2 Upgrades Dallas Stars Need In The New Year

The Dallas Stars don't really have much to worry about this season until they make it to the playoffs. Even with Jake Oettinger going down to injury, they have been fine. Things may start to get a little bit tougher though as Miro Heiskanen just got injured and is considered week-to-week. It may not be time to upgrade just yet, but it is getting there for this team that will need some help soon if they don't want to go on a slide. This is a look at where the Stars should upgrade this season.

Top-4 Defenseman

The one area that has needed to be addressed in Dallas for more than this season is their top-four defense. Heiskanen and Esa Lindell are without a doubt top-four d-men, but Ryan Suter has gotten older and slower while Jani Hakanpaa is best fit for a bottom pairing role. The team has Thomas Harley, but it doesn't seem like they want to throw him right in the fire right away. With Heiskanen also out for a while, the team needs to figure something out and find a way to bring in someone who can help out in the team's top-four, really bolstering it, even if it is just a rental.

Experienced Depth

The Stars' top three forward lines have been great for them. When a line or two struggle to produce in a game, the other will step up. I don't think much will be done with those nine players this season unless there is an injury before the trade deadline. What is much more likely to be upgraded is the fourth line. With how the team is built, this opportunity this season can't be wasted with a lackluster trade deadline. The fourth line isn't bad, but can be bolstered even more with a player who knows his role in the bottom-six and has been to the playoffs before. This would likely come in an experienced depth player, even if he doesn't play every night. This injection into the locker room would benefit the team.