'We're built to win and win right now': New level of belief emerges

Jamie Benn is patiently energetic.
Tyler Seguin is downright bubbly.
Alexander Radulov is all over the place.
It's a sign that the Stars are very optimistic about the 2021-22 NHL season. Yeah, I know, everyone is excited in training camp. They start the preseason schedule Monday in St. Louis, so how else did you expect them to be?
Still, there's something special about this season.

In addition to Seguin and Radulov both being fully healthy for the first time in a couple of seasons, Dallas also is coming off a crazy two years that has not only shown what's possible, but also provided some pretty good motivation to get there. The Stars went to the Stanley Cup Final and lost in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in September 2020. They then turned around and played a chaotic 56-game schedule from January to May and missed the playoffs.
Now, they're back to a "normal" routine with a regular training camp leading into an 82-game campaign, and the belief is they're in a good place -- both individually and as a team. Stars coach Rick Bowness said the trip to the Stanley Cup Final built a tangible inner belief, and then the experience of missing the playoffs the following season built a real hunger.
"The pain of the missing the playoffs, sometimes that helps you grow because you don't want to experience that again," Bowness said. "Missing the playoffs gives you a little more time off in the summer than you want. This team has been through so much in the last 14 months, they miss playing in the playoffs and they miss being on the ice. Some of our guys have been skating since June. It shows how much they miss the game and how anxious they are to get going."

Benn has been among the leaders in those skating. He spends the offseason in Texas and said he and many teammates have been on the ice since the first of August. Benn helped lead offseason training before the Stars went into the bubble for the 2020 playoffs and has been a key coordinator in helping his teammates deal with conditioning when they couldn't go to the rink because of COVID. He said he's learned a lot about staying fit in that span.
"I think it's always a positive to keep learning things and try to improve on your body and your game, and adapt to whatever adversity gets thrown your way," Benn said. "We've pretty much had it all in the last two years."

Bowness said Benn has already been a leader during the three days of workouts in Frisco. The 32-year-old captain was moved to center from left wing last season and is starting camp in the center position on a line with Michael Raffl and Denis Gurianov. That line has looked great so far, and that's another reason to be optimistic.
"He loves playing center, he's skating great, he's in fantastic condition physically and mentally," Bowness said. "He's anxious to get playing. You watch all the skating drills and he's leading the way. He's doing what you want your captain to do."
If Benn anchors that line, then the Stars could have more offensive depth than they have had in a few seasons. Roope Hintz took a step forward last season and brought rookie Jason Robertson and veteran Joe Pavelski along with him. With Seguin and Radulov healthy, that should provide another line with offensive oomph. The fourth line could then have Radek Faksa with newcomer Luke Glendening. Both Glendening and Raffl were signed as free agents and have come in with a ton of energy.
"Mike and Luke, they were the No. 1 and 2 conditioned athletes coming into camp, so it shows how much they want to be here," Bowness said. "They want to make an impact on the team."
Same goes for Ryan Suter, who signed as a free agent after getting bought out by the Wild. Same goes for goalie Braden Holtby, who's trying to resurrect his career. Same goes for defenseman Jani Hakanpää, who's joining a group of Finnish players in what is sort of a dream come true.
Let's just say the optimism is contagious -- and is even more powerful than the players themselves thought was possible.
"It's given me a whole new perspective that I really didn't understand or really see coming," said Seguin, who missed most of last season following hip surgery and said he was affected significantly by overcoming the adversity. "I thought I had it all figured out, but having that reset, it was kind of nice. It was a blessing in disguise. Getting to watch a lot of games from up top and getting to know the young players on more of a friend basis, that was great."
Benn added: "We're built to win and win right now. Obviously, last year was pretty disappointing, so I'm looking for a fresh start."
While Radulov has been buzzing around the ice at practice and wearing a huge smile as he brings the frenetic energy that's a trademark of his personality.
"Obviously, it's a great feeling when you can go and compete as a normal hockey player instead of always thinking `What if I do this? What if I do that?'" Radulov said of his healthy body. "Going on the ice and giving 60 or 70 percent, it's not enough. You've got to give it all."
And that's what he plans to do, along with a large group of teammates.
Of course, that positive attitude only goes so far, and the team has a good share of real challenges. Dallas needs to keep the belief going, and that'll be tough with eight of the first 11 games on the road. But they've been through a lot in the past two years, so they'll be going into this with both eyes open.
"Everyone realizes that with the division we're in, we have to have a good start," Seguin said. "We have to come out fast, we can't start 1-7-1. I think eight of our first (11) are on the road, and that's going to be thought about in training camp. We've got to be prepared."
So far, so good. But we're just talking about practice.
"It's a new day, it's a new training camp, it's a new season," Radulov said. "Everything is in front of us, so it's good."
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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.