Dallas Stars’ depth could prove to be too much for Vegas Golden Knights

The Dallas Stars won their first Western Conference regular-season title since 2015-16. They finished with 113 points, the second most in franchise history behind only the 1999 Stanley Cup team. 

Their reward? How about a first-round matchup with the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights that ended their season in the Western Conference Final last spring? 

While this is no cakewalk, these teams are very different from last season. 

The Stars were one of the elite teams all season long. They have the best goal differential in the West (plus-64), they have weapons all over and goaltender Jake Oettinger is playing lights out, going 10-1-0 in his last 11 starts. 

But most importantly, the Stars have the depth needed to make a long playoff run. That is likely to be the key in this series. 

Vegas is expected to get some help, with potential returns for William Carrier and Mark Stone. So this Golden Knights team is not going to be the same as the one that finished in the final playoff spot. 

But do they have the depth to keep up with Dallas?  

Colby Cohen: It took me a long time, but I finally got on the Dallas Stars’ bandwagon. I picked them to win the Stanley Cup… I just love the depth that this Dallas Stars team has. But I look at the D-core and I look at the center group [for Vegas], and I look at the way Bruce Cassidy coaches and the structure that he can get his team into. If there’s any six [defensemen] in the NHL that can shut down this well-oiled machine in the Dallas Stars, I think it’s the Vegas Golden Knights.  

Frank Seravalli: I’ve got the Stars advancing in seven. I think they are too deep. I look at Dallas, and you tell me where the hole is… Their defense skates like the wind. They added a different element in Chris Tanev. They’re efficient moving the puck. They’ve got eight 20-goal scorers up front. They’ve got top-end talent. There are all sorts of different elements that make them deep, hard to play against, they can play physical, they can skate, they can do it off the rush. 

You can watch the full episode here: