Fans and media members are going to get a bit of an information overload this season with Ken Hitchcock coaching the Dallas Stars.
While Lindy Ruff was more reserved and kept things close to the vest, for example he would never even discuss starting goalies, Hitchcock enjoys sharing information. He likes to have lengthy chats with the media and as a journalist on the beat it’s great — there is always something to write about.
It also leads to some evolving or mixed messages.
For example earlier this month Hitchcock said he looked at Jason Spezza as a potential left wing/center hybrid. He also said he really liked Martin Hanzal and Radek Faksa potentially playing together on the same line, even though both are centers.
On Friday he said that he looks at Tyler Seguin, Spezza, Faksa, and Hanzal as his four centers. Which in theory means Hanzal and Faksa together isn’t happening and Spezza isn’t playing the left wing. That in theory would also make Faksa the fourth-line center, which I have a hard time seeing playing out even with Hitchcock’s comments about his fourth line being a group of specialists that get added ice time on the penalty kill or power play.
In a similar vein after the first preseason game Hitchock said Nick Caamano had earned another preseason game and would play Thursday in Colorado. Caamano didn’t get a second preseason game and was sent to the OHL’s Flint Firebirds on Friday.
Moral of the story? Hitchcock is going to give us lots to write or talk about this season, but it’s also going to create confusion from time to time.
Preseason Game 3
The Stars travel to St. Louis tonight for their third preseason game. On Friday Hitchcock said that Jason Spezza will play, while it’s also going to be more of a hard-working lineup. That’s the terminology he used to describe his lineup against the Colorado Avalanche, so it could mean a mix of bottom-six forwards and likely AHLers.
Hitchcock said he’d start having his goalies playing full games in the preseason, so it’s a good guess that Ben Bishop will start and play the entire game.
The Stars have no plans to broadcast the game, but it will be broadcast KMOX radio in St. Louis. It is also apparently going to be streamed on Fox Sports Go, but that’s only for pay-TV providers who receive FOX Sports Midwest according to the Blues release earlier this week.
Housekeeping notes
– The Stars AHL coaches will head back to Cedar Park on Sunday and the minor-league club will open team next week. That’s a pretty good indication that a big wave of cuts is officially coming.
– I will not be at the morning skate today thanks to another prior work commitment, but will still have lineups and a morning skate preview here.
Catchup links
STARS MAILBAG: Radulov’s locker room impact, defensive questions, and depth
Today’s Schedule
The players skating in tonight’s game will be on the ice in Frisco at 10:30 a.m. The non-game group will skate at 11:30 a.m.
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