Jamie Oleksiak, the Dallas Stars first-round draft pick from 2011, is headed back to Austin.
The 6-foot-7 defenseman had a decent six-game stint with Dallas after being called up a little less than two weeks ago, but the Stars decided to send him back to the AHL today. No official reason has come down the pipe yet, but one would imagine it’s to get him more ice time than the 15:40 he got in Dallas as well as more experience in all situations.
Oleksiak was solid for the Stars, picking up his first career point in last night’s 7-4 loss to the Calgary Flames. He had one points, two penalty minutes and a minus-one rating in six games played.
He was scratched for Monday’s victory over the Edmonton Oilers after struggling against the fast, high-pressure forecheck in the previous game up north and seemed to struggle a little bit with making quick enough decisions with the puck overall – something completely natural for young defensemen less than a year removed from juniors.
And who might be coming back to Dallas to be the seventh defenseman? No official word yet, but Mike Heika has heard some rumblings.
Stars are sending Jamie Oleksiak back to Texas (AHL). Speculation is Jordie Benn coming up, but no confirmation yet.
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) February 14, 2013
Official release is below…
FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Stars announced today that defenseman Jamie Oleksiak has been assigned to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Oleksiak, 20, appeared in five games with Dallas, recording one assist and averaging 15:40 time on ice. He recorded his first NHL point in last night’s contest against the Calgary Flames, notching one assist. The Toronto native is one of seven players in the League listed at 6-foot-7 or taller and became the tallest player in Dallas Stars history when he made his NHL debut on Feb. 1 against Phoenix.
Prior to being recalled by Dallas on Jan. 30, he led all Texas Stars defensemen in scoring with 23 points (3G-20A) in 43 contests. Oleksiak played in the 2013 AHL All-Star Game in Providence, R.I. where he earned the game-winning assist and a plus-3 rating in the contest.
The Dallas Stars wrap-up their three-game road trip through Western Canada on Friday, Feb. 15 against the Vancouver Canucks at 9:00 p.m. (TV: FOX Sports Southwest; Radio: 1310 The Ticket).