Tomas Vincour (Photo: Melissa Grissom)

With the NHL lockout still ongoing, it seemed inevitable that some players from the Texas Stars would eventually be moved down to the ECHL or CHL. Austin Smith and Mathieu Tousignant are on their way to Idaho to play for the Steelheads. While it would be entertaining at the very least to have Tousignant on the ice, agitating the other teams as best as he knows how, it came as no surprise that he was scratched game after game. There was simply not enough room for him on an already crowded bench.

Reilly Smith and Tomas Vincour would be playing in Dallas, if not for the NHL lockout. Sending them down to Texas is good for them, but bad for the other players battling for a spot in the AHL. We are now beginning to really see the trickle down effect from the lockout.

It is disappointing to see Dallas native Smith go, but in the long run this may be better for his career. Better to get more ice time than sit up in the press box as a healthy scratch.

It is nice to have hockey here while the NHL is still locked out, but we are not untouched by it, as seen by the recent transactions. Let’s hope these shenanigans end soon so we can all get back to watching the game we all love.

Jordie Benn, a winner of course (Photo credit to Melissa Grissom)

Game notes from our lead writer, Kristen Perez as the Texas Stars defeated the Charlotte Checkers, 4-3 in a shootout!

Your Starting lineup for the Texas Stars is Brenden Dillon, Jordie Benn, Tomas Vincour, Cody Eakin and Reilly Smith. In goal for your Texas Stars is Goalie Jack Campbell.

Scratches:  Colton Sceviour(injury),  Mathieu Tousignant, Austin Smith, Hubert Labrie, Tyler Sloan, Scott Glennie, and Jace Coyle.

1st period:

No goals, The Texas Stars lead shots 12-7. A few penalties on both sides and some good chances for the the Stars but they can’t seem to get a goal pass Dan Ellis, who is net for the Charlotte Checkers.

2nd period:

6:30 into the second charlotte gets on the board first with a rebound (top corner of the net) from Zach Boychuk.

Cody Eakin gets his first goal as a Texas Star! Assists go to Tomas Vincour and Reilly Smith.

End of two period tied 1-1

Jack Campbell keeps the stars in there with several great stops and excellent penalty killing!

3rd period:

Checkers make it 2-1 with a PP goal from Riley Nash as it slides underneath Campbell

Checkers get a second PP goal as Bobby Sanguinetti finds the back of the net.

Texas Stars score! Cam Barker makes it 3-2 with the assist going to Tomas Vincour!

Cody Eakin ties it with 3:09 left in the third period to get his SECOND goal of the night and tying it up 3-3!

Overtime:

No score after 5 minutes, but with several good chances for both teams!

Shootout:

1-0: Stars Matt Fraser gets the first shootout goal!

1-1 Jerome Samson gets one through for the Checkers

After NINE rounds in the shootout Jordie Benn breaks through Ellis (2-1)

And with Campbell’s stone cold block to Sanguinetti as The Texas Stars take home the two points!!!

Three stars: 1(Cody Eakin) 2(Jordie Benn) 3(Zach Boychuk/CHA)

Official Attendence: 5,072

Jordie Benn, one of the 26 assigned to the Texas Stars (Photo taken by Melissa Grissom)

Today, the Dallas Stars have sent 26 players to the Texas Stars and the rest to their junior teams as as the NHL looks like it will be heading into a lockout. I was hoping for no lockout but looks like we are heading into one. Here is more info about the Stars assiging players to the minors from the Dallas Morning News:

Again, these moves would have normally been made during training camp, but they need to be done before the current CBA expires on Sept. 15.

Here is the press release.

DALLAS STARS MAKE ROSTER MOVES

Frisco, TX – The Dallas Stars announced today that 26 players have been assigned to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). The club also announced that five players have been assigned to their respective Junior club teams.

The following players have been assigned to Texas (AHL):

Jordie Benn

Tyler Beskorowany

Jack Campbell

Alex Chiasson

Jace Coyle

Brenden Dillon

Cody Eakin

Maxime Fortunus

Matt Fraser

Luke Gazdic

Scott Glennie

Tristan King

Hubert Labrie

Travis Morin

Cristopher Nilstorp

Patrik Nemeth

Jamie Oleksiak

Toby Petersen

Antoine Roussell

Colton Sceviour

Tyler Sloan

Austin Smith

Reilly Smith

Mathieu Tousignant

Tomas Vincour

Francis Wathier

The following players have been assigned to their respective Junior teams:

Radek Faksa (Kitchener – OHL)

Maxime Lagace (PEI – QMJHL))

Brett Ritchie (Niagara – OHL)

Matej Stransky (Saskatoon – WHL)

Troy Vance (Victoriaville – QMJHL)

Hopefully the NHL can come up with a deal and save the season for us the fans but for right now looks like Stars fans can see their favorite prospects in the juniors and the Texas Stars.

