Brunnstrom proves Star Qualities (and receives NHL Star of the Week honors)

Hyped all summer as the "Next Big Thing" Brunnstrom overcomes what many expected to be a wash and provides the NHL with enough ammunition to name him Third Star of the Week.

Just before his debut I was watching Brunnstrom warm up during the pregame from the first row on the glass.  I leaned over to my girlfriend and asked if she knew why I was excited about the kid.  The answer is simple, "in a couple years this kid will be a superstar" I explained to her; to which she shrugged with interest but not the gut feeling I had.  I don't know if you've had a chance to see this kid on the ice yet, NHL ice that is, but he really does have what it takes.

In the Traverse City rookie tournament (this thing really needs a contest name, is "Rookie Tournament" widely accepted as that?) he was described as "less than stellar" by himself and many critics agreed as he posted only four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in four games.  You read that right, with four points in four games he and the critics have described his performance there as sloppy and under whelming.  If only all our players were judged that way!

Not wanting to rush Brunnstrom before he was ready Tippet sat him for the first two games of the season.  When the Stars couldn't make the grade he was put into the line up.  That's the night I described above, a foretelling of the future for this player, directly before his first ever point, goal and subsequently hat trick as an NHL player.

Maybe the European ice did him good - IIHF & Olympic standards, which are used in Europe, define the ice as approximately 95 feet wide by 197 feet long; the NHL uses a rink size of 85 feet wide and 200 feet long.  While ten feet sounds small to us who don't play everyone I talk to describes the size difference as huge.  As I sit here considering the possibilities it makes sense: when driving on the highway you have to pay attention to as many as 6 lanes, watching cars weave in and out of their lanes, many without turn signals; now put yourself on a small 2 way road with one lane in each direction and consider how much easier it is to focus on the road with the fewer amount of lanes.  Of course, the argument could be turned around when consider the same amount of players are on the road - errr - ice.

So here he stands, in 3 games the rookie has tallied 4 goals in 10 shots with line-mates of Morrow, Richards, Avery, Peterson ... I won't suggest what NHL awards he'll get or which NHL superstar he'll be "the next", but does anyone else consider perhaps this is our next "go to" offensive offenseman?

Know who else thinks I may be on the right track?  James Mirtle, while discussing this years early candidates for the Calder Trophey suggest Fabian's debut, which included that slick little hat track was an eye-opener in what was supposed to be a given for Steven Stamkos.

Jason Arnott to miss Wednesday's game

For those of you who care to remember game #2 for the Stars you'll recall a certain fan favorite showing us what we're missing ... yes, I'm talking about Jason Arnott.

Allow me to first say the following two disclaimers:

1. I do not approve of the taking of pleasure in someone else's injury.
2. I do not approve of basking in a win over a competitor who is missing their top player(s)

That said, Jason Arnott will THANKFULLY not be on the ice Wednesday night due to a fracture in one of the fingers on his right hand [ Tennessean ].  I enjoy seeing Jason on the ice as much as the next guy (more likely girl, he always had a way with the ladies!) but he absolutely kept us in our place on Saturday night.

The Stars need this win: mentally for themselves and physically for their fans.  There is no two ways about it, we need to win.  I know it's only game 3 of 82 before the playoffs, but it's not healthy to be where we are right now - these are hard points to make up in the points racing leading up to the playoffs, and a losing skid is not a good way to start the season, especially not for a team being touted as Stanley Cup contenders [ Hockey News ].

Jason, you're welcome back later in the season, after we've gotten our feet under us again - and please, get better soon, just not by Wednesday!

At least we're not the Canucks!

AKA: YAY!  CENTER ICE!!

To start off, my girlfriend let me buy Center Ice.  This may not be profound to you young, single guys but to you married types I'm sure you understand.  So much thanks to the Best Girlfriend in the World^TM!  It does help that she loves hockey; Stars hockey!

On to the title I chose to use.  The stars are off to a rough season.  The more I think about it the more I feel like we've lost our chemistry (except Ribs).  I was talking to one of my coworkers the other day and I described it as this: "It looks like a bunch of skilled hockey players who were just put together for the first time ... All Star Game, slightly less skill."

I'm sure different people will argue it differently, and when it comes down to it, there are different thoughts on each player, but as an overall explanation, I think that's what it comes down to.

I did comment on one specific player - and it's not totally his fault.  We're only two games in so far but Mike Ribeiro has been billed as "the play maker".  Forgive me if I add "the Five Million Dollar play maker".  I'm all about giving players the chance to have a slump, the chance to be over-billed ... I'm not the kind of guy who normally holds on to things like this - but WHERE ARE You RIBS!

The Fanatics LOVE Ribs.  We chant for him, we cheer for him, we hold inappropriate signs for him.  But in the 2 games plus the pre-season I've seen NOTHING spectacular from him.  Not a single thing.

On the positive side, here's a player whose name you don't hear me chanting very often ... Trevor Daley.  After two games Daley has the most points on the team - with one goal per game.  DALEY!  TWO GOALS!  TWO GAMES!  That's not an average, ladies and gentlemen, that's a statistic!  Think he'll come anywhere near keeping it up?

As for the title of the post?  In jumping around Center Ice tonight I watched the final 10 minutes of the Capitals hosting the Canucks ... who had 10 shots on goal for the night.  Yes, 10 shots FOR THE NIGHT.  Come on Stars fans, we're off to a slow start, but when is the last time you said that about your team?

