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Dallas Stars Daily Links: From Traverse City, A Prospect Report Card

Matthew DeFranks watched the NHL Prospect Tournament and offers some freshly picked observations. Plus, the Stars’ training camp roster, how the NHLPA navigates in the pandemic, and more.

As the Dallas Stars prepare for training camp, it pays to make notes on what we learned from the camp that just broke. The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks has had more than a week to watch the Stars’ prospects at work, and he tells all in his latest post.

If you were wondering how much of Riley Damiani’s AHL Rookie of the Year swag will wear off now that Adam Mascherin is playing in the SHL, you’ll be glad to know that he’s up to his old tricks with new parter Jacob Peterson:

Damiani and Peterson produced instant chemistry on the top line for the Stars, consistently finding each other in dangerous spaces around the net to produce scoring chances and goals.

Peterson was one of the best players on the Stars roster during the four games, scoring a goal in each of the first three games in addition to manning the net-front on the top power play unit and killing penalties. Peterson, 22, was a fifth-round pick in 2017 that is making the transition this season from the larger ice in Sweden to the smaller sheet in North America.

And it’s interesting to note that the prospect defender everyone’s talking about right now is 2021 draft pick Artem Grushnikov – but his “creativity and aggression” come at a price:

The willingness to play with the puck ... can be a detriment should he vacate the zone too early or get knocked off the puck. He also seemed to struggle defending the rush as players attacked him wide.

The raw tools are there (the skating and creativity), but it will be fascinating to see how the rest of the package comes together (adding weight and becoming a more polished defender).

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stuff

It’s almost time.

It’s just too bad that most Stars fans will never see her, because she broadcasts on Bally Sports Southwest. (Oh yes. I went there.)

Around The Leagues

Because Jason Robertson doesn’t qualify anymore: The Athletic’s Harman Dayal picks this season’s breakout players, from Kaapo Kakko to Kirby Dach.

Speaking of which – remember Kirill Kaprizov? The Minnesota Wild just gave him a pretty big payday for a Calder Trophy.

It’s almost hockey time, which means it’s been fantasy hockey time for a while now. Can Jake Oettinger really get more wins than Anton Khudobin and Braden Holtby combined?

With hockey time comes media time, and nobody does media time better than P.K. Subban.

The COVID season presented enormous challenges for professional sports, and players’ unions were on the front lines. The NHLPA’s Donald Fehr talks about it.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

The Texas Stars love their staff, and it shows.

Finally

“Fox and Dobby” sounds like it should be the Stars’ new morning-zoo show, and now I will not rest unless I get it. Enjoy.

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