Stars Practice (Photo: Melissa Grissom)

When the regular season begins the Dallas Stars will be looking to make the playoffs, after missing the postseason in four straight years.  This off season was very productive for the Stars in free agency and in the trade market, as they completely changed the look of the team, with the free agency signings of Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney, plus the off season trade acquisitions of Cody Eakin and Derek Roy, Dallas looks to roll with a deep lineup game in and game out to push for the playoffs. So what questions do the Stars have to answer? What do people say when they look at our organization?

» Continue reading “What Questions Do the Stars Face This Season?”

So this week the Dallas Stars wrapped up their Development for their young prospects and newly acquired draft picks, this young group of prospects were very impressive and big, and when I say big I mean everywhere from forwards to goalies, Dallas certainly has made drafting players with size a big part of their future. To wrap up after all the videos and articles I have read about camp, I am going to list the ten prospects I believe had the best camps.

10. Radek Faksa – Center – Kitchner Rangers

I certainly saw what a bunch of other scouts from Dallas saw in him when they took him 13th overall with this seasons first round draft pick, but he was definitely a bit raw and it would suit him better if he spent this season in the OHL with the Kitchner Rangers instead of burning a year of his Entry-Level Contract trying to fill a spot left by Derek Roy while he recovers from shoulder surgery.

9. Scott Glennie – Center/Left Wing – Texas Stars

The first round draft choice of the Dallas Stars in the 2009 draft has certainly had big knocks against him with labels of being a bust or a waste of a draft pick, but certainly has worked hard to improve, this development camp he certainly looked a lot more confident with the puck and could was a lot better at decision making. When training camp arrives expect Glennie to be competing with Cody Eakin and Tom Wandell for the shot to fill in Derek Roy’s spot on the second line regular ice time in the NHL.

8. Austin Smith – Right Wing – Texas Stars

Recently graduated from Colgate University the Dallas, Texas native drew much attention last season in the running to become the winner of the Hobey Baker award given to the overall best player collegiate hockey player in the nation, taking his talents to Austin this season with the Texas Stars Austin can show his great play that sets up many teammates and a shot that goalies respect.

7. Reilly Smith – Left Wing – Texas Stars

Also drew attention as a finalist for the Hobey Baker award Reilly Smith got a taste of the NHL last season and will be looking to make it back this season, in camp it certainly looked like he knew how to find the net and get in scoring position, certainly with Austin they can put on a show this season with the Texas Stars.

6. Alex Chiasson – Right Wing – Texas Stars

The big Boston University product saw his college career close and his professional career begin with the Texas Stars last season, he will be a big problem for defenseman to handle in front of the net, and literally big at 6’4 200+ pounds. Coming from the college level he will certainly have to work on his physical play and continue to work at becoming a complete player.

» Continue reading “Dallas Stars Prospects: Wrapping up Development Camp”

Dvorak: Part of the Stars Plans (Photo Taken by Melissa Grissom)

#20/ Right Wing

March 9th, 1977 in Tabor, Czech Republic

6’2/ 195 lbs

GP: 73

G: 4

A: 17

P: 21

+/-  -16

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent

Part of the free agent splash last season Radek Dvorak brought a gritty veteran bottom six presence that Dallas had been missing for a while. His instant chemistry with center Vernon Fiddler and later left wing Eric Nystrom  the trio were often looked at as the best checking line in the NHL. Early in the season Dvorak was off to a real slow start, then after the acquisition of Nystrom Dvorak’s numbers in November and December improved greatly but once the new year came the trio’s production halted greatly and they were often exposed going head to head with the top lines of other teams, hence the negative sixteen rating to end the season.

Radek Dvorak has been a long time NHL veteran and came to Dallas on a one year deal to bring a veteran presence and that is probably it. The Dallas Stars have many young prospects like Tomas Vincour, Colton Sceviour and the Smiths (Austin and Reilly) looking to crack the NHL roster and Dvorak’s services with the Stars have probably ended.

Reily Smith A Big Part of the Stars Future (Photo Taken By Melissa Grissom)

The one thing that the Stars currently lack in their armoury is a player who will score you a lot of points on a consistent basis, such as Crosby with the Penguins and Stamkos with the Lightning. Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson will always be 60-80 point players, but have the Stars found an even bigger scorer?

