DALLAS – The Dallas Stars had all the hope and promise of a new season in 2014. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin were ready to take charge and lead the club to the post season.
Instead, the Stars suffered an up and down season with far too many downs including long losing streaks home ice and inconsistent play on the road. They ended the year 41-31-10 and finished seven points out of a playoff spot. 
Seguin scored 18 of his 37 goals in the first two months of the season then became sporadic in contributions the rest of the season. Jamie Benn scored 35 goals and 87 points on the season as captain and leader of the Stars. The problem for Dallas was the drop off in goal production after Benn and Seguin. No other player picked up even 20 goals. Jason Spezza was the third leading scorer with 17 goals and 62 points.
From a statistical perspective, the Stars were all over the map. They ended the season 19th on the penalty kill, 12th on the power play. Despite the dichotomy in scoring the Stars managed to come in second in the league with 257 goals scored; the problem was they allowed the same number of goals, good for a 27th overall ranking in the NHL.
Defensively, the Stars’ blueliners include Trevor Daley with 16 goals and 38 points and a -13 rating, John Klingberg with 11 goals for 40 points (+5) and Alex Goligoskiwith 4 goals for 36 and broke even in plus-minus.
Good months followed by dreadful months and a lack of consistency. In addition, the home ice of American Airlines Arena was not friendly with frustrating losing streaks that killed the team’s chances late in the season.
Kari Lehtonen was the workhorse in net for Dallas with a 34-17-10 record and 2.94 goals against average and .903 save percentage. Jhonas Enroth was brought in from Buffalo for Anders Lindback with little impact in goal. With little help in front of them, there is ample reason for the less than stellar numbers for the goaltending corps. But given the lack of support in the defensive zone it is surprising to see the overall record of Lehtonen.
The team needs good, steady, stay at home defenders to drop that goals against average at least under 3.00. The offense is stable despite the up and down status of the likes of Seguin.
Down at the 12th pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the Stars have some options but none are considered to be the standout stars that were picked in the top seven or eight selections.
For the blueline, there are even fewer choices. If the Stars are to ride the efforts of Benn and Seguin to the post season, not even playoff success in the playoffs will cut it. They still some help for the 2015-16 season.
At 18 years of age, defenseman Oliver Kylington presents as a credible choice in the 12th slot. He is listed at 6’, 174 pounds which may be considered small but given the style of play in the NHL’s Western Conference. That somewhat diminutive style may be a drawback.
However, he has played two seasons with Farjestad in the Swedish Hockey League giving him valuable experience against older, more mature and stronger players. He has been variously described as a stay at home defenseman unafraid to join the rush when the opportunity is available.
Apart from free agency Dallas has few options and fewer assets to a trade that would bring some stronger, bigger blueliners to the Metroplex.
Kylington has speed and skill to spare but his stock tailed off a bit with an injury ahead of the World Junior Championships this season. But his ranking is still in the mid-first round. Dallas may not be desperate but the need is acute for a quality defenseman.
Pro Hockey News sees the Dallas Stars going for this Swedish skater and take the time to build up his size and strength for the Western Conference grind, possibly in the 2016-17 season.
“With the 12th selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars are pleased to select, from the Swedish Hockey League, defenseman Oliver Kylington.”
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