Welcome to the 2019 Top Shelf Prospects series. As we go through the Summer of 2019 LWOH will be featuring a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. We will be following the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no traded draft picks) and you can find all the articles here. Since we had an extensive NHL Draft preview, we will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2019 draft, as there have been no games since then, and our reports on them will not have changed. Today, we look at the Dallas Stars Prospects.
What we will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year’s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2019-20 roster of the NHL team in question. We will also bring you one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who we pick as our dark horse to make the NHL. For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played (including playoff games) or is 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
Dallas Stars Prospects
The Dallas Stars season was an interesting one. The first year under new head coach Jim Montgomery got off to a rocky start. This led to Stars CEO Jim Lites publically ripping star players Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Things would get better though. The Stars got outstanding goaltending from Ben Bishop, and strong play from a defence group that includes John Klingberg, and super-rookie Miro Heiskanen. Eventually, the Stars would finish in the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the heavily favoured Nashville Predators team in six games. They pushed the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the St. Louis Blues, to double overtime of Game 7 before losing in the second round.
The off-season sees plenty of changes in Dallas. Free agents Jason Spezza, Brett Ritchie, Valeri Nichushkin (buyout), and Mats Zuccarello all left Big-D. Fellow free agents Ben Lovejoy and Marc Methot remain on the market. The Stars traded Tyler Pitlick for Ryan Hartman and then allowed Hartman to leave as a free agent. Meanwhile, Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry, Tanner Kero, and Andrej Sekera have been added to the Stars roster. With one of the older rosters in the NHL, the Stars will be looking to their prospect group to add some youthful exuberance to the roster in the coming years.
2019 NHL Draft Picks (Grade C-): Thomas Harley, Samuel Sjolund, Nicholas Porco, Benjamin Brinkman
Graduations: Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Jason Dickinson, Gavin Bayreuther (age),
Top Prospect: Jason Robertson
Right Wing — shoots Left
Born July 22nd, 1999 — Arcadia, California
Height 6’2″ — Weight 201 lbs [188 cm / 91 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 2nd round, #39 overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft
It was a monster season for Jason Robertson. Traded from Kingston to Niagara, he had an incredible year, leading the entire CHL in points. Overall he had 48 goals and 69 assists for 117 points in 62 games played. He also added seven goals and ten points in 10 playoff games. Robertson also won a silver medal with Team USA at the World Juniors, scoring seven points in seven games and being named a Top-3 player on his team.
Skating
Robertson has really worked on his skating and this has helped him to be an even more dynamic player this past season. He’ll never be confused for a speedster but his top-end speed has always been decent and he reaches it with good acceleration. However, he really improved his overall quickness with a better first step. This helped him win more short races for loose pucks, although there is still a bit more room to grow here.
Robertson also has good agility and edgework, with the ability to make tight turns and cuts. He can use this skating ability as a weapon, to beat defenders one-on-one, both on the rush, and when working down low. Robertson has good balance, he is strong on the puck and can fight through checks. He is also good at establishing himself in front of the net.ff
Offensive Game
Robertson is a pure goal scorer. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and scores goals in tight to the net with tip-ins, one-timing passes and pouncing on rebounds. He uses his skating ability to take defenders wide and drive the net, where he can finish with his soft hands. Robertson also has a very good wrist shot, which is accurate and features a quick release. He manages to find soft spots in the defence and get open to allow teammates to set him up.
He is also a good playmaker, with good vision and passing skills. Robertson uses his body well to protect the puck and work the cycle game down low. He can extend plays in the cycle and fight off hits and battle through hooks and holds. However, he is not a physical player. Robertson could stand to really use his size and speed to do a better job at forechecking defencemen and fighting for loose pucks. When he has the puck, he’s good; but if he does not have the puck and has to fight for it, he does not seem to use his body effectively, or show optimal effort.
Defensive Game
Robertson’s defensive game is also vastly improved. He is involved in the defensive zone and gets himself into good positions to cut off shooting and passing lanes. Robertson is willing to put his body on the line to block shots. He also uses his long stick to cut down passing lanes. When a turnover is created, Robertson is able to quickly transition to offence. He is willing to support the defence down low and play a physical game.
