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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars Prepare For The Real Pandemic Prospect Draft

This year’s draft has fewer data points than usual, but the scouting team still knows what it wants. Plus, the roster outlook, an Olympic-sized opening in the NHL schedule, and more.

The Dallas Stars will make their No. 14 pick in the NHL Draft amid plenty of uncertainty as this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has injected a fresh dose of pure chaos into the ritual.

Junior hockey’s best players will become new NHL hopefuls via Zoom, but that in itself is nothing new. The league held a virtual draft last year, too – but it was informed by months of in-person scouting during nearly complete seasons in the junior leagues. In 2021, an already unpredictable process has attained a new degree of difficulty, as The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks reports:

The Ontario Hockey League didn’t hold a season at all. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League had a two-month stoppage due to the coronavirus. For many teams, the biggest showcase of draft-eligible talent came in Frisco and Plano, when North Texas hosted the U-18 World Championship in the spring.

That left teams around the league without many data points on teens, which could lead to more variability in draft lists from team to team, and more unpredictability from pick to pick.

What happens now that the big night is upon us? The team assembled by Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell has done its homework. Now it remains to be seen if their picks will change according to the board:

“For the most part, it goes the way you’d predicted it,” McDonnell said. “We’ll see what happens, but this year, it could be different because of the circumstances. People might see something different, and players that we had below our 14th player, they go a little earlier than we think. It’s just going to be fun to watch.”...

“There’s nothing left to do other than don’t sleep at night and try to predict what’s going to happen in the top 13 picks,” McDonnell said. “It’s nerve-wracking for all of us guys.”

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

And in case you plan to watch, or at least set your DVR, here are the broadcast details.

Stars Stuff

The Stars’ schedule is out, and Jeff K is excited.

We also learned it will be a while before they meet up with Jamie Oleksiak’s new team.

How will the Stars deal with the losses of both Oleksiak and Jason Dickinson? Mike Heika checks the forecast.

In case you missed it, here’s the Big Rig’s farewell to the fans (and hello to Seattle).

Meanwhile, this week gives you yet another reason to celebrate the existence of Jason Robertson.

Around The Leagues

As the Summer Olympics begin, please notice the possible spoiler for the Winter Games in the NHL’s 2022 schedule.

The expansion draft is over, the roster freeze has lifted, and Stars fans are going to see a lot more of Shane Gostisbehere this season.

ESPN’s weirdly (and yet predictably) NFL-centric broadcast from Seattle wasn’t without its, ahhhh, missteps. At least the Carolina Hurricanes had some fun with it.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines could be the biggest news in tonight’s prospect draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs shared some good news concerning their captain.

But the Montreal Canadiens are facing a post-Stanley Cup Final season without Shea Weber.

Finally

Four words: New. Year’s. Eve. Hockey. Enjoy it.

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