Lindy Ruff's challenge requires patience, creativity and finesse.
But the Stars coach knows that reworking his group of defensemen might be the most important thing he does in the coming season.
The man who helped align and assimilate Team Canada's defense at two different Olympics will have to tweak the Dallas blue line that will be bigger, stronger and a lot less experienced.
"It's a good group, and we feel like we can be better than we were last year, but it will take a lot of work," Ruff said.
Dallas let go of veterans Alex Goligoski (Arizona), Jason Demers (Florida) and Kris Russell (still unsigned) in free agency, and acquired veteran Dan Hamhuis.