Now that the NHL has made January 13 the official start date, the 2020-21 season is now less than a month away. In anticipation of what this new season could bring, let’s take a look at which Stars’ players could reach personal milestones.
Jamie Benn
Going into his 12th NHL season, the Stars’ captain has two upcoming milestones this season. He should easily achieve both, even during the shortened campaign.
Benn is just 12 assists away from reaching 400 career assists. So scoring 12 assists in a shortened season with 56 games should be doable for the captain. During the 2019-20 regular season, Benn recorded 20 assists in 69 games. Based on his performance in the shortened season, 12 assists in 56 games should be easily achievable for the 31-year-old left-winger.
Benn is also just 12 points away from reaching 700 points. Again, this should be a pretty easy milestone to reach for him, and his stats in the shortened 2019-20 season support this, as he had 39 points in 69 games.
Alexander Radulov
Going into his fourth season with Dallas, the veteran forward has one very achievable milestone in 2019-20, that milestone being 200 career assists. Going into the 2020-21 season, he sits at 198 assists, meaning he is just two assists away from the milestone.
It is highly unlikely that Radulov doesn’t reach the 200-assist mark seeing that he will have 56 games to score two assists.
Andrej Sekera
Sekera is due to reach one milestone this season.
Like Radulov, Sekera’s milestone is 200 assists. Going into the 2020-21 season, he is just three assists away. Again, scoring two assists even in a shortened season should be very easily achievable.
During the shortened 2019-20 season, he recorded six assists through 57 games. In the 2018-19 season, he recorded four assists in 24 games, and in the 2017-18 season, he recorded eight assists in 36 games.
If this continues into the upcoming season, Sekera should easily reach the milestone in 56 games.
Joe Pavelski
The Stars centerman has one milestone coming up in the 2020-21 season.
Going into his 15th NHL season, Pavelski currently sits eight points away from 800 career points. Even in the shortened season, the veteran shouldn’t have much trouble reaching the milestone if he can stay healthy.
During the 2019-20 season, he recorded 31 points through 67 games, and back during the 2006-07 season, he recorded 28 points through 46. Based on his previous stats, he should have no trouble reaching 800 points.
John Klingberg
Going into the 2020-21 season, Klingberg has one upcoming milestone.
The 27-year-old defenseman sits just nine points away from 300 career points. In the 2019-20 season, Klingberg recorded 32 points through 58 games. In the 2018-19 season, he recorded 54 points through 64 games. His previous stats support him reaching this milestone, so he should have no problem achieving it through 56 games.
Anton Khudobin
After re-signing with the team during the offseason, the returning backup goaltender is entering the season just one win away from 100 career wins.
With Ben Bishop being unavailable for the start of the season and Khudobin taking over his starter position, he should have no trouble reaching the milestone.
Miro Heiskanen
The young defender is currently 50 games away from reaching 200 games.
In a regular length 82 game season, Heiskanen would more likely than not reach 200 games if he was healthy. However, in a 56 game season, it’s less likely that he’ll reach the milestone.
The Stars players have many upcoming milestones and despite the season being shortened due to the pandemic (again), the Dallas roster still has plenty of individual milestones to look forward to.
Hi everyone, my name’s Maddie Manfredi! I’ve previously covered the Boston Bruins and I’m excited to start a new chapter covering the Stars! I love writing and sports and I am excited to share my two passions with the world!
