My point is that Spezza and Hemsky are not guys you can depend on. Talent-wise they're both great, but they don't play any sort of a physical game and don't defend. Since 2008 Spezza is like a -33 and Hemsky has been a negative plaeyr every year since 2010. In that conference, that's a recipe for disaster. You really want those guys out there against the likes of Ryan Kesler, Jeff Carter, Granlund, Stastny, and Mackinnon? They'll get torched.
Last year, they're problem was keeping the puck out of their own net, no team with more goals allowed in the West made the playoffs. They haven't done anything to address that, and if you can't defend, you can't have post-season success.
I like the Stars' young players, they're better off having those guys get second line minutes because they're physical and more competitive. This season, they would have been better off letting the likes of Fiddler, Peverley, and Horcoff - who are decent players in their own right - handle the third line and checking responsibilities so that the top 6 could focus solely on offense. Now, their either in a position to ask that young third line to check, limit their minutes becuase you need to get the vets out there to defend, OR run the risk of defending with all of those skill guys who aren't really two-way players.
Spezza has been on the trading block for a long, long time, and the fans there gave up on him a while ago. I don't think he's going to be the difference maker that Stars fans are hoping for, especially since they aren't cup contenders this year anyways.
And yes, Let's Go Rangers!
