The latest from Cedar Park.
Eager and enthusiastic: To say that newcomer Matt Duchene is excited about practicing alongside Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin is an understatement.
That’s a combination that was featured by head coach Pete DeBoer on Thursday as the Stars opened training camp at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Duchene, who signed a one-year contract in July, believes the line has serious potential.
“Just skating with those guys over the last little bit, they’re two unbelievable players. On paper, it’s as good of a line as I’ve ever been a part of, so I’m really looking forward to that,” said Duchene. “Obviously, there’ll be a level that we want to play at and get to right off the bat. We can kind of push each other towards that. They’re two unbelievable players, so I’m really lucky to be slated there to start.”
Speaking of potential, the veteran forward knows full well that the Stars are among a select group of major Stanley Cup contenders heading into the 2023-24 campaign.
But, he isn’t getting ahead of himself. There’s still a lot of work to do to accomplish that objective.
“I think there’s a handful of teams in the League that can honestly say that when they go home, and everyone’s shooting for that. The most important thing is to just focus day by day. We’re not going to win the Stanley Cup today, right? It’s Day 1 of camp. It’s just important to stay in the moment, approach it like that, and I think for me, that’s something I’ve worked on over the course of my career, just staying in the moment and focusing on what’s right in front of me,” explained Duchene. “I think as a group, with the expectations that we have, that’s the most important thing, just taking care of today and worrying about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.”
Embracing expectations: Like Duchene, Seguin knows all eyes will be on the Stars to contend for their first championship since 1999 - and that suits him just fine.
“The expectations are high here, but that’s what makes it exciting to come to these camps,” said Seguin, who won the Cup with Boston in 2011. “And even just our captain’s skates, just seeing how deep we are out there, and just all the talent and how many different guys can score goals. It’s going to be fun to be a part of.”
Seizing the opportunity this time around would mean everything to Seguin.
Having been a member of the organization since 2013-14, he would love to finally deliver another title to the fans.
“This is what we play for. In your career, you look forward to these opportunities, and we have that opportunity here, and you can’t be scared to talk about it and have those expectations, and we’re not,” mentioned Seguin. “We’ve gotten close over the last few years, here and there, the bubble and last year, and just being so close and having those experiences, the older guys have many of them, but now some of those younger guys have them too, and when you put that all together, that’s a dangerous team and a team that could be successful, so our expectations are high.”
Doubling down: Earlier this month, Miro Heiskanen confirmed that one of his goals this season is winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s most outstanding defenseman.
Heiskanen, 24, will likely have plenty of challengers for the honor, including Erik Karlsson, Cale Makar and Adam Fox, but anything is possible given his remarkable skillset.
Asked about his personal goal, the Finnish blueliner reiterated the same intention.
“Of course it’s true. I want to be the best, if that’s possible,” stressed Heiskanen. “That’s what I’m here for, and I’ll try to do everything I can to make it possible. I’ll work hard every day and that’s it.”
Click here to watch the full interview with Duchene.
Click here to watch the full interview with Seguin.
Click here to watch the full interview with Heiskanen.
