and he’s getting a B.

Gemel Smith

Expectation: Gemel Smith would be battling for a roster spot, could make the NHL team out of training camp, but would likely spend some time in the AHL. When on the NHL roster he would be in and out of the lineup, when in his speed would ben asset and could provide a spark.

Reality: That’s what happened. While Smith likely won’t spend anytime in the AHL, he’s fulfilled the expectation as a depth forward that can come in and out of the lineup without missing a beat. His speed works well in the NHL and he’s developing into a bit of a pest for opposing players.

Best game: Smith had a pair of primary assists in the first period as the Stars beat a bad Buffalo Sabres team 5-1 at home on Nov. 4. Also had a chance to play more minutes in the third period when Radek Faksa left the game with a minor injury.

Grade: C: I wanted to give Smith a B, especially with how he’s worked his way back to an NHL career after spending time in the ECHL. But in reality he’s delivered what the Stars expected, not bad, not great, and he’s been a reliable depth forward.

Alexander Radulov

Expectation: As a big-name off-season acquisition Alexander Radulov was supposed to provide a spark and scoring touch to the Stars top line. He had a history of being an energetic player that motivates his teammates, and that was the plan as he came to Dallas.

Reality: Radulov has delivered on expectations and more. He’s turned into a leader on the team and in the last game before the Stars bye week he was the catalyst in the first period that helped the team deliver a key victory against the Edmonton Oilers. Any past knocks against him from his time in Nashville are in the past and he’s a key cog to the Stars success.

Best game: He’s had quite a few, but let’s go with the goal and two assists he had in the first period against the Oilers on Jan. 6. During that period Radulov made it clear the Stars were going to win the game, and his goal celebrations helped blast some energy into the AAC during a matinee game.

Grade: A: If we were giving pluses, he would get one.

Jason Spezza

Expectation: As a veteran player Jason Spezza would be taking a back seat offensively and he might struggle a bit to convert to Ken Hitchcock’s system, but eventually the Stars would find the ideal fit for Spezza and he would be a threat to score as a depth option or second-liner.

Reality: Spezza has taken a back seat offensively and struggled a bit at first with the new system, but he’s yet to find that offensive fit that works for him this season. His minutes have dwindled throughout the season, down to 13 minutes, 31 second per game, and he’s consistently playing with bottom-six wingers. It’s a difficult situation to succeed, and Spezza hasn’t been able to break through and find some old offensive magic.

Best game: Spezza scored the game-winning goal in a 7-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 3. With Martin Hanzal out with injury he was higher in the lineup and looked more comfortable in a top-six role.

Grade: C: The Stars need to see much more out of Spezza, who happens to be carrying a $7.5 million cap hit this season and next.

Tyler Seguin

Expectation: Ken Hitchcock came in with a plan to make Tyler Seguin a true No. 1 center. For the first time in his career he would be playing in all situations, he would even kill penalties, and would be a focal point of the overall team game.

Reality: It happened. Seguin bought in to Hitchcock’s system, has started killing penalties this season — even scoring his first career shorthanded goal — and has evolved as a leader on the team. He’s on pace for 76 point this season, which is a slight improvement from last season.

Best game: Seguin has had 10 multi-point games this season, but let’s highlight his performance against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 4. In that game Seguin scored his first career shorthanded goal in a 4-3 victory and helped kill of four penalties.

Grade: A: Seguin is becoming a true No. 1 center, he plays defense, and he’s not lacking offensively. You can’t ask for much more.

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