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Five months after the 2022-23 regular season ended in Dallas, the Blues will begin the 2023-24 season at American Airlines Center on Thursday night against the Stars.

“I thought our practices, the intensity level was high,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. “I thought they worked hard on our systems. I thought they came in with a professional and determined attitude to get something out of every day. I thought the coaches pushed them to the limit, and I thought the players responded.”

Jordan Binnington will start in goal for the Blues, as he was the first goalie off the ice for morning skate. It was an optional skate for ������Ƶ, so they did not show a full lineup, but it’s expected to be the same lines and defensive pairs as training camp, “for the most part,” Blues coach Craig Berube warned.

“You can watch warmup,” he said.

Veterans Nick Leddy, Justin Faulk, Brandon Saad and Kasperi Kapanen were the only Blues not on the ice for the optional skate.

“We had three practices in a row, and guys worked hard,” Berube said. “We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish in those practices. Just today is about them preparing and doing what they think they need to be prepared for tonight, that’s all.”

The Stars will be without top-line center Roope Hintz, who will not play Thursday due to an upper-body injury, Stars coach Pete DeBoer said.

“Making a lot of progress. I think he was close. If it’s a playoff game, he’s probably playing, but we have five days after tonight so the risk-reward of it didn’t make sense.”

Tyler Seguin will fill in on the Dallas top line between Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski.

On the roster, not in the lineup

The Blues had a trio of key young players become waivers eligible this season, but only one is expected to be in the Opening Night lineup against the Stars.

Defenseman Tyler Tucker will be in his first Opening Night lineup in Dallas, while forward Nikita Alexandrov and defenseman Scott Perunovich sit as healthy scratches. Because the Blues kept Tucker, Perunovich and Alexandrov on the NHL roster, they had to waive Nathan Walker, Mackenzie MacEachern and Calle Rosén.

Walker, MacEachern and Rosén (plus goaltender Malcolm Subban) all cleared waivers and were sent to AHL affiliate Springfield.

“I think we’ve tried to be honest with the players that aren’t here right now that we have to take a look at these guys,” Armstrong said. “We have to see what they can do. One of those three players is in the lineup tomorrow night, the other two are waiting their turn, and when they get in there, they’re going to have to prove that they’re regular NHL players, and where they take it from there, that’s up to them.”

Perunovich and Alexandrov will each be restricted free agents in the summer. Tucker signed a two-year contract worth $800,000 annually this offseason.

— Forward Isaac Ratcliffe, who was in Blues camp as a professional tryout, will not be in the organization this season, Armstrong said. Ratcliffe was injured Sept. 26 in a preseason game against Columbus and did not return to the ice during training camp.

Expected Blues lineup at Dallas on Thursday, 7 p.m.

Pavel Buchnevich – Robert Thomas – Jordan Kyrou

Brandon Saad – Brayden Schenn – Kasperi Kapanen

Jakub Vrána – Kevin Hayes – Sammy Blais

Alexey Toropchenko – Oskar Sundqvist – Jake Neighbours

Nick Leddy – Colton Parayko

Torey Krug – Justin Faulk

Marco Scandella – Tyler Tucker

Jordan Binnington

Joel Hofer

Scratches: Nikita Alexandrov, Scott Perunovich, Robert Bortuzzo.

Expected Stars lineup vs. ������Ƶ

Jason Robertson – Tyler Seguin – Joe Pavelski

Mason Marchment – Matt Duchene – Evgenii Dadonov

Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Ty Dellandrea

Sam Steel – Radek Faksa – Craig Smith

Ryan Suter – Miro Heiskanen

Thomas Harley – Jani Hakanpää

Esa Lindell – Nils Lundkvist

Jake Oettinger

Scott Wedgewood

Scratches: Roope Hintz (upper-body), Joel Hanley.