Outlook
Robertson has the offensive tools to be a top-six NHL player but still needs to improve his skating a little bit more. Expect him to start the year in the AHL, adjusting to the speed and physicality of pro players. It will be a bit of a jump from playing against teenagers to playing against men. With a good start in the AHL, he could put himself in line to be a call-up if injuries occur.
Prospect #2: Ty Dellandrea
Centre — shoots Right
Born July 21, 2000 — Port Perry, Ontario
Height 6’1″ — Weight 190 lbs [185 cm/86 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 1st round, #13 Overall at the 2018 NHL Draft
Dellandrea improved his numbers in his post-draft season. He put up 22 goals and 63 points in 60 games, up four points in seven fewer games from the previous year. He continued to be the best player on a weak Flint Firebirds team that missed the OHL playoffs again. Following the OHL season, he joined the Texas Stars and made his pro debut. In 11 games he put up two goals and an assist.
Skating
Dellandrea is an excellent skater. He has the top end speed necessary to pull away from defenders and create odd-man rushes. His quick feet give him excellent acceleration, and he reaches that top speed in just a few strides. Dellandrea has the agility and edgework to make quick cuts and changes in direction. However, he could work on his power and balance. He can be knocked off the puck a bit too much, and he could improve his work along the boards and in front of the net with a bit better balance.
Offensive Game
Dellandrea scores goals with an excellent wrist and snapshot. He has the hockey IQ to find soft spots in the opposing defence and gets his shot off from the high slot. His shots are powerful and accurate. He also has a good backhand. Dellandrea gets to the dirty areas of the ice, where he has the hand-eye coordination to get deflections and pounce on rebounds. He could be even more effective there with a bit more strength, as this would help him to establish a position in front of the net. He goes there often without the puck and provides a good screen in front of the goalie.
As a playmaker, Dellandrea plays a very straightforward, north-south game. He makes quick smart, passes to teammates. Dellandrea is not the type of player to make a number of fancy moves or stickhandling with the play or to try to thread the needle on a dangerous pass. Instead, he makes the smart play, keeps the puck moving, and looks to maintain possession down low. This is another area where he needs a bit more lower-body strength to dominate down low.
Defensive Game
Dellandrea works hard in the defensive end. His skating and strong hockey IQ help to make him a good penalty killer, as he cuts down passing lanes and creates turnovers. He backchecks hard in his own zone and looks to support the defence down low. However, his lack of size and strength is a limiting factor here. He can be overpowered by opponents. This could improve in the coming years if he is able to add more muscle to his frame.
Outlook
Dellandrea is likely to head back to the OHL this year. He is a couple of years away from being NHL ready. If the Firebirds struggle again they are likely to move Dellandrea ahead of the OHL Trade Deadline, picking up picks and prospects. Dellandrea should get the opportunity to play higher pressure games in the OHL playoffs as well as competing for a spot on Team Canada for the World Juniors.
Prospect #3: Thomas Harley
The Stars drafted Harley with the 18th overall pick in this year’s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Harley. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can check out the report here.
Prospect #4: Denis Gurianov
Left Wing/Right Wing — shoots Left
Born June 7th, 1997 — Tolyatti, Russia
Height 6’3″ — Weight 200 lbs [191 cm / 91 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 1st round, #12 overall, at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft
It has taken some time for Gurianov to reach his offensive potential, but he finally broke out in the AHL last year, putting up 20 goals and 48 points in 57 games with the Texas Stars. This earned him a significant audition at the NHL level. Things didn’t quite go as well in Dallas as he scored just one goal and four points in 21 games.
Skating
Gurianov has the speed and acceleration necessary to beat defenders wide off the rush. He has a quick first step and can use that along with his acceleration to be the first man on many loose pucks. A powerful stride also allows him to bowl right over a defender, or to carry a checker on his back as he drives the net. He is strong on his skates with great lower-body strength and balance. This makes him very hard to knock off the puck.
Add in good agility and edgework and Gurianov can get by defenders in a variety of ways. Defenders must respect his skating ability when he carries the puck up the ice on a rush, however, if they back up too far giving him the option to use the defender as a screen, he is more than willing to unleash his powerful shot once he gets inside the face-off dots.
Offensive Game
Big, powerful, fast, skilled, Gurianov has each box checked when it comes to talent amongst forward prospects. He scores goals and can do it in a variety of ways. Gurianov has the strength to drive the net, battle in the corners, fight through checks and score gritty power forward-style goals. He is good in board battles, digging out loose pucks consistently, and is a menace on the boards.
