Star-Telegram.com: Stars/NHL

Sydor’s influence welcomed by Dallas Stars

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:57 CST

By TRACEY MYERS

FRISCO — Darryl Sydor spent part of Monday practicing, shaking hands and hearing "welcome back" more than a few times. The defenseman was home again.

"Yeah, nothing really changes," he said.

Nothing much has changed about Sydor, either. He’s still a competitor, and showed that in the few games he played this season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s also still willing to speak his mind when necessary.

And for this team, those are very welcome traits right now.

The Dallas Stars know Sydor and know how valuable he can be. And for a team that’s still looking for consistency, his calming influence on the ice is welcomed as much as his vocal presence off it.

"I think he’ll help the young guys on [defense], a lot like [Mattias] Norstrom did last year," Mike Modano said. "And he speaks his mind. He’s not shy about that. He lets his thoughts and feelings be known, and it doesn’t hurt having a couple of those guys around."

Sydor admits he has no problem saying how he feels.

"I’m a vocal guy, not just a rah-rah one; I like to talk a lot, express my opinions," said Sydor, who’s ready for a fresh start in familiar territory.

"Everything happens for a reason, and what I found is that I needed to work hard and take positives out of negative situations. Now I have a new start again."

Where Sydor will fit exactly is still unknown. He practiced with Matt Niskanen on Monday, and there’s plenty of good history when he and Sergei Zubov were a duo. Coach Dave Tippett said Sydor will add something to the group no matter where he plays.

"He’s just a steady defenseman who plays in a lot of different situations," he said. "He leads by competing hard, which is one of his strong assets. That rubs off on people."

Briefly

RW B.J. Crombeen was placed on waivers Monday. If he clears, the Stars could send him to the minors.

RW Jere Lehtinen did not practice Monday. Dave Tippett said he expects Lehtinen to practice today and play Thursday against Chicago.

D Trevor Daley was out with the flu Monday. Tippett said Daley was sick when he played Saturday night against Phoenix and was getting another day to get over his illness.

Stars trade Philippe Boucher to Penguins for Darryl Sydor

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:07 CST

By TRACEY MYERS

Darryl Sydor didn’t want to leave in the first place.

The veteran defenseman was on his second stay with the Dallas Stars during the 2006-07 season and was hoping to stick around longer. Management at the time, however, didn’t want him for the long term.

But with new co-general managers and a Stars team struggling to find its way, Sydor again is wanted in Dallas.

Sydor was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Philippe Boucher on Sunday, marking Sydor’s third stint with the Stars. For the 36-year-old Sydor, it’s a chance to return to the team he’s had so much success with, and back to the city that’s always felt like home.

"It’s just a dream come true to put that jersey back on," said Sydor, who is due to practice with the Stars today in Frisco. "You look at the past, everything happens for a reason. But I’m glad to be back."

Sydor didn’t have the happiest stay in Pittsburgh, where he said he and Penguins coach Michel Therrien "didn’t see eye to eye." He played in only eight games this season, but was solid. He’s a plus-5 and played more than 21 minutes Tuesday against Detroit.

"Being 36, people are going to say I’ve lost it, but I think I can still skate, can still move the puck," said Sydor, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.5 million. "I feel I can still play. I think I’ve showed it."

Stars co-general managers Les Jackson and Brett Hull said the change should benefit both players.

"Syd wants to be with our team, and that’s a good sign," Jackson said. "He wins everywhere he goes. Look at his record. There’s just something about what he brings."

Hull said Sydor’s relationships with current Stars, from Mike Modano and Sergei Zubov to Brad Richards — the two won the Stanley Cup together in Tampa Bay — will be beneficial. So will his leadership on the blue line.

"We wanted a guy we could bring in that was a known entity, who knew how we played and would fit in the room and be a stabilizing force with some of the guys back on defense," Hull said. "Darryl fit that mold."

Boucher struggled this season, with just three assists and a minus-4 rating in 16 games. When he was a healthy scratch against Phoenix on Saturday, Boucher said it was "pretty clear" what was happening.

"It’s a business, and when a team is struggling like this, moves are going to be made," said Boucher, who is in the final year of his contract but would love to play a few more seasons.

"I was really looking forward to this year, and I still am," he said. "I really do want to have a good year and hopefully they like what I do enough to talk to me."

