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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Long Term Planning

The Stars are pushing for a Stanley Cup now, but they’re still keeping an eye on the future. Plus, an insider look at what training camp is like, plenty of rankings, and more.

The Dallas Stars are trying to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup this season — there’s no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean they’ve shifted into “Cup or Bust” mode. Instead, the franchise is also focusing on the future of the team two to three years from now.

For instance, the Stars sent former 1st round pick Ty Dellandrea back to the OHL yesterday, and it won’t be much longer until they do the same with Thomas Harley. Both players are knocking on the NHL door, but the Stars want what’s best for both players’ development:

“Unless they’re going to be in the lineup and play a big role, then we want them playing 20 minutes of hockey someplace else getting better...” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “You look at a player here and you need to do what’s best for right now and for down the line... We think the chance for [Dellandrea] to be a big leader and possibly play for the World Junior team, that’s the best for his growth this year.”

Other prospects, like Jason Robertson and Rhett Gardner, are still in Training Camp but will likely get sent down to the AHL. But that doesn’t mean the door is closed for the 2019-20 season — sometimes the “future” is closer than you think:

“We’re in a situation where we have to make decisions every day, but we also know that we have the entire season to see what players can do,” Nill said. “It’s like with Roope Hintz last season, the player at the end of the year can be a lot different than he was at the beginning of the year. You just have to be patient and see what happens.”

You can read more from Mike Heika here.

Stars Stories

Training camp might be over for Dellandrea, but here’s a glimpse of what it was like for the Stars’ prospect:

The Stars’ roster may be shrinking, but there’s been a last-minute addition as well:

This is just my opinion, but these lines look awfully close to what I would expect come opening night:

Around the League

#HonkaWatch continues...

Is Ben Bishop considered one of the top goaltenders in the league? Depends on your definition of “top”:

Another RFA contract is in the books, as the Calgary Flames sign Matthew Tkachuk to a bridge deal:

Seattle is living in 2021 while everyone else is stuck in 2019:

Matt Larkin breaks down his top Hart Trophy candidates for the season, which sadly features no victory green:

Finally, Down Goes Brown does his annual “divisional” breakdown, with the Stars landing lower than one might hope:

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