Comments / New

Dallas Stars Daily Links: Oleksiak Gets Conditioning Assignment as Dallas Juggles Defense

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Big Rig was on the move Saturday as the Dallas Stars took advantage of the NHL’s conditioning-assignment rule to get Jamie Oleksiak 14 days of playing time with its AHL affiliate.

Oleksiak joined the Texas Stars in San Diego, just in time to help the team to its fourth straight win in a 5-2 victory over the Gulls.

“He needs to go play,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. “It’s the same thing with [Patrik] Nemeth when he went and played [in the AHL]. I just feel the only way you are going to continue to grow in this league is to play. With eight D, the best thing for him is to get some valuable playing time.”

The extra play in his own, earlier conditioning stint may have helped Nemeth, who could “step in and make a statement” during Oleksiak’s Cedar Park stint, says Ruff.

[Nemeth] took his conditioning stint earlier in the year, so he has to play the rest of the season in the NHL. He jumped into the lineup Saturday to play his 10th game of the season and could challenge [Jyrki] Jokipakka for some playing time now.

Read more at Heika’s place. [SportsDayDFW]

*****

In late-breaking Heika, Mike talks about the how the Stars’ current rhythm reflects their “herky-jerky” schedule, and the good things they can expect if they can get back in sync with each other.

Meanwhile, Jordan Dix talks about all the things the Stars might learn from their current slump – patience being chief among them. [The Hockey Writers]

Who are the young guns most likely to follow Alex Ovechkin into the 500 Goals Club? You’ve already guessed Tyler Seguin is on this (very short) list, but aren’t you curious about who else might be there? [The Hockey News]

Sunday was another quiet night in The Current Unpleasantness, as the Chicago Blackhawks tied a franchise-record 11 straight wins with a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. [Second City Hockey]

Tonight’s #MDK action:

Justin Willliams scored his second career hat trick as the Washington Capitals kept winning, this time in a 5-2 decision over the New York Rangers. [Japers’ Rink]

The Caps won even as so-hot-right-now goalie Braden Holtby exited in the second period, suffering from dehydration. [ESPN]

The case for a three-goalie league aside, could a starting NHL netminder actually start all 82 regular-season games? Martin Brodeur says he could have done it, and he thinks every present-day No. 1 G could do it, too. [The Hockey News]

In this weekend’s edition of Dangerous Hits, Philadelphia Flyers right wing Ryan White earned a match penalty – and possibly a call from DoPS – for this head shot on Detroit Red Wings RW Tomas Jurco. [Broad Street Hockey]

Elsewhere, New York Islanders center Mikhail Grabovski will probably face supplemental discipline after a boarding penalty that has left Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin with an upper-body injury. [New York Newsday]

Two years ago this month, Kris Letang suffered a stroke at age 26. Ryan Dixon has posted a fascinating long read on the blueliner’s recovery, his concussion issues, and what he hopes to accomplish with the Penguins this season.

The suddenly, shockingly ugly John Scott situation wasn’t intentional, according to Arizona Coyotes GM Don Maloney: He tells Elliotte Friedman that he “thought about waiting” until after the All-Star Game to make the trade for Jarred Tinordi. [Sportsnet]

Sportsnet has also posted video of Scott’s first media appearance since his trade to the Canadiens.

The NHL isn’t the only league getting ready for its All-Star Game: Alessandro Seren Rosso brings you a roster full of prospects and former NHL’ers for the KHL ASG, to be played on January 23 in Moscow. [THW]

The Texas Stars ended their own three-game Battle of California with a tough 2-1 loss to the Ontario Reign.

Sean Shapiro’s Texas Stars mailbag features an update on former T-Star Scott Glennie, current prospect Chris Martenet, and the NHL readiness of Cedar Park’s best defensive prospects. [Wrong Side of the Red Line]

And John Mulhern IV summarizes the Idaho Steelheads’ successful December. [100 Degree Hockey]

Finally: Mattias Janmark was immortalized in a Frozen Moment after his first career NHL goal in October. Now he’s back again to celebrate his 10th. (They grow up so fast. Enjoy every moment.)

Talking Points