Gurianov also protects the puck extremely well in the cycle game, extending zone time and increasing possession for his club. He also has a heavy wrist shot with quick release, allowing him to fool goaltenders and score from further out. Gurianov adds the quick hands necessary to deke past defenders and it’s clear that he can be a pure sniper going forward. However, he can be a bit too much of a risk-taker at times and needs to do better at making the smart pass to a teammate in order to generate a better scoring opportunity, rather than attempting a very low percentage shot or fancy play.
It’s hard to put a finger on it, but there is something holding Gurianov back from dominating at the offensive end. There have been questions about his hockey IQ and ability to read the play. This seemed to improve at the AHL level this year, but was missing at the NHL level. The Stars hope it is just an adjustment to the quicker speed of his opponents and something that can be fixed in time.
Defensive Game
Gurianov shows a commitment to backchecking and plays his gritty game along the boards in all three zones. However, he is inconsistent in this aspect. Gurianov is tenacious in all three zones and not afraid to make a hit to make the play or take a hit to be sure he gets the puck out at his blue line. Gurianov could use some work on his positioning, however, as that does not seem to come naturally to him in the defensive end of the ice.
Outlook
Gurianov can be a dynamic offensive player, but he must adjust to the NHL level and the skill and speed of his opponents. He should be up with the Stars this year, working on becoming more consistent offensively and working his way up the lineup. His high-end skill could be worth the wait.
Prospect #5: Jake Oettinger
Goalie — Shoots Left — Catches Left
Born December 18th, 1998 — Lakeville, Minnesota
Height 6’4″ — Weight 212 lbs [193 cm / 96 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 1st round, #26 overall at the 2017 NHL Draft
Oettinger had another strong campaign with Boston University in his junior year. In 36 games he had a 2.45 goals-against-average and 0.926 save percentage. Following the season, he signed a pro contract and joined the Texas Stars. In six games, Oettinger had a 2.47 goals-against-average and .895 save percentage.
Skating and Talent Analysis
Oettinger is a solid skater in the crease. He can come out to challenge shooters but also back up quickly and take away the net when they try to make a deke. Oettinger could work on his positioning though. He sometimes can get beat when he is slightly off and gives the shooter a bit too much net to look at. Oettinger also gets out of his net quickly to get loose pucks. Oettinger can get the breakout started with a solid first pass. He gets side-to-side quickly in the net, allowing him to make saves on cross-ice passes and set up quickly for shots. His puck tracking ability is also very good. He has the athletic ability to make a save, and quickly get himself back into position and be square to the shooter on rebounds.
Coming in at 6-foot-4, Oettinger has the ideal size that NHL scouts are looking for now. His size and ability to cut down angles give shooters very little net to look at when coming in. Even when he is down in his butterfly, his shoulders are up at cross-bar height. Most young goaltenders really need to work on their rebound control and while Oettinger still can make improvements in this area, he is already pretty well advanced for his age. His butterfly and quick legs take away the bottom of the net extremely well. It is rare that he is beaten by a low shot. Oettinger is also very good up top, with a quick glove hand and solid blocker side.
Mental Makeup
Oettinger shows maturity in the crease. He never seems to get flustered, no matter what is happening around him. He shows this cool, calm demeanour after scrambles around the net. Oettinger also rebounds quickly after letting in a goal, not allowing things to spiral out of control. He focuses on making the next save, not analyzing the ones that got away. It is easy to see that Oettinger has been a stabilizing influence for teammates at the college level.
Outlook
Goalies are often long-term projects. Oettinger will head to Texas for his first full pro season. He will gain experience at a faster level of play and facing better shooters. Oettinger is likely a couple of years away from being NHL ready, but the Stars could have their next franchise goalie in the pipeline.
#6 Prospect: Adam Mascherin
Left Wing — shoots Left
Born June 6th, 1998 — Maple, Ontario
Height 5’10″ — Weight 205 lbs [178 cm / 93 kg]
Drafted by Florida Panthers in the 2nd round, #38 overall, 2016 NHL Draft (did not sign)
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 4th round, #100 overall at the 2018 NHL Draft
After being drafted by the Stars one year ago, Mascherin played his first pro season in Texas, putting up 18 goals and 44 points in 75 games. It was a solid season for the 20-year-old rookie.
