By Luke McGinnis
On his style of play, Dutertre said:
“It’s all about maintaining possession of the puck, and if we don’t have it, we’ve got to go back and get it as quickly as we can.
“It’s really that simple. We don’t just throw the puck away to get rid of it. If you don’t know where it’s going, then hold onto it.”
On balancing his forward lines, he added:
“Usually your top six is going to be more offensive, but everybody is important in their role.
“A third line typically becomes more of a checking line that can still generate offence, while a fourth line needs to bring energy, be reliable in its own zone and create momentum.
“One of the most important habits for us will be getting to the net hard and keeping our sticks down around the crease.”
“I don’t want to put guys into boxes. There will be nights where the fourth line wins us a hockey game and other nights where it’s the first line.
“Every player is important and brings value.”
Dutertre also spoke about building a strong defensive identity, saying:
“When the puck is in our end, you need to have a good stick, make good reads and make good exits when you get possession.
“Once we move into the neutral zone and offensive zone, I want our defencemen to have the freedom to activate and join the rush.”
“There will be some stay-at-home defencemen that I’ll challenge to become more involved offensively and have confidence to attack.
“At the same time, players who naturally want to jump into every rush need to be detailed and responsible in their own zone first.”
On what he looks for in a goaltender, Dutertre explained:
“I really like goaltenders who can play the puck and think like a defenceman.
“I’m big on positioning and making the first save. Once that happens, it’s our job as a team to support them and clear the puck.”
“We don’t need flashy saves. We need composure in net and someone who can consistently stop the first shot.”
Finally, Dutertre discussed his current plans for managing the crease:
“Right now, I’m looking at running more of a 1A and 1B tandem alongside a homegrown goalie.
“When you look at the schedule, there are nights where you’re on the bus all day before a game and then right back home to play again the following night.
“Having two goaltenders capable of sharing that workload is important. One guy can focus entirely on a Friday night, while the other prepares for Saturday, and that helps keep everybody fresh.”
Stars fans can check back at 7pm to meet the latest addition to the 2026/27 season!
