Stars' Seguin working to improve in faceoff circle

Tyler Seguin broke out in a big way during his first season with the Dallas Stars, posting career highs in goals (37), assists (47) and shots on goal (294). One area in which he struggled, however, was the faceoff circle, after moving back to the center position for the first time since his days in the Ontario Hockey League.

As great players are wont to do, Seguin is spending his summer improving an area of weakness; one that saw him succeed at a rate of just 41.5 percent in the faceoff circle last season.

“The scouting for me this summer has been watching faceoffs around the league from other centermen,” he told The Hockey News. “Learning a bit more about the position. It was my first year and it’s a lot harder than you think, switching positions in the NHL.”

The regimen is similar to that of Sidney Crosby, who struggled early in his career (45 percent as a rookie) and devoted those summers to mastering the art. 

Seguin will also learn from new Stars center Jason Spezza, who boasts a career success rate of 52.4 percent.

“I’ve been watching [Spezza] since I was a little kid, so I know his game,” Seguin said. “I’ve been talking to him a little since the trade and I know he’s excited to get going.”

The addition of a strong faceoff game will only serve to boost Seguin's burgeoning arsenal, benefiting both the Stars and fantasy hockey owners in the process.