Season Preview: 3 questions facing the Stars

theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.

The Dallas Stars claimed first place overall in the Western Conference last season, thanks in large part to an offense that paced the league in goal scoring.

Be that as it may, the club has unfinished business after an early postseason exit.

Here are three questions facing the Stars as they look to build on last season's run:

Will goaltending hold the team back?

It was well documented last season that the Stars' biggest flaw was between the pipes.

While on paper the likes of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi appeared to be a strong duo entering the 2015-16 season, the fact remains that at it's conclusion, both put up sub par numbers.

*Among goalies with minimum 20 games played

During the offseason, Dallas general manager Jim Nill remained adamant that he was confident in his goaltending tandem, and that he would enter this season with both men in line to once again share the time in the blue paint.

Despite the poor numbers, each goalie was able to compile 25 wins a piece last campaign, largely on the back of a high octane offense.

Maybe the Stars' goaltending doesn't need to be good, but perhaps, just good enough.

Will Nichushkin finally break out?

After being selected 10th overall in 2013 by the Stars, followed up by a commendable rookie campaign in 2014, it appeared Valeri Nichushkin was set to become one of the premiere young talents in the game.

However, two years later and the Stars are still waiting for him to become the elite player they envisioned.

Of course during the 2014-15 season Nichushkin was limited to just eight games after undergoing hip surgery, which isn't to be overlooked.

After receiving reduced ice-time at points last season, Nichushkin admitted to a Russian news outlet that he didn't feel trusted by head coach Lindy Ruff.

However, those feelings appear to be in the rear-view mirror as his agent asserted in March that his client loves it in Dallas.

Nill has also made it public that Nichushkin is an important part of the club, though he still remains unsigned.

How will the team's defense hold up?

Going hand-in-hand with the team's goaltending, the Stars' biggest question this season will be whether they can limit the amount of pucks ending up in their own net.

The team was able to land veteran blueliner Dan Hamhuis in free agency, providing a solid, calming presence on the back end.

However, in turn the club said goodbye to Alex Goligoski, whose rights were traded to the Arizona Coyotes, where the veteran ultimately signed. Jason Demers joined the Florida Panthers, and Kris Russell, who had been acquired at the trade deadline, was left to walk.

So while the club will add Hamhuis, they will - unless moves are made prior to the beginning of the season - also rely more heavily on their young defensive depth.

The likes of Jamie Oleksiak, Stephen Johns, and Patrik Nemeth could all see a heavy work load on the back-end after all spending time in the AHL last season.

Will that contingent be able to stand up in the league's toughest division?