This is a new feature that is debuting on Defending Big D this season: ‘Prospect Grading Up And Down’. Essentially we will be grading how Dallas Stars prospects have done over the course of their seasons. This will be done on the basis of whether they’ve improved based upon previous seasons performance and how they’ve performed compared to expectations.
This particular grading will be of the Dallas Stars prospects based in the WHL.
| Name | 2013-14 Team | Statistics | Up/Down/Even | Future |
|
Cole Ully, (LW), 19, drafted 5th round, 131st overall, 2013 |
Kamloops Blazers |
69GP, 30G, 42A, 72P |
Up |
Cole Ully was one of the few bright spots for the Blazers this season as they missed the WHL playoffs. On most nights he was the main catalyst or producer of offence. He had the most goals and assists on his team and had 27 more points than his nearest teammate. He is an excellent offensive player and is pretty good in his own zone as well. He hopefully will continue to develop offensively, though hopefully with more of a supporting case next season. He has another year in the WHL before he is eligible to turn pro but he has the skills and talent to be a productive forward at the professional level. His size might be on the small side but there is a lot of potential there. For now it appears he is on course to realise that potential. |
| Name | 2013-14 Team | Statistics | Up/Down/Even | Future |
|
Mike Winther, (C), 20, drafted 2nd round, 54th overall, 2012 |
Calgary Hitmen |
13GP, 4G, 8A, 12P |
Down |
Mike Winther has had a bad season playing only 31 games with both the Hitmen and the Prince Albert Raiders. He barely played in comparison to other Dallas Stars prospects and he wasn’t seen as the offensive threat that he was last season. He is without an ELC which means that unless he signs before the summer he will be able to reenter the draft. He hasn’t been assigned to either the Texas Stars on an ATO or the Idaho Steelheads. His future with the Dallas Stars organisation is unclear to say the least. Will he be part of the organisation next year? We shall see. |
| Name | 2013-14 Team | Statistics | Up/Down/Even | Future |
|
Dmitry Sinitsyn, (D), 19, drafted 7th round, 183rd overall, 2012 |
Regina Pats |
69P, 10G, 34A, 44P |
Up |
Dmitry Sinitsyn had an excellent start to his WHL career after joining the Pats when he left U-Mass Lowell. He had 44 points in 69 games, good enough for 10th in rookie scoring in the WHL. Where Sinitsyn will head now that his season is over is unclear. My inclination is that he will stay with the Regina Pats for his overage year, though he would take both an overage spot and an import spot. Playing with the Pats he will be getting top minutes and a lot of games, something he might not get with the Texas Stars. Sinitsyn proved himself to be a talented defenseman in the WHL and one that became highly relied upon by the Pats. The future looks promising for Sinitsyn. |
| Name | 2013-14 Team | Statistics | Up/Down/Even | Future |
|
Branden Troock, (RW), 20, drafted 5th round, 134th overall, 2012 |
Seattle Thunderbirds |
58GP, 24G, 34A, 58P |
Up |
After an injury shortened season last year, only 19 games played, Troock managed to stay relatively healthy this season. He finished with a point per game and was third on his team in point production. Troock’s combination of size and skill makes him an interesting prospect to have in the system. Troock signed an ELC with the Dallas Stars shortly after the end of the Seattle Thunderbirds playoffs. He’s is currently playing in the Texas Stars playoffs on an ATO. If he can stay healthy Troock could be a special player and one that will catch the breath of fans in Austin. |