Allow me to make a prediction - this slow start sucks, but it won't last.  The boys are building confidence and chemistry ... while we, as fans, don't see why the chemistry and confidence were gone, it was.  Another week of practice, playing and Tippett's foot up their ass ... you'll see the Stars you thought you'd see on opening night.

Stars Fanatics Rally Scarf

Download Order Form Here

The time has come for the Stars Fanatics Rally Scarf ... Thanks to Mohawk Andy and the countless hours he and a handful of other fanatics spent creating the AWESOME design that is our new 2008/09 Rally Scarf it's finally time to order it! Presale is going on now, with current delivery scheduled before the New Years Eve game (just in time for that Dallas Winter!) - but order quick before pricing goes up!!

WHAT: Stars Fanatics Rally Scarf Presale
WHEN: Oct 1 - Oct 31
WHO: Any Stars Fan can buy them
HOW: Payment with cash or through PayPal - Download Order Form Here

SPONSOR A STAR How cool would it be to see one of these on the players? Ralph & Razor? Coaches? Maybe even Brett Hull? Help us get one of these on each of them and Sponsor A Star today! On the order form is a place to put how many scarves you are buying for the Stars.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS With these coming just in time for Christmas be sure to remember all your favorite Stars fans when purchasing your scarf - buy one for everyone on your list! And nothing says "I hate you" more than buying a Red Wings fan than buying them a "DALLAS 'TILL I DIE" Rally scarf! These will be here just in time for Christmas so be sure you remember them when buying too!

Download Order Form Here

ESPN choo-choo-chooses Barnaby

Ok - this isn't an official announcement, yet, but the rumor from Buffalo News is that in the next few days everyone's favorite (in recent times) instigator Matthew Barnaby (everyone loves Matthew Barnaby) will be announced as ESPN's replacement for Barry Melrose, who left ESPN to return to coaching for Tampa Bay.

This isn't the first news suggesting this WONDERFUL information, as back at the end of June Puck Daddy on Yahoo! had this bit of information on the subject including some links proving the leak.

While Wyshynski is right that ESPN could still screw this up, Barnaby has an excellent opportunity to help the NHL find it's way back to the biggest sports network in the US.  It's not that he'll be organizing the return, but his personality and lack of smug holier-than-thou attitude (can't stand Melrose, sorry) allow him the opportunity to really get people who have forgotten the NHL since the lockout thinking about the sport again.

While I don't personally care about those people, it's THEM that can demand ESPN return the NHL back to it's TV glory - them and HD camera systems!

Prospects Win; Zubie & Bouch ... again??

Allow me to start off with the best greeting possible: Happy Last Day of Summer before Hockey Begins!

Stars prospects squad just won the Prospects Tourney in Traverse City, Mi - major props to them.  James Neal came away with most points in the tourney (expect to see him a lot in Dallas) with 9 and Brunnstrom, although he started slow, really showed that he has potential to shine.

But what really made me post today was this bit of news posted by both Heika and Keeli over at the Star Telegram:

Sergei Zubov underwent an arthroscopic hip procedure on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Also, Philippe Boucher is day-to-day with a sore foot.

-- Keeli Garza, Five For Fighting

I'm sorry, what?  Heika reports Zubbie could be out 6-8 weeks on the procedure.  Can anyone tell me exactly what is going on here?  I know, they're both old; I know, this is bound to happen; I know, we'll be fine.  This is not me paniking; this is me being pissed off they waited so long to get on the ice that they both just realized they have issues.

Puck Daddy on Stars, Class of 08-09

Yahoo's Puck Daddy has been doing a great spin on the yearly previews of the NHL, following the high-school "Superlatives" styles in looking at each team.  Today they released, by Sean Leahy, their preview of the Stars.  Not a bad writeup:

With stiff competition always getting better in the Western Conference, it might seems like the Stars will be in a dogfight for a playoff spot at times this year, but in the end, they'll qualify with ease and if healthy, can put together a deep run, similar to what we saw last spring.

Check it out ... and while you are at it check out some other season previews of our Stars:

Dallas has transformed itself from an aging team dependent on the same few veterans to one that has a new core of young stars in seamless fashion, much like their nemesis Detroit Red Wings. There’s room for individual growth, and that will translate into more team success. The Stars are very much among the elite in the West, and that means they are a contender for the Cup. - Yahoo Sports - Ross McKeon

For Dallas, the sky is the limit—and all the hard work begins now, in preseason workouts and training camp. - Bleacher Report - Ken Armer

It’s time to take a closer look into one of the NHL’s most popular markets. That habitual hotbed of hockey, the first team below the Mason Dixon line to take home a Stanley Cup. Home to big hair, toddler beauty pageants, steers, queers, high school football, and Dawson’s famous “I don’t want your life.” The jewel of the Lone Star state, Dallas Texas. - Melt Your Face Off - user MNHLE

The Stars will continue to have strong goaltending from Marty Turco, who finally took his team deep into the playoffs. Turco handles the puck better than any other goaltender and is effective as any of his defensemen on the blue line. - MVN Outsider - Karen Francis

There's even a video preview ... actually a well done inspirational video by conman1188 on YouTube.com.