Defending Big D's Dallas Stars 2010 Draft Preview

In the last three drafts, the Dallas Stars have taken only 2 defensemen total. The proverbial defensive cupboard is now bare. They're looking to remedy that little situation starting tonight in Los Angeles at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

2010 Dallas Stars draft picks:

1st Round: #11
2nd Round: #41
3rd Round: #71
5th Round: #131

In Joe Nieuwendyk's first draft last season he concentrated on drafting the best player on their board available at the time. Scott Glennie was the first of many fast wingers taken in that draft, and no defensemen were selected. While the Stars say they will keep to their "best player available" philosophy, they told the Dallas Morning News yesterday that if there is an option, they will lean toward the blue liners:

"If we think two players are close, we're probably going to go with the defenseman," said Tim Bernhardt, the Stars' director of amateur scouting.[DMN]

You've made your voices heard here at Defending Big D in the polls recently, and the consensus seems to be Derek Forbort, a defensemen from the United States developmental program. Dozens of mock drafts back that choice up and rumor has it the Stars are indeed paying close attention to the young man who is committed to North Dakota next season, but that's not the only option.

Another interesting choice could be the top netminder in the draft, Jack Campbell. Campbell led the USA Under-18 team to a Gold Medal in the World Junior Championship this year and could help the Stars re-stock their goaltending prospects which some feel are almost as dried up as the defense.

Brandon Worley of Pro Hockey Talk is in Los Angeles for the draft and told Defending Big D that the Stars do appear to have some interest in the young goaltender...

Campbell, according to Worley, spent some time talking to Joe Nieuwendyk on Thursday. When asked about the Stars, Campbell responded "I won't lie, I'd love to play in Dallas."

Take that, like any NHL news you hear this week, with a grain of salt, but also keep it in the back of your mind tonight if Jack should fall to #11. Thanks again to Brandon Worley for the info.

Mock Drafts:

Pro Hockey Talk (Stars take Forbort)

Puck Daddy (Stars take Forbort)

SB Nation Mock Draft (Stars take Forbort)

MyNHLDraft.com (Stars take Forbort)

I could go on, but you get the picture.

Defending Big D Prospect Profiles:

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Nino Niederreiter

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Emerson Etem

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Jack Campbell

2010 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Mark Pysyk

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Mikael Granlund

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Quinton Howden

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Dylan McIlrath

2010 NHL Prospect Profile: Jeff Skinner

2010 NHL Draft Profile: Ryan Johansen

Even with all the speculation on Forbort, the Stars might just surprise us and take someone we didn't even profile. Scott Glennie was something of a surprise last year. Not a big one, but there was a certain amount of "Huh??" going around last year that one came down. If Forbort comes off the board before 11, and that's very possible, we'll keep a close eye on Campbell and then look to the next D in line: McIlrath and Pysyk. If the Stars don't feel there's value there at 11 with a defenseman, they could go with a forward like Granlund or Austin Watson. Who knows?

The most interesting part of the weekend might not be who the Stars draft at 11, but what or who they trade to get more picks. Nieuwendyk said yesterday that they'd like more than 4 picks in a 7 round draft.

• Their fourth rounder went to Atlanta in the deal for Kari Lehtonen.
• Their 6th rounder went to Anaheim as a result of acquiring Brian Sutherby.
• Their 7th rounder went to Chicago in exchange for Doug Janik in October of 2008. Remember that guy?

"I just think we need more picks," Nieuwendyk said. "We need to stock the system. We have great scouts, and we need to give them the chance to do their work." -Mike Heika

Other Notable #11 Picks (from Stars PR)

Trade Talk

You've heard Mike Ribeiro's name. You've heard it a hundred times. There is word coming from Los Angeles that the Stars are having a lot of "dialogue", whatever that means. Ribeiro or not, Gm Joe is having the conversations and feeling out possible deals to presumably upgrade his blue line. So while the Ribeiro's (or various other Stars) wait anxiously for the phone to ring, we'll wait anxiously too and we'll be right here when and IF anything happens.

We'll have a "Game Day Thread" of sorts tonight for the Versus telecast, and Art and I will be around on Saturday to update the remaining rounds and profile the players added to the organization as we can.

Happy draft day!