Skating
Prior to the 2016 draft, the biggest knock on Mascherin was his skating. Over the last several years, he has really worked to fix some issues in his skating. His stride is a bit wide. He has good, but not great speed and acceleration, but really excels in other areas. Mascherin has great agility and edgework. He can make quick cuts on a dime and uses this to his full advantage to get by defenders on the rush, or get past them and find open ice without the puck. He also has a strong lower body, and his excellent balance helps him to fight for loose pucks, or skate through checks and cut to the net. Mascherin is built like a tank.
Offensive Game
Mascherin is a pure sniper. His shot is very heavy, but it is his release that really fools goaltenders and leads to the puck finding the back of the net. It’s tough to describe and you really have to watch the highlights, but Mascherin has a very unique release that surprises the opposition. He is able to vary that release effectively. His shot is deadly accurate, and he is able to pick corners or find the tiniest of openings. Mascherin also has the ability to score goals in tight, with the hand-eye coordination to get tip-ins or pounce on rebounds.
He is also an excellent playmaker, with good vision and the ability to make a pass through the smallest of openings. Mascherin is undersized in terms of height, coming in at just 5-foot-10-inches tall, but at over 200 pounds, he has a thick and powerful body. This helps him to protect the puck in the cycle game and to win battles along the boards or establish his position in front of the opponent’s net. He is not afraid to play a gritty game and get involved in the real tough areas of the ice.
Defensive Game
Mascherin continues to work on his defensive game. He is willing to work hard and bring his gritty style to his own zone, however, he must be careful not to get himself out of position by chasing the puck too much. Disciplined positioning is an issue from time-to-time. He must also show that he can battle down low with bigger forwards. Mascherin has spent some time at centre earlier in his OHL career but could stand to improve his face-off skills if he wants to continue in that spot. It is more likely that he remains at left wing going forward. He seems settled into that position now.
Outlook
Mascherin is likely to start the season back with the Texas Stars. If he can continue to work on his skating and defensive game, he could become a top-six NHL forward. Expect Mascherin to be an injury call-up this season and to compete for a spot on the Stars in 2020.
Prospect #7: Albin Eriksson
Left Wing — shoots Right
Born July 20th, 2000 — Bollnas, Sweden
Height 6’4″ — Weight 207 lbs [193 cm / 94 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 2nd round, #44 overall at the 2018 NHL Draft
As an 18-year-old playing in the SHL, Eriksson’s minutes were limited. He still managed to put up nine goals and 16 points in 44 games for Skelleftea. He also put up one goal in six playoff games.
Skating
A big player at 6-foot-4, Eriksson is a very good skater for his size. His stride is long, smooth and powerful. This gives him excellent acceleration and very good top-end speed. Eriksson can drive wide on a defender, drop his shoulder and power to the net. With his powerful frame, he is able to fight off checks, hooks, and holds. He is also able to win battles along the boards and get to the front of the net. As Eriksson matures and gets stronger, this should only improve. His agility and edgework are decent for his size but could continue to use some work with his footwork.
Offensive Game
Eriksson is another powerful winger who goes hard to the net. He is just as willing to go through a defender as to go around them. Without the puck, Eriksson gets in quickly on the forecheck, creating havoc down low, pressuring defenders and causing turnovers. Once a turnover is created he is able to get the puck to the front of the net. He is an excellent stick-handler and takes advantage of his size to protect the puck down low. This helps him to maintain possession in the cycle game. Eriksson isn’t the most creative passer though. He keeps possession by making the safe play to a teammate but doesn’t often try to make a pass to the front of the net or cross-crease to create a scoring chance.
Eriksson is best known as a goal scorer. He has the soft hands to score in tight to the net, quickly deking a goaltender, burying a rebound, or getting a deflection. He also has an excellent wrist shot and a quick release. Eriksson can work on getting open without the puck though. If he can find softer spots in the defence, he can get open and let his shot off on net. It would also allow teammates to set him up for one-timers.
Defensive Game
Eriksson is willing to use his size and physicality in all three zones. He chases down loose pucks and is willing to fight for them. He is also good at supporting the defence down low and using his size and strength to work against the cycle game. Eriksson uses his size and his long stick to cut down passing lanes and create turnovers. Once one is created, he is good at head-manning the puck and starting the transition.
