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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Jason Dickinson Vs. Connor McDavid

Posted on by Robert Tiffin

Jason Dickinson is a center prospect that the Stars drafted 29th overall in 2013 with a pick acquired from Boston in the Jaromir Jagr trade. (This also serves as your monthly reminder that Jaromir Jagr played on the Stars, and it was awesome.) Jason Dickinson is playing in the Ontario Hockey League for the Guelph Storm, but he will join the AHL’s Texas Stars probably some time in April, according to our own Huw Wales. Dickinson is a center (or future NHL winger, depending on whom you talk to) who is also the captain of his hockey team in the best Canadian junior league there is. He is also colloquially known as Captain Dicky to at least one person with the Guelph Storm, as you will see.

Connor McDavid, as you might know, is the Stephen Strasburg/LeBron James/Sidney Crosby/(The NFL draft is bonkers) of our day and age. He is the reason Buffalo decided to be terrible this year in hopes of finishing last in the NHL, and thereby having the best chance of drafting McDavid this summer. There’s a lottery and stuff, but those are the basics. Be bad, you get a higher draft pick. This year, Connor McDavid gave many NHL teams a reason to be awful at hockey. Connor McDavid also plays for the Lake Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.

Well, last night, Dickinson and McDavid’s clubs faced off. Normally this would mean that the two centers would also face off, but last night was actually kind of goofysauce:

First, the good news:

Now the less-good news:

With Dickinson getting the Connor McDavid match-up for the majority of the game, the projected first overall selection of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft took advantage of the usual-centerman, scoring his first OHL hat trick en route to four goals on the game. [Guelph Storm]

Dickinson actually wasn’t on the ice for the above goal (though he did get beat on McDavid’s third tally), but it is safe to say that the Dallas Stars will not be calling off their search for another top defenseman just yet.

This is the kind of hockey stuff that I love, by the way. Third string goalies, Kevin Connauton playing 4th line winger, Ilya Bryzgalov playing goalie any time…just the really crazy things that pop up every now and then, you know?

It’s a tough break for Dickinson that his shorthanded club had to face the Otters last night, but that’s what a captain does, right? You need someone to fall on the “play defense against McDavid” grenade, and there’s Jason Dickinson volunteering for the mission. The Stars may not have discovered a long-term defenseman last night, but Dickinson’s decision to gamely do his best at playing out of position against the best at his usual position speaks volumes about both the attitude and leadership of the 29th overall pick.

* * * * *

These are not your grandfather’s links, unless he also reads this site in which case they definitely are.

Dallas Stars Casino Night was last night. Here is my favorite picture in a long time. Note the depth of the color coordination:

Lots of injury updates trickling out yesterday. Hemsky and Lehtonen are still fighting it, but Eaves is “possible” for Friday. [Stars]

Wonderful writeup here on Texas Star Derek Hulak’s gameday tradition he does to honor his late mother and her battle with breast cancer until she passed away in 2007. [Austin American Statesman]

Here’s a nice piece on Devin Shore’s preparing to join the Texas Stars from the perspective of the University of Maine. I’m told this link was put up in the comments yesterday, so if that was you, please stand up and be recognized. [Press Herald]

Did that Klingberg-on-Klingberg hitting last night make you shout with glee as it did me? Brothers, man. [DMN]

Here are one person’s five favorite Stars games of the season so far. There might be more great games this year, though. [The Hockey Writers]

Okay, now for a little film I like to call, Fast and Furious: Wednesday Transactions

Andrej Sekera went to the Voynov-less Kings for a 2016 1st-round pick and a prospect. If LA gets into the playoffs, the pick becomes a 2015 1st-rounder. This is called McDavid-proofing your picks. [CBS Sports]

Winnipeg acquired Jiri Tlusty for 3rd and 6th-round picks. [TSN]

Pittsburgh got Daniel Winnik for 2nd and 4th-round picks and a throw-in pending UFA. [Penguins]

Jaromir Jagr has not been traded yet, but he surely wants to be. Also, Jagr pondered the meaning of gravity in this article. [NJ.com]

Kyle Clifford was not traded, but he did sign an extension to remain with Los Angeles for the next five years. Interesting (and somewhat curious) decision by the Kings to lock down the 4th-line “grit guy” for such a long term. Are L.A. anticipating a trend? Did I just use a plural verb for a city like an EPL commentator? [CBS Sports]

Back outside the trade madness, Chicago is looking at its options after being dealt news that Patrick Kane will miss 12 weeks after having surgery to repair a fractured clavicle. [Blackhawks]

Jack Eichel celebrated BU’s Beanpot victory by stirring up talk of his underage drinking, so yeah. That happened. [Puck Daddy]

And the goaltender of that same victorious BU team, one Matt O’Connor, is reportedly the hottest thing at the free agent goalie dance. Does Dallas make a move on the 23-year-old? [TSN]

Barry Trotz has taken his Nashville style to Washington with great success, says some guy. [The Hockey Writers]

Johnny Gaudreau’s burgeoning career as a smaller-than-average player is very well summed up in this nice feature. [SportsNet Video]

Embellishment fines aren’t just for skaters anymore! Michael Neuvirth was slapped with a $2k ticket for self-whiplash. [Pro Hockey Talk]

Something on a basketball site I actually care about: Whataburger rankings. That Honey BBQ Chicken Strip deal looks divine from where I’m sitting. [Mavs Moneyball]

Finally, here is the best player in the world stickhandling with a GoPro camera atop his helmet. Oh my.

Talking Points