The Dallas Stars top players aren't really playing like top players right now, and it's showing in the standings. The Stars have a below .500 record of 8-8-2, while players like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and others are having little impact on the scoresheet. After an overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets Sunday where none of the team's big name players manage to score, head coach Jim Montgomery wasn't shy about sharing his thoughts.
"Are you disappointed with the scoring of the top players?," a reporter asked.
“Very disappointed,' Montgomery replied.
"Are you seeing signs of progress?," the reporter asked as a follow up.
“No, are you?," Montgomery replied bluntly.
Montgomery took the time to single out Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin specifically
Montgomery on Benn and Seguin slumping:
"They've got to decide they want to be a difference-maker. Look who scored for the Jets. You need your number on center and number one left-winger to step up and do more."
Benn, who is currently making $7.5 million per season, has just one goal and six points in 17 games. Seguin, earning just under $10 million per season, has 11 points, including just three goals, in 17 games. The top scorer for Dallas at this time is Roope Hintz, earning about $100,000 over the NHL's minimum salary of $700,000 per season. He's tied with Seguin at 11 points, although Hintz has nine goals. It isn't necessarily a bad thing that a player earning relatively little is stepping up on the scoresheet. It is an issue, though when your top paid players aren't producing the way they should be. Dallas currently sits fifth in the Central Division with 18 points.
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