Making waves: tides may be turning in the Pacific but in spite of all the surprises, Mike Modano and the Stars may surf all the way to the division crown - Western Conference: Pacific Division

Hockey Digest, Nov, 2003 by Keith Loria

WITH ALL THE ATTENTION and praise the Ducks received last year--and it was all earned--you may have forgotten that while Anaheim was the one battling it out with the Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Dallas Stars had just as amazing a turnaround season, winning 46 games and collecting 111 points after missing the playoffs in 2001-02.

Of course, the Ducks were the story of the postseason, with goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere putting on a show the likes of which hadn't been seen in years. They were one game from winning it all and bringing Cup glory back to the Pacific.

The entire Pacific Division looked almost upside down by season's end, with the early favorite, the San Jose Sharks, uncomfortably in last place and Dallas and Anaheim in front. Phoenix and Los Angeles each had average seasons with little peaks and valleys here and there but did little overall that excited their fans.

Lots of big names have left the Pacific since last spring, including Derian Hatcher, Tony Amonte, Adam Oates Paul Kariya, Owen Nolan, and Teemu Selanne. This summer, most of the Pacific teams decided against making any huge moves to bolster their squads in the free-agent market.

The big exception, though, was Anaheim, who after losing Kariya went out and signed Sergei Fedorov to try and lead the team back to the Finals.

The big thing to watch this season in the Pacific will be the defenses. Collectively, the men under fire will comprise some of the youngest blue lines in the league and it will make for some exciting divisional play.

The Stars have plenty of experience in D however, and it's for that reason that Dallas will most likely stay on top. Anaheim will get a lot closer and prove they're not just an anomaly a la the Carolina Hurricanes. Phoenix should return to the playoff picture, but L.A. and San Jose ale going to need something big to happen to bolster their chances.

Yet as Anaheim proved last season, with a hot goalie, a strong hand running the ship, and some confidence you can go a long way.

1. Dallas Stars

THEY'RE BACK. AFTER MISSING THE playoffs in 2001-02, Dallas GM Doug Armstrong reconfigured his team and the Stars cruised to a first-place finish with 111 points. The wheeling and dealing continued this offseason and the Stars will be as exciting to watch on the ice as ever.

On the attack: Thanks to Bill Guerin and Scott Young, Mike Modano was back to his old self and that meant a lot of points in Dallas. Selke winner Jere Lehtinen had his best season to date and along with Pierre Turgeon, Ulf Dahlen, Brenden Morrow, and Nikko Kapanen, the offense was a solid three-lines deep. The Stars won't have to worry about scoring chances this season.

Under fire: The loss of Derian Hatcher is going to hurt. The Stars acted quickly to repair the damage by bringing in veterans Teppo Numminen and Don Sweeney but had to give up Daryl Sydor in the Numminen deal. Sergei Zubov, Richard Matvichuk, and newcomer Philippe Boucher were terrific, and it seems all of their blueliners can score, so that helps. It will be interesting to see how Hatcher's departure changes the team.

Between the pipes: Marty Turco silenced anyone who thought he couldn't handle the No. 1 job by going an amazing 31-10-10 with a 1.72 GAA in 55 games. A midseason injury prevented him from getting the Vezina, but there's no denying that Turco is one of the top goalies in the game today.

Behind the bench: With a team of superstars, it's sometimes hard to keep control, but Dave Tippett was stellar in his first season at the helm. He has a great eye for the game and keeps his offense moving at all times, which also keeps his players happy.

Bottom line: Mike Modano assumes the captaincy of a team that is deep at every position. With a year as a starter under his belt, Turco will have more confidence heading into the postseason, and Dallas' management is willing to make the moves necessary for the team to stay in front as the season progresses.

2. Anaheim Mighty Ducks

LAST YEAR WE TOLD YOU NOT TO expect miracles from this club, but we guess someone wanted to show us up because a miracle is exactly what happened as the Ducks found themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals. They now have blossoming talent and a rink full of confidence, so the Ducks could be contenders for years to come.

On the attack: Paul Kariya may have left the pond, but by bringing in six-time All-Star Sergei Fedorov for the next five years, the team has added one of the premiere two-way players in the game, a guy who knows how to win. Fedorov scored 36 goals and 47 assists last season for the Red Wings and also continued to be one of the games best defensive players. Vincent Prospal also was signed from Tampa Bay and the Ducks should benefit from his passes and power-play work. Throw in Petr Sykora, Steve Rucchin, and rising youngster Stanislav Chistov, and this is a potent offense.

Under fire: The defensive unit played strong all season long. Keith Carney put up impressive numbers and expect him to grow. Sandis Ozolinsh came over at the midpoint last year and provided the Ducks with the offensive-minded defenseman they had lacked. Niclas Havelid rebounded to have a solid year. Hard-hitting Ruslan Salei and Vitaly Vishnevski continue to provide the team with some backbone.