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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Miro Heiskanen Is On The Move

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars will choose at No. 13 in their own barn on June 22, when the 2018 NHL Draft descends on Big D. Yet the buzz from 2017 still hangs in the air – and the team’s lottery-winning No. 3 pick, Miro Heiskanen, is providing the music.

Josh Lile’s new piece for The Dallas Morning News discusses the escalating excitement of what will surely be Heiskanen’s NHL debut this fall. It includes a recent quote from Heiskanen that encapsulates the advantages to high-end prospects of making their big-league leap early:

During the World Championships, Heiskanen was profiled by Sports Illustrated where he shared some wisdom about the tournament that will be key to keep in mind for Stars fans when setting expectations for his rookie season.

”It was tough sometimes but mostly quite easy because I play with smarter players. Of course, the play is faster than at the junior category and I face stronger guys,” he said.

Josh devotes some time to identifying the better points of Heiskanen’s game, and concludes that it’s all of them:

No one particular skill stands out for Heiskanen. He does everything well. The nuance to his game is what is going to set him apart. It’s hard to really put into words the type of player he is other than to say you just need to spend some time watching him closely. He skates well, he has a good wrist shot, and he has a very high hockey IQ. If you were trying to build the prototypical modern defenseman you’d start with Heiskanen’s skill set.

There’s much more under the link. [SportsDayDFW]

More Stars

You’ve read Merrin’s piece on the Todd Nelson hire. Check out Mike Heika’s new article on how Jim Montgomery’s coaching staff is taking shape.

Heika also brought news from Buffalo, where the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine begins on Saturday. He spoke with Stars Assistant GM Mark Janko about what the team will be looking for during prospect interviews. [Dallas Stars]

Need a scorecard to keep up? The Sportsnet staff has put together a complete list of all 104 junior players who have been invited for the big weekend. [Sportsnet]

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park: Live From Toronto!

Heads up, DFW-area Texas Stars fans: Your search for a place to watch the 2018 Calder Cup Finals is about half-over. The “Stars Live” crew will join T-Stars play-by-play guy Brien Rea as FOX Sports Southwest broadcasts Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) from H-E-B Center.

The Cedar Park squad will meet an old friend on the Toronto Marlies bench: forward Chris Mueller, who was a member of the T-Stars’ 2014 Calder Cup-winning team. [Toronto Sun]

Around the League(s)

Stanley Cup Finals action returns tomorrow in D.C., as the Washington Capitals take their turn playing host to the Vegas Golden Knights. For off-ice pals Jonathan Marchessault and Alex Chiasson, it’s another day at the office.

Evgeny Kuznetsov is still listed as “questionable” for Saturday after leaving Game 2 with an upper-body injury. How will the Caps adjust if he can’t return?

Did you know that Brooks Orpik is only the 10th-oldest player to score a GWG in a finals game? Jared Clinton runs down the other nine – including Brett Hull.

Wait, more Phil Kessel trade talk? Sonny Sachdeva lines up five possible partners for the Pittsburgh Penguins, from the Calgary Flames to the Minnesota Wild. [Sportsnet]

The ECHL has just made a promotion from within. COO Ryan Crelin will take over as commissioner from Brian McKenna, who announced his retirement in February.

When Would Your Fave Ever Dept.: When he’s not winging it for Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman has an awesome hobby – as a children’s writer. He’s just published his third book, which celebrates the power of imagination.

Finally

Nick Cotsonika shares the story of newborn Riley Sugars (named for the former Star), whose journey to Vegas was as magical as a flourish from Penn and Teller. Enjoy.

Talking Points