HOCKEY'S HERE: DALLAS STARS

The first hint of fall is in the air. It's getting dark earlier, and soon it will be too cold to spend Saturday nights sharing a 2-4 of Blue and listening to Guns N' Roses at the gravel pit. It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it’s hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field offers looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The Dallas Stars.

Last season: 101 points, 1st in Pacific Division; lost to Colorado in first round of playoffs
Coach: Dave Tippett (4th season)
Young gun: Junior Lessard ('03-04 Hobey Baker winner averaged close to a point a game at AHL Iowa last season)
Store this name away: Vadim Khomitski
Hey, get a load of the new guys: Jeff Halpern, Eric Lindros, Mike Ribeiro
Blogs (including but not limited to): Andrew's Dallas Star Page, Cupchasers, Razor With An Edge,
Pop culture moment: Uh, there isn't one, but back in the day on our campus radio show, The Sports Revolution, Associate Blogger Neil Acharya used to do a character, Billy Bob, "The Dallas Morning News junior high school football and Dallas Stars beat reporter"

If you were looking for a top regular-season team from '05-06 who's going to end up missing the playoffs this season, the Stars might be your team. Their stalwarts are getting old, they just had a chance in the captaincy (Brenden Morrow is wearing the 'C' and long-time captain Mike Modano is now an alternate), and the disappointment of being unable to get past the second round three straight years despite averaging 103 points in the regular season is bound to take a toll on their confidence.

A pair of top-four defencemen, Darryl Syder and Jaroslav Modry, are in their mid-30s in a ne NHL that's aging a lot of d-men before their time. Dallas doesn't have a dominant scorer, which is why they sent with d-man Janne Niinimaa and a draft choice to the Canadiens for forward Mike Ribeiro last weekend.

I'll say this much -- between Lindros, fellow former No. 1 pick Patrik Stefan and Ribeiro, who struggled with the pressures of being a Montreal-born player on the Canadiens, the Stars have some second- and third-line forwards who are looking to rejuvenate their careers.

Ultimately, they look like the seventh- or eighth-best team in the West.

Also in Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.