Darryl Sydor file Age: 36

Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-1/211 pounds

Shoots: Left

Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta

Stanley Cups: Dallas (1998-99), Tampa Bay (2003-04)

Previous seasons with Dallas: nine, split over two stints (649 games)

Tippett says locker-room friction exaggerated

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:27 CST

Not-so-bad issues: The Stars have been talking a lot lately about mistrust and finger-pointing, as they struggle to find their game again. Some players said there should be more talking while others said it has to stop and be replaced by action.

But coach Dave Tippett said the level of any locker-room friction has been greatly exaggerated.

"A lot of stuff gets overblown in the media, that’s the way society is right now. If anything, it makes us closer because they see the [stuff] that’s being said," Tippett said. "Everybody likes to see a car wreck, but a lot of times it’s just a fender bender. It’s been way overblown."

Janik starts: Doug Janik has been waiting patiently to get back into action after sustaining an eye injury from a shattered stick on Oct. 18 against the Colorado Avalanche. He got back into the lineup on Saturday, teaming with Matt Niskanen and giving the Stars another veteran presence on the blue line. He logged just under 13 minutes, with a hit and a blocked shot.

"He worked hard coming in and then got that injury, but he worked hard to stay in shape and be ready," Tippett said.

Briefly

Defenseman Philippe Boucher and right wing B.J. Crombeen were healthy scratches Saturday night.

Sergei Zubov picked up his third assist of the season on Mark Parrish’s goal. For Parrish, it was his fourth goal with the Stars and first since his hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 7.

The Stars will unveil their new third jersey at their Dr Pepper Luncheon on Tuesday afternoon at the American Airlines Center. The Stars will wear the third jersey on Thursday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks.

— Tracey Myers

Dallas Stars trade for defenseman Darryl Sydor

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:59 CST

By TRACEY MYERS

The Dallas Stars felt it was time for a change among their defensemen group. And with that change, they’re bringing back a very familiar face.

The Stars acquired Darryl Sydor from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Philippe Boucher on Sunday, making this Sydor’s third career stint with the Stars. The 36-year-old Sydor had wanted to stay with the Stars after completing his one-year deal with the team in 2006-07. But he got lost in the salary-cap shuffle and was not approached for a possible return.

“I didn’t want to leave being there seven seasons then coming back for a season,” Sydor said. “So it’s just a dream come true to put that jersey back on.

“Being 36, people are going to say lost it, but I think I can still skate, still move the puck,” Sydor added. “I believe I can still play.”

Boucher came to the Stars prior to the 2002-03 season and put up his best numbers in 2006-07, tallying 19 goals and 32 assists. But he had gotten off to a disappointing start this season, recording just three assists and a minus-4 rating through 16 games; he was a healthy scratch on Saturday night at Phoenix.

“I think it’s a good situation for Bouch. He wants to find another contract next year, and I think the change is going to do him well,” co-general manager Les Jackson said. “The way we’ve been playing, (Sydor’s) going to help our group. With the loss of (Mattias) Norstrom last year, we need that calming factor back there.”

Stars’ Ribeiro loves the Coyotes

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:27 CST

Who knows what the deal is with Dallas Stars center Mike Ribeiro and his strong numbers against the Phoenix Coyotes. Maybe it’s because Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky was his boyhood idol. Maybe he just likes the Coyotes’ uniform colors and has a great mind-set when he plays against Phoenix.

Whatever it is, the Stars gladly will take it.

Ribeiro was at it again Saturday night, recording three assists (two of which led to Loui Eriksson goals) in the Stars’ 3-2 victory against the Coyotes. Ribeiro, who was split from his usual linemates, Brenden Morrow and Jere Lehtinen — he played most of the game paired with Steve Ott and Krys Barch — now has 16 assists this season.

And his numbers against the Coyotes continue to improve. In 19 career games, he has seven goals and 15 assists.

— Tracey Myers

Loui Eriksson gives Stars big boost with two goals

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:27 CST

By TRACEY MYERS

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dallas Stars had to keep it simple, especially in a road game. They needed more of the group effort instead of the individual-driven game that has been unsuccessful for them.

And while it’s just one victory, it was a much-needed one.

Loui Eriksson scored two goals, his team-leading seventh and eighth of the season, and Marty Turco stopped 25 of 27 shots as the Stars took a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night. It was a victory that led to more relief than anything else, as the Stars at least go into another long break with something positive.

"The points were needed, that’s for sure," coach Dave Tippett said. "We had relied on too few people before. Tonight, we tried to rely on everybody."

Still, in a game where the Stars didn’t have a ton of big scoring chances, they needed someone with an opportunistic touch. Enter Eriksson, who beat Ilya Bryzgalov with a backhand for the Stars’ early 1-0 lead and who later cleaned up a loose puck for the game-winner.

"He had a slow start, but I think the last 10 games he’s been our best player," said center Mike Ribeiro, who assisted on all three goals. "He’s going to the net, creating offense and playing well."

Nevertheless, the Stars played with a little fire in the second period, when turnovers created some good chances for the Coyotes. Eriksson had barely scored his second goal late in the second period when Phoenix took advantage of a Stars breakdown and scored when the puck hit off center Kevin Porter’s skate.

But the Stars tightened their defense up again, and got a big stop from Turco at the end to ensure this one wouldn’t go into overtime. Phoenix center Olli Jokinen had two quick wristers on net in the waning seconds, and Turco made a sweet kick save on the second to guarantee two points.

"I thought it should’ve been a cross check on [Sergei] Zubov in front, but those are the timely saves you need," Tippett said.

It’s not the most monumental victory the Stars have ever collected, and it doesn’t just put them back into the thick of the Western Conference race. But for a team who needed something positive, it was at least a start.

"We did some OK things tonight that will hopefully move us in the right direction," Mike Modano said. "It’s certainly something we needed desperately."

Dallas Stars aim to shake recent slump with rare win

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:28 CST

By TRACEY MYERS

FRISCO — Brad Richards was trying to find the appropriate words regarding the Dallas Stars’ myriad problems, including the mistrust that’s seeped through the locker room.

"I don’t have the right cliché to tell you, but that’s what it is," he said. "We’re not winning and it’s not good enough. Talk is talk. We’ve gone through that and there are no more secrets."

This is what it’s come down to: Quit yapping and start competing. Better yet, start winning. A lot. And they might want to start tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Stars’ deficit in the Western Conference keeps getting deeper and other teams are doing their best to make that distance even greater Entering Friday’s games, the Stars were No. 14 in the West out of 15 teams.

"We’re now at the point where it’s embarrassing," Steve Ott said. "Second-to-last in the West, that’s not acceptable. We have to regain our attitude, regain the effort. All the words we’re harping on, it’s holding each other to it now."

Brenden Morrow said, "Our body language is terrible right now. It’s going to take winning to have fun, but you have to enjoy the battles and the grind. When we had success in the playoffs, we had 23 warriors who were just enjoying the battle. Right now we don’t have enough battle in us."

So that’s what the Stars were doing at Friday’s practice. Battling for pucks, battling for space in front of the net. Basically fighting all the battles they didn’t fight in their second consecutive loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

It’s a mind-boggling situation, considering the Stars are healthy and this lineup’s talent level has been proven in the past. Asked how much if it was mental, Morrow said, "about 99 percent."

But their coach isn’t sympathetic to that.

"That’s a poor excuse," Dave Tippett said. "You’ve got to work through it. You’ve got to band together and play well as a group, and then you have a chance. That’s all we’re looking for."

So the talk has to take a backseat to the game. Otherwise, the Stars will have all the time in the summer to talk.

"You can break it down 1,000 ways. We just have to get better," Richards said. "We’ve got to hold each other accountable."

Briefly

Mike Modano, Sergei Zubov and Jere Lehtinen took Friday’s practice off to rest. All are fine and available for tonight’s game.

The Stars will unveil their third jersey at the Dr Pepper luncheon, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday at American Airlines Center. For more information, call 214-467-8277.

Another loss, more troubles for the Stars

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:51 CST

By TRACEY MYERS

DALLAS — Another terrible start, one not fitting a supposedly desperate team. Outworked for pucks, outhustled on opportunities.

And no trust in each other.

The Dallas Stars have some serious troubles, and they continued to plague them Thursday night in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, the second loss to them in as many games. For the Stars, the issues within their own walls loom bigger than anything else right now.

