KEY ADDITIONS				KEY LOSSES
Name Warren Luhning Jamie Pushor	Pos. F D	From Islanders Mighty Ducks		Name Roman Turek Jason Botterill Pat Verbeek Craig Ludwig	Pos. G F F D	To Blues Thrashers N/A Retired

Outlook
If ever a team in recent times had an excellent chance at repeating as Stanley Cup champions, it is these Dallas Stars, who shed some of its old age during the offseason and still has plenty of talent to go around.

		The big question for the Stars will be desire and drive. After winning the Stanley Cup, will they will be willing to do it again? Certainly, the Stars want to, but they know what they are up against. They can ask Detroit what it's like to be defending Stanley Cup champions. It will take extra effort all year long. Everybody comes after the champion, and it's relentless. Going the distance again is tougher. The Stars are extremely strong and will remain one of the best teams in the league. A Cup repeat is certainly realistic, but the Stars are susceptible to injury, especially to players like Richard Matvichuk, Derian Hatcher and Mike Modano.

Pat Verbeek is gone, but rookies like Jonathan Sim, Jamie Wright, Aaron Gavey and Blake Sloan are waiting in the wings. The sleeper, however, among the rookies could be Pavel Patera; the Stars were experimenting with him at left wing on the second line during the preseason. Center Jamie Langenbrunner is only 24 and has emerged as an offensive threat and a clutch performer. He's a nice compliment to established players like Mike Modano, Joe Nieuwendyk, Brett Hull and Jere Lehtinen.

Few teams can match the offensive firepower the Stars have at defense. Sergei Zubov and Darryl Sydor combined for 24 goals last season. If Shawn Chambers can bounce back from injuries, he will provide a good spark in transition. Derian Hatcher provides the grit while Richard Matvichuk and Jamie Pushor are solid defensively. Of course, that's prvided the team signs Matvichuk. The team hopes youngsters Brad Lukowich, Alan Letang or Richard Jackman can step forward and fill out the group.

Goaltender Ed Belfour, finally over the hump by winning his first Cup last spring, will be backed up by Manny Fernandez or Marty Turco.

After all the talent is evaluated, it must be known by now that, aside from Scotty Bowman, Stars coach Ken Hitchcock may be the best in the NHL today.

Dallas has all the ingredients to repeat as Cup champs this season.

'98-99 PACIFIC STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	T	Pts.
Dallas	51	19	12	114
Phoenix	39	31	12	90
Anaheim	35	34	13	83
San Jose	31	33	18	80
Los Angeles	32	45	5	69

The bottom line
Better or not: Not
By how much: 2-3 wins
Most improved: Jamie Langenbrunner
Most valuable: Ed Belfour
Biggest disappointment: Brett Hull

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.