Last season: 52-21-9, lost to Edmonton in Game 6 of Western Conference Final. COACH: Pete DeBoer (612-421-146 over 17 seasons with 5 teams, 2 Stanley Cup appearances, 7 conference finals). SEASON OPENER: Oct.
10 at Nashville. DEPARTURES: F Joe Pavelski, F Radek Faksa, C Ty Dellandrea, D Ryan Suter, D Chris Tanev, D Jani Hakanpaa, G Scott Wedgewood. ADDITIONS: D Matt Dumba, G Casey DeSmith, D Ilya Lyubushkin.
GOALIES: Jake Oettinger (35-14-4, 2.72 GAA, 0.905 save percentage) and DeSmith (12-9-6, 2.
89, 8.95 with Vancouver) BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 11-1. The Stars went to the Western Conference Final in each of DeBoer's first two seasons, and were the top seed before losing Game 6 loss at Edmonton last spring.
Captain Jamie Benn is 35 and in the final season of his contract. Benn was one of their eight 20-goal scorers last season, and the only one not back is 40-year-old Joe Pavelski, who retired after 18 seasons without winning a Stanley Cup. Their top goal scorer last season was 21-year-old Wyatt Johnston, and 25-year-old Jason Robertson has been the top overall scorer each of the past two seasons.
With Oettinger in net, the Stars should be set up for another deep postseason run . The good: The expected top line of Robertson (29 goals, 51 assists), Johnston (32, 33) and Roope Hintz (30, 35) combined for 210 points last season. Johnston should be a consistent top-liner following Pavelski's retirement.
Robertson missing much of training camp after surgery July 30 to remove a cys.