It is a huge label to stick on such a young guy, but the numbers in his career suggest that Reilly Smith can score goals. He represented Toronto Nationals in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and recorded a massive 157 points at just 17 years of age. The Canadian also played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and impressively recorded successive 50-point seasons.

The NHL is faster and more physical than any other league and it can take the best of players by surprise when they make the switch. Is Reilly Smith an exception to that? He played 3 games for the Stars last season, and his first shift in the NHL was both impressive and promising. It was at Rexall Place in front of a loud crowd in Edmonton where Smith grabbed the puck for the first time in the NHL. He didn’t panic and strode towards the offensive zone, releasing a powerful wrist shot which was saved. This speaks volumes about his future in the NHL.

Smith definitely has the skill to be an effective goal scorer in the NHL, but he definitely needs to work on his physical size. An 82-game season is a long time and takes a lot out on the body. A big summer lies ahead for Reilly to get as strong as possible.

There are some really good players coming through the ranks in Dallas. Smith played the 2011/12 season for Miami University and recorded 30 goals. Who was the only player to score more than Reilly Smith? Austin Smith, a Stars prospect playing for Colgate.

Other youngsters on the radar include Brenden Dillon, a big defenseman who somehow ended up not getting picked in 2 NHL drafts. The Stars monitored his progress and decided to give him a contract last year. He had a successful season for the AHL Texas Stars, recording 55 appearances. Jamie Olesiak,the Stars’ number 1 pick in 2011, made the step up to the OHL, playing 59 games and scoring 32 points. Jack Campbell is also developing quickly, and will add strength to Dallas’ very good goaltending unit in years to come.

So, the future is very bright for the Stars with some awesome young talent starting to emerge. The question as to when Reilly Smith will be a regular on the Stars roster is yet to be answered. Whether he plays next season or in five seasons time, I think this guy is definitely one to watch.

Jamie Benn (Photo taken by Melissa Grissom)

Twenty-five days and counting till July 1st, Dallas for the first time in four years will be a major player in free agency. Dallas Stars New Owner Tom Gaglardi has expressed that he is willing to spend (within reason of course) so that General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk can get players for this team, but as always there are certain things that come before adding new players and that is what to do with the players you already have, so that brings us to Jamie Benn and what will he command as he and the Stars start negotiating for either a long term deal or just a bridge deal until a long term deal can be worked out.

According to CapGeek.com the projected NHL salary cap this season is 70.3 million, and Dallas has 16 players under a NHL contract at 43.97 million, so for all you math majors out there that is 26.33 million in cap space.

A couple of things to consider also with calculating the cap availability:

1. Capgeek has the cap hits  of Reilly Smith, Brenden Dillon and Scott Glennie included in the Dallas payroll, so possibly we could actually be looking at 13 NHL contracts at 29.75 million in cap space.
2. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL and NHLPA expires September 15th and this issue is certainly on the table for debate as the owners will be looking for a lower cap.

So now that brings us to the case of Jamie Benn, just what exactly will he command and will that have an effect on how Dallas will play out the rest of free agency. Jamie Benn has had a cap hit of $821,667 and a actual salary a little below that, so certainly he will be looking for more than that, but this is also a big year for players with RFA status as Shea Weber, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, Carey Price and Cory Schneider, are all looking for new deals with their respective teams. Now all these players are all not necessarily comparable to Jamie Benn, but they all have something in common, they are all the future face (if not the face already) of their franchise, but Matt Duchene and Evander Kane can be very comparable, but since their deals aren’t done lets look at other young franchise based players who are comparable to these to see what Dallas might have on their hands when making a deal with Jamie Benn.

• James Neal- the two year bridge deal he signed with Dallas before the 2010-2011 was worth (5.75 million) a cap hit of 2.875 million and the extension he signed with the  Pittsburgh Penguins before this regular season ended was for 6 years at $30 million
• Bobby Ryan- the big forward for the Anaheim Ducks skipped the bridge contract after his entry-level contract expired before the beginning of the 2010-2011 season and took a long term 5 year 25.5 million dollar contract, a cap hit of 5.1 million
• Sam Gagner-this Edmonton Oiler looking for a new deal this offseason I think he might be the most comparable to Jamie Benn his bridge contract of two years 4.55 million dollars (2.275 million cap hit) is expired and will probably be looking to sign long term.
• Jordan Staal- The Pittsburgh Penguins certainly have a good player in Jordan Staal he is entering his final year of a four year 16 million dollar contract (4.0 million cap hit) and set to become a UFA next offseason.

So there are many different ways Dallas can approach this and there will be some other things to straighten out first outside of the team but certainly a lot of Dallas plans to do this offseason will circle around Jamie Benn.