With their second of two third round picks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars have selected 79th overall left winger Justin Ertel of Cornell University (NCAA).
Ertel is one of the less familiar prospects in the draft, having played for the Summerside Western Capitals this past season in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, where he scored 28 points in just 18 games played. Like Ayrton Martino, the Stars’ other third round pick, Ertel’s heading to the NCAA this fall, where he’ll play for Cornell University.
Unlike Martino, Ertel has a bit more size to him, though he is by no means lacking in talent. Though the consensus on him was a bit lower than the Stars’ previous picks, he still has his fans:
Dallas gets one of my sleepers in Justin Ertel, a very talented winger with size bound for Cornell
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) July 24, 2021
With this pick, the Stars have now selected four forwards and one defenseman with their top five picks in the draft. Barring a trade up, the Stars are next on the clock at 111th overall in the fourth round.