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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars Set Sights On Homegrown Talent

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

“If they play well, they will get their chances.” Dallas Stars fans have been hearing that about their talented prospects for years. But as the NHL reckons with a flat salary cap, the Stars’ youth movement could have both momentum and circumstances on its side.

Give the Stars credit where it’s due: Their cap-management skills have been second to none. It’s not as if they won’t have the option of making yet more veteran signings for next season. But with their core trending younger (hello, Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger) and a big handful of talented players making their own moves in the AHL, the next training camp should be an interesting bellwether for the organization as a whole.

Say, for instance, the Stars needed extra help scoring goals – just for the sake of argument. Newly minted AHL All-Stars Riley Damiani and Adam Mascherin are really good at that:

Damiani is at the top of the list of prospects to watch for next season. Selected in the fifth round (137th overall) in 2018, the skilled center has put together three consistent scoring campaigns. Damiani had a breakout year with Kitchener in the OHL in 2018-19 with 85 points (30 goals, 55 assists) in 58 games. He followed that with 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) for Kitchener in 2019-20. Then, he led all Texas Stars scorers with 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 36 games during the shortened 2020-21 season and was named to AHL All-Rookie Team on May 25….

Mascherin is more of a pure goal-scorer, but the Stars could definitely use some of that at the NHL level. Mascherin had 18 goals among 34 points in 37 games last season after missing much of the 2019-20 season due to shoulder surgery.

Meanwhile, the closely watched Thomas Harley made the best out of the OHL’s COVID-19 shutdown by advancing to the AHL early:

“For Thomas to have the opportunity to play in the American Hockey League, I think, was huge for his development,” [Stars GM Jim] Nill said. “He’s another guy who took advantage of the situation brought about by the pandemic, and I think it was really the best thing for him.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

Todd Nelson’s name is back in circulation for not one, but two available bench-boss positions.

Around The Leagues

Stanley Cup Roundup

  • Nick Suzuki was the overtime hero as the Montreal Canadiens kept hope alive with a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. [Eyes On The Prize]
  • And the Carolina Hurricanes punched their ticket to Round 2 with their own 4-3 OT victory against the Nashville Predators. [Canes Country]/

Can the Leafs win enough games to get their captain back? John Tavares is skating again, so watch this space.

As the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights prepare for tonight’s Game 7, the Colorado Avalanche are getting tanned, rested and ready – they hope.

The Edmonton Oilers got swept in Round 1, and it all came down to one missed play by Ethan Bear? (We never said racists were smart.) Bear stood up for himself…

…and the rest of the NHL is standing up for him, too. Here’s an example.

Finally

And it’s not even officially summer yet. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, if you can.

Talking Points