Outlook
Eriksson is a long-term project. His combination of size, skating ability, and shot make him a very intriguing project though. Eriksson is likely to spend another season with Skelleftea where his added age and experience should see his ice time increase. The Stars hope that will also lead to improved production and continued development.
Prospect #8: Joel L’Esperance
Centre — shoots Right
Born August 18th, 1995 — Brighton, Michigan
Height 6’2″ — Weight 210 lbs [188 cm / 95 kg]
Signed with the Dallas Stars in March 2018 as an Undrafted Free Agent
After putting up 27 points in 44 games in his senior season with Michigan Tech, L’Esperance was not seen as a high profile college free agent. His rookie season with the Texas Stars changed all that though. With 30 goals and 45 points in 54 AHL games, L’Esperance showed the offensive potential that was untapped during his college career. He also got a chance with Dallas, putting up two goals in 18 NHL games.
Skating
L’Esperance is a good skater. He has a powerful stride and his acceleration and top-end speed allow him to get in quickly on the forecheck and to be dangerous on the rush. He is strong on his skates and tough to knock off the puck. This helps him to work down low in the cycle game and to win battles for loose pucks. His agility and edgework are also above-average.
Offensive Game
L’Esperance is a hard-working player who may not score the prettiest of goals but they all count the same. Most of his goals come in close to the net, where he is able to bang in rebounds and get deflections. With his 6-foot-2-inch frame, he is able to provide an effective screen in front of the net and create havoc. He also battles hard to dig pucks out of the corners and to force defenders into mistakes.
L’Esperance is a north-south type of player. He makes the simple play to keep the puck moving and get it to the front of the net. His vision and playmaking ability are likely to hold him back from ever being a top-six NHL centre, but he can grow to contribute in a third or fourth-line role. L’Esperance is willing to grind away on the cycle and uses his frame to maintain possession in the offensive zone.
Defensive Game
L’Esperance is willing to bring his grit to the defensive end of the ice. He helps the defence down low, clearing the front of the net and helping to contain opponents on the cycle game. L’Esperance is willing to do whatever it takes to win, sacrificing his body and laying out to block shots. He is also decent in the face-off circle. L’Esperance reads the play well and is good positionally. He does a good job of keeping himself between his opponent and the net.
Outlook
L’Esperance will head to Stars camp looking to fight for a spot in the team’s bottom-six. He will be in the battle for the team’s fourth-line centre spot. Even if he does not make the team, expect him to be one of the Stars first call-ups, especially if they need some help at centre due to injuries.
Prospect #9: Oskar Back
Centre/Right Wing — shoots Left
Born March 12th, 2000 — Hammarö, Sweden
Height 6’2″ — Weight 192 lbs [188 cm/87 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 3rd round, #75 overall at the 2018 NHL Draft
Back spent last season on loan with Karlskoga in the Swedish Allsvenskan. Playing against men, he put up four goals and 20 points in 45 games. His 16 assists were the most by any junior-aged player in the league. He also added three assists in five playoff games. Back also played in five games for the Swedish team at the World Juniors, picking up just one assist.
Skating
Back skates with a long, powerful stride. He generates good speed as well as strong acceleration. A quick first step helps him to win races to loose pucks, and he has the speed off the rush to take a defender wide and cut to the net. Back has good agility and edgework. He can make quick changes in direction to fool defenders. He needs to work on his core strength going forward. This will improve his balance and make him harder to knock off the puck. He can sometimes be overpowered along the boards.
Offensive Game
Back is a solid playmaker. He has the vision and passing skills to put the puck through tight areas and create scoring chances. He uses his agility and changes of direction and pace to open up passing lanes on the rush. Back works well in the cycle game and has the patience to wait for teammates to get open. He is smart with the puck and reads the play well.
Back has a good wrist shot, but does not use it enough. He looks to be a playmaker. His wrist shot is strong, accurate, and features a quick release. He could use some work on his one-timer though. When he gets to the net, he has the soft hands to score in tight. He is a hard worker who gets in quickly on the forecheck and creates turnovers. He also works for loose pucks along the boards, and to get to the net. However, Back needs to get stronger to be more effective.
Defensive