3 questions facing Dallas Stars

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, three important questions facing the Dallas Stars.

Stars 32 in 32: Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy projections

1. Who's the best fit with Matt Duchene?

Duchene could play on the third line with left wing Mason Marchment and center Tyler Seguin. Stars coach Peter DeBoer likes to have two forwards on each line that could take face-offs. He would have that with Seguin, who won 54.7 percent of his face-offs last season, and Duchene (52.9 percent).

There's some familiarity there. Duchene has known Seguin since they were 10 years old.

"He's a great player," Duchene said. "He does everything well, skates well, great on face-offs, solid in his own end, amazing goal scorer. He's had some huge years. The fact you can step in right away and play with a guy like that is pretty special."

2. Who rounds out the defense?

Dallas did not re-sign defenseman Colin Miller, so that means an opportunity for younger players like Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist. Harley, 21, played six regular-season games last season but had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Lundvkist, 23, has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 60 regular-season games since he was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on Sept. 19, 2022.

"Thomas Harley didn't start the year for us, he's now a big part of it and we're expecting growth from him and growth from Nils Lundqvist," general manager Jim Nill said. "If those guys grow as they should, we're in a good position."

3. How does Wyatt Johnston build off his rookie season?

Johnston was outstanding last season, finding quick chemistry with captain Jamie Benn and finishing with 41 points (24 goals, 17 assists) in 82 regular-season games. He also had six points (four goals, two assists) in 19 playoff games.

The 20-year-old forward showed he could be a go-to player in critical situations, scoring the game- and series-winning goals in the first and second round.

"I think he's just got to continue to get stronger," Stars director of player personnel Rich Peverley said. "He's going to come in, he'll probably have similar players he'll play with [from last season], so that comfort level will be the same."

"I think us finding Matt Duchene to fit in with a couple of other players in the lineup solidifies our middle six, where other teams are going to have to make a decision: Do you want to line up against Matt Duchene or Wyatt Johnston? From that perspective, he might start getting some teams' best defensemen (against him) but from our perspective he's going to be surrounded by some good players.

"I'm not worried about what he's going to do. He's going to be a good player for us for a long time."