The Dallas Stars made it farther than most expected in the 2020 postseason, as their battle cry of "We're not going home!" carried them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
They couldn't best the Tampa Bay Lightning in that series, and the offseason brought surgeries to two key players -- Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop -- as well as a cap crunch that prevented any big signings.
How do they keep the momentum from the trip to the Cup Final going? Here's our preview for the 2020-21 season.
Big question: Can they get off to a strong start?
We often talk about Stanley Cup hangovers, but it can be just as hard for the runner-up. Dallas, for example, is beginning the season without Tyler Seguin and Ben Bishop, who are both recovering from offseason surgeries. The Stars know how arduous it is to climb back from a slow start, after going 2-7-1 to start last season. And in a condensed, 56-game season, there's less margin for error.
Did realignment hurt or help?
The Stars avoided having to be one of two Central Division teams shifted to the West Division -- which, theoretically, is easier on them from a travel standpoint. And in this new-look Central, there are fewer "favorites" at the top, so Dallas made out pretty well.
Offseason comings and goings, plus the cap situation
Dallas has $257,969 in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly. The Stars didn't do anything too big this offseason, besides taking the interim moniker away from Rick Bowness and giving the coach a new two-year contract. Dallas brought in defenseman Mark Pysyk and said goodbye to defenseman Roman Polak and forwards Mattias Janmark and Corey Perry.
Bold prediction
Joel Kiviranta picks up momentum from his playoff heroics and becomes a regular contributor. After scoring just one goal in 11 regular season games, Kiviranta became a cult sensation in the bubble with a series-clinching hat trick against the Avalanche. Kiviranta seemed to win over a big fan in coach Rick Bowness -- who continually praised the 24-year-old's confidence -- and should see increased opportunities this season.
Breakout candidate: Jason Robertson
OK, so he might be a year away from his true breakout, but keep an eye on the Stars' usage of the 21-year-old -- including on the power play, given Seguin's absence. He's a prospect with slick hands and exciting overall skill. Robertson had a terrific first season as a pro in 2019-20, leading the AHL Texas Stars with 25 goals and 47 points.
Biggest strength: The one-two punch on right defense of John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen
The 21-year-old Heiskanen was a breakout star of the bubble and is poised to be a special player in this league; the Finn's skating is truly phenomenal. Though he may get lost in the Heiskanen hype, don't forget about Klingberg, who was the team's top defenseman last season, and an extremely solid one at that.
Biggest weakness: Lack of goals
Offense once again might be an issue. The Stars can win with their defensive style -- and they can adapt, as we saw them morph into a high-octane offense in their playoff series win against the Avalanche. But Dallas ranked 26th in the NHL with just 2.68 goals per game last season, and had only one player (Seguin) crack 40 points.
Stars in NHL Rank
No. 37: Miro Heiskanen, D
No. 54: Tyler Seguin, C
No. 69: Jamie Benn, LW
No. 70: John Klingberg, D
No. 74: Ben Bishop, G
No. 87: Anton Khudobin, G
Prospect perspective
Pipeline ranking: 21
Prospects in the top 100: No. 49 Thomas Harley (D), No. 66 Ty Dellandrea (C), No. 93 Mavrik Bourque (C), honorable mention Jason Robertson (RW)
Fantasy facts to know
With Tyler Seguin (hip surgery) out until at least early April, the Stars need additional production from others up front. I like forward Roope Hintz to ratchet his scoring game up a notch after making a solid impression in his sophomore season. The summer's long playoff grind only serves to hit the fast-forward button on Hintz's maturation process. Expect more shots and goals from the 24-year-old this winter.
Denis Gurianov is another to watch as a fantasy dark horse after scoring nine goals and eight assists in his first postseason.
And, don't underrate veteran Jamie Benn as a provider of hits and blocked shots, plus scoring, in ESPN's new standard scoring system.
On the blue line, 21-year-old Miro Heiskanen is apt to flourish as a legit productive threat at even strength and with the extra skater. Never mind last season's 35 points; this kid punched out six goals and 20 assists in 27 playoff contests.
In the crease, it's all about Anton Khudobin -- another playoff star who was also fantastic during the regular season -- while Ben Bishop (knee surgery) remains out until late March. -- Victoria Matiash