The Dallas Stars have announced the team roster for the 2022 Traverse City Prospects Tournament. The team heading to Michigan is loaded with recent high draft picks, with the forward group in particular looking top notch.
Forwards (13)
54 – Francesco Arcuri
37 – Oskar Back
22 – Matej Blumel
45 – Mavrik Bourque
13 – Riley Damiani
62 – Justin Ertel
53 – Wyatt Johnston
51 – Fredrik Karlstrom
73 – Logan Morrison
52 – Conner Roulette
58 – Matthew Seminoff
57 – Logan Stankoven
71 – Antonio Stranges
Defensemen (7)
65 – Dawson Barteaux
59 – Artem Grushnikov
60 – Jacob Holmes
81 – Michael Karow
61 – Christian Kyrou
67 – Jacob Murray
74 – Gavin White
Goaltenders (2)
32 – Matt Murray
50 – Remi Poirier
What to look for – Forwards
Up front, this is the strongest forward group that the Stars have brought to Traverse City in quite some time. Bourque, Johnston and Stankoven are the big name prospects.
Back, Karlstrom and Damiani bring a wealth of AHL experience. All but Back saw minor action at the NHL level last year, giving the team solid depth. Throw in Stranges, Roulette and Arcuri as lower level picks, all who had intriguing CHL seasons last year.
Personally, I’m going to be looking at Matej Blumel. He made is way onto everybody’s radar with an exceptional performance for Czechia in last year’s World Cup. He’s 22 and has three years of professional experience with HC Dynamo Pardubice. If things break his way, he could be a surprise addition to the NHL roster.
If you’re looking for a feel good story, pay attention to Logan Morrison, who works out at the same gym as Rich Peverley in Guelph and showed well enough at development camp to get an invite.
Defense
Dallas is only bringing two defenders who have NHL contracts to the tournament: Dawson Barteaux and Artem Grushnikov. There is an opportunity here to see a few higher level prospects, especially Christian Kyrou.
Otherwise, there are a few drafted players who have gone the college route for their development, but overall the team could struggle to protect their netminders.
I’ll be watching Barteaux, who has a few years under his belt between the Texas Stars and Idaho Steelheads. The Stars have recognized their weakness on the right side, and Barteaux is one of the few right shooting defenders on the roster who still has a chance to make an impact at the NHL level. I’ve always like Barteaux’s hybrid game – he can move the puck, but can be a shutdown guy when needed. This year seems to be his opportunity to make a big jump if he has it in him.
Goal
Matt Murray showed well in his professional debut last year, and he signed an AHL contract for the coming season. He’ll be fighting Anton Khudobin and Adam Scheel for time in Cedar Park, but if last years results translate to this year, Murray should be the 1A among the trio.
Poirier should get at least one full game. He spent the last four years with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL and improved each year. Given the logjam in Cedar Park, Poirier will likely head to Idaho to get his professional career going, but it will be interesting to get a look at him against professional level competition.
The moon and the stars aligned this year, so I will be attending this years tournament. Look for game/prospect updates starting next Thursday.