TWEENERY?

Its like “strategery” – a made up word, but a damn good one.

With much thought, examination and consternation I am starting to lean toward labeling the Stars as a “tweener” team. That is to say, most of the players that impact outcomes are either pre-prime or past-prime, and the ones that are in pure-prime are too few and/or not playing to potential right now.

In goal you have a 34 year old Marty Turco. He should be spackling the holes in the lineup but hasn’t done it with any regularity. His inconsistency has contributed to the clubs mediocrity. His age is approaching the upper edge of prime time for a goalie and the team has needed more than what he has provided.

On defense you have the trio of Grossman, Fistric and Niskanen who are two or three years from potentially being studs back there. Daley is entering what should be his best years, Skrastins is exiting them, and Stephane Robidas is right smack dab in the middle of his best hockey – ever. (indeed)

Up front, Brad Richards is in his prime and is delivering. Loui Eriksson is just squeezing into his best years and will get better in the next 3,4, 5 seasons – which is both amazing and exciting. Guys like Neal, Wandell, and Benn are a few years away from being potentially dominant forwards. Mike Ribeiro is in his prime, Mike Modano is not, and neither is Lehtinen. Steve Ott should be producing more than hatred from the opposition as he’s in his prime and is in a contract year. And then there is Captain Brenden Morrow. Two years ago he was the young, new leader of this club after an awkwardly botched hand-off from Modano and was the envy of G.M.s across the league. Last year he suffered a devastating knee injury. This season he has achieved his goal of making the Canadian Olympic Team but he hasn’t scored enough goals or played with enough consistent fire for this team. He’s a lead by example guy and his example has been inconsistent, which probably helps explain the team’s hit and miss play.

So show some patience and some compassion Stars fans, sunnier days are ahead…at least that’s the view from moi – provided the strategery going forward pulls us out of “Tweenerville”.