"We’ve been saying all the right things, but talk is cheap," Stars captain Brenden Morrow said. "Until everyone looks in the mirror and stops pointing fingers at other people and say, 'OK, we’ll find a way out of this hole,’ it’s going to keep snowballing and the playoffs will be out of reach."

Stars coach Dave Tippett said the team concept is nowhere right now.

"I see a mistrust in players," he said. "They have to trust in each other and when stuff happens, you help your partner out. We’re pretty much individual right now. And until we start playing like a team, it’s going to be helter-skelter."

The frustration has reached a boiling point.

"We just can’t find a way to win and on home ice that’s unacceptable," said Brad Richards, who scored a goal and assisted on Mike Ribeiro’s goal. "We feel like we should be dictating that first period; we should be up 2-0."

Instead, the Stars were down 2-0 early and chasing the Kings all game. They committed those can’t-catch-up penalties and not finding any urgency until well into the second period.

"It just comes down to work ethic, and it’s not there," defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "Until we realize it, we’ll just keep going down in the standings. We played a young team that doesn’t have many superstars, but they showed up and worked hard."

Marty Turco stopped 26 of 29 shots and had to come up big early when the Kings were getting chance after chance on another rough defensive night for the Stars. But it was another bad start, another loss for a team that can’t get out of its self-destructive patterns.

"It’s a big hole and everybody needs to start pulling the same way," Morrow said. "Right now, we’re not a very tight team. Everyone’s pulling in different directions."

Cheap shots to a player’s head should be punished

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:11 CST

TRACEY MYERS

There’s something beautiful about the physicality of the NHL. It’s just part of the game, and in its pure form, it’s why we all tune in to this sweet little game called hockey.

Now, it can have its bad elements with cheap shots, specifically these head shots we keep reading so much about. There’s no place for them in this game — in any game, for that matter. But unlike the commissioner, methinks you can eradicate those head shots without hurting the game.

When Gary Bettman talked with Michael Landsberg on TSN’s Off the Record on Monday, he was asked about cracking down on those shots. He said eradicating them wasn’t that easy.

"When we came back from the work stoppage [three years ago], a lot of our fans complained that we had taken the physicality out of the game by opening up the speed and skill," Bettman told Landsberg. "We didn’t do that — hitting is actually up. There are more body checks in the game than we had before the work stoppage. But if you say you can’t have contact with the head, you are going to reduce the amount of checking in the game and you are going to change the way the game is played."

OK, I think we’re comparing apples to cheap-shot oranges here. We’re not talking about checking. We’re talking about blatant, aiming-for-the-noggin head shots. Those are pretty easy to spot, and pretty easy to discipline.

Take Jarkko Ruutu’s elbow to Montreal’s Maxim Lapierre’s head Tuesday. Not hard to see what the plan was there. Ruutu was suspended two games — Lapierre was not hurt — and the message, hopefully, was understood.

The NHL needs to do more of that, and it won’t hurt the game a bit if it does.

Look at the NFL (yeah, wouldn’t want to follow that successful model, would we?). The league cracked down on helmet-to-helmet hits. Didn’t hurt the game. It did the same with the horse collar tackle. Didn’t hurt the game. Another no-no is the chop block.

Repeat after me: Didn’t hurt the game.

They’re all easy to point out, all subject to fines and suspensions, etc. And most importantly, you’re probably saving a few guys’ careers in the process.

There is too much gray area to lump those type of head shots in with just regular hitting. There’s a big difference, and it should be treated as such.

Enough with the excuses. Measures can be made to cut down on those head shots. So what if someone has to sit out a few games to learn a lesson? So what if (perhaps) their wallets are a little lighter after a fine? It needs to be done.

And the game will be just fine without them.

Stars’ penalty woes continue

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:51 CST

The Dallas Stars have been inconsistent in a lot of areas, but they’ve been steady in one category: penalties.

The Stars, the NHL’s most penalized team entering Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with 20.3 minutes per game, continued their bad behavior as they were whistled for nine penalties.

The sheer number of penalties is discouraging, but the timeliness of them is just as hurtful as they seem to be coming on top of each other.

Two Dallas penalties were called less than 4 minutes apart in the first period and three were called in a span of 5:37 in the second. And Los Angeles took advantage, with two of its three goals coming on the power play.

"We need to get better at that," Stars center Mike Ribeiro said. "It takes momentum away."

— Milenko Martinovich