Five things to watch this season for the Stars

The Dallas Stars open the season Thursday night at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Coach Lindy Ruff’s Stars finished six points out of the playoffs last season, but return the league’s top scorer in Jamie Benn, although he’s been slowed by off-season hip surgery.

Here are five storylines to follow on the Stars:

1How will the two-goalie rotation work between Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi? Through the past five seasons with the Stars, Lehtonen has remained on top of the NHL’s games-played list due to the absence of a reliable backup to allow the Finnish goalie to get some rest days. General manager Jim Nill acquired Niemi to create a two-goalie system, not unlike a starting pitching staff in baseball. What’s left to be seen is how both of these goaltenders will be utilized and who will see the majority of starts. Both goalies will be used and whoever starts Thursday means very little to the bigger picture of the entire season, Ruff said.

2How long will it take for Jamie Benn to return to full strength? Benn has been limited through practice and preseason games as he recovers from off-season hip surgery. Ruff said he continues to believe Benn has another level to reach before he is back to his baseline. Expect the defending league leader in points to be on the ice Thursday, but Ruff called it the “great mystery” on how long it will take for him to be back at 100 percent.

3Will the addition of Johnny Oduya fortify a defense that has been the weakest link of the organization for the past several years? Oduya brings 11 years of NHL experience to a young blue line, including seven trips to the postseason with the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks and two Stanley Cups while in Chicago. The 34-year-old veteran said some of the younger players have already begun to use him as a resource.

4Can John Klingberg avoid a sophomore slump and will forward Valeri Nichushkin continue trending upward after losing a season to injury? Klingberg finished his rookie season with 11 goals and 40 points in 65 games. Many believe he could develop into a No. 1 defenseman for the Stars. Dallas also gets a boost on offense with the return of Nichushkin, who played only eight games last season due to injury. In his rookie season in 2013-14, the Russian-born right wing had 14 goals and 20 assists in 79 games.

5Who is Mattias Janmark? Janmark, a 22-year-old center, was the last man to make the cut on the opening night roster, beating out forward Curtis McKenzie, who played 36 games for the Stars last season. Janmark had a strong preseason, scoring two goals in seven games. Last season, Janmark played with Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League, collecting 13 goals and 23 assists. He was drafted 79th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2013 and was a part of the Eric Cole trade last season.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Five things to watch this season for the Stars."