Dallas Stars Prospect Update: Miro Heiskanen making up for lost time

Miro Heiskanen missed time earlier this season due to a concussion, but watching him play over the past two weeks, you’d never be able to tell.

Since returning, Heiskanen has been outstanding for HIFK in the Liiga, FInland’s top professional league, picking up points and logging tons of ice time. He has five points in five games, and is averaging 23:21 of TOI per game, the most among players on his team.

Video highlights of a two-assist game that he had over the weekend can be found here.

An 18-year-old blueliner playing #1 defenseman minutes, and succeeding, in one of the best professional hockey leagues in the world? That’s incredibly special. The Dallas Stars have quite a prospect in their system.

AHL

The Texas Stars have been stuck in a rut recently, dropping all three games that they played this weekend, but one of the few bright spots for the team has been the play of winger Denis Gurianov.

Gurianov picked up four assists over the three-game weekend series against the San Antonio Rampage. Texas only managed five goals spread out over those three games, so Gurianov assisting on four of them helps to illustrate the kind of weekend that he had.

The big, powerful-skating 20-year-old Russian is now up to five points in seven games on the season. All of his points so far are assists, but he hasn’t been hesitant to fire pucks at opposing nets.

Gavin Bayreuther picked up a couple of helpers himself over the weekend, but beyond he and Gurianov, it was a fairly forgettable weekend for Dallas’ AHL prospects.

Video highlights on Saturday’s contest between Texas and San Antonio can be found here.

Europe

Sweden

John Nyberg picked up two points in his previous three games, including his first goal of the season. The two-way defender with mobility and size continues to play heavy minutes and grow his game for Frolunda in the SHL. Video highlights of his first goal of the year can be found here.

Fredrik Karlstrom, after not registering a point through 12 games this season with Linkoping in the SHL, has been sent down to the team’s junior club, where he’s picked up one goal in two games. He was barely getting to play in the SHL, only averaging 6:43 of ice time per game, so this move will at least get him more ice time.

North American Juniors

NCAA

Riley Tufte picked up one goal and two assists over two weekend games, bringing his totals on the season to five points in six contests. He’s been hungry around the net, using his enormous size and smooth skating to make him hard to contain.

Colton Point returned to action after not playing last weekend, stopping 32 of 35 shots for Colgate in a 3-3 tie.

Jake Oettinger split a win and a tie over two weekend games, stopping 27 of 30 shots in the former and 31 of 33 in the latter. His record on the season bumps up to 3-2-1, with a .916 save percentage. He’s started every game so far for Boston University.

Joseph Cecconi has two assists in four games for the University of Michigan, putting his early scoring projections on pace for a little higher than they were the previous two years. The defensive-defenseman is currently in his third NCAA season.

OHL

Nick Caamano had a goal and an assist on Saturday night. His goal was a pretty breakaway backhander that can be seen here.

Jason Robertson picked up one goal and two assists in three games, bringing his totals on the year to 12 points in 12 games.

2018 NHL Draft Watch

Prince Albert Raiders forward Cole Fonstad is making a strong case for himself to be the first forward to be selected out of the WHL at the next NHL Entry Draft. The 5’10” left wing has excellent smarts, awareness and puck skills, using those abilities to separate himself from defenders before threading picturesque passes to his teammates. He has 17 points in 11 games for a Raiders squad that is trying hard to rebound from a dismal 2016-17 season.

Dallas Stars Prospect Stats 2017-18