They’ve had a mutually beneficial relationship and fit each other’s speed and game well. It would be surprising if the pairing of Benn and Johnston were split up. The Stars’ lack of that sixth piece in the top six will be a limiting factor regardless. I think he’s deserved a stretch like this. “But this should be - I think he was waiting for a stretch like this. “We’ll see what happens when we get to that situation,” DeBoer said on Seguin’s play translating to other linemates upon Hintz’s return. But what if he needs those elite players around him to be at his best? What if the player who fits the picture DeBoer painted in those comments last month is actually Hintz? Clearly, as the past two weeks show, Seguin is still a capable top-six player on a contending team. What if he doesn’t, though? That’s not a slight on Seguin injuries and age are real factors. “Tyler’s got to grab a line and make other people better,” DeBoer said. Last month, DeBoer put the onus on Seguin. Before his elevation, Seguin was left trying to figure things out with Dellandrea and a rotation of Fredrick Olofsson and Joel Kiviranta. If Hintz goes back to the top line, the spotlight now turns to Seguin. The Stars’ top line with Hintz in the middle isn’t just the top line on the team it’s one of the best in hockey in the world. Nobody will question the move it’s arguably the right thing to do. The easy thing to do when Hintz is ready to play is plug him back in between Robertson and Pavelski. Here’s what coach Pete DeBoer now has on his hands. Again, it seems like a relatively obvious statement (votes for Robertson are also legitimate) but feels important to make clear before we dive into this Stars problem. His absence has been glaringly obvious the past two weeks. Heck, he’s the best overall forward and probably the best player not named Heiskanen. Secondly, Hintz is clearly the best centerman on the Stars. Robertson, Hintz and Pavelski are all great players, but the line is so great because of how well they complete each other. Dellandrea was initially part of that equation, but the absence of an impactful third member not only hurt the Stars but hurt the other two members of the line. When his pairing with Mason Marchment was buzzing, so was Seguin. Seguin started the season hot, with his only three-point night besides his game Thursday in Los Angeles coming in the season opener in Nashville. The faces of the old Stars core have had resurgent seasons to varying degrees, and there are many reasons for that.īenn’s pairing with Wyatt Johnston and the revolving third member of Ty Dellandrea and Mason Marchment has been huge, as has been the opportunity to play with Robertson, Hintz, Pavelski and Miro Heiskanen on the top power-play unit. The two greatest examples of this for the Stars are Seguin and Jamie Benn. ![]() ![]() It seems like an obvious statement but often gets forgotten in player evaluation. Before we get to the conundrum, which you’ve likely caught on to by now, let’s discuss a few things. Hintz didn’t accompany the Stars on their three-game West Coast trip but has been skating in Dallas and progressing well. Stats aside, it’s the best stretch of hockey Seguin has played this season, some of the best he’s played in years. His elevation has created a void lower in the lineup, but for Seguin himself, these games have been great. In the six games since, Seguin has eight points, including five goals. Tyler Seguin has moved up to anchor Robertson and Pavelski since Roope Hintz went out with an injury Jan. Except this time, it’s referring to a slightly different unit than the one fans have grown accustomed to. “Stars’ top line dominates a game,” a headline that has become commonplace for the better part of the past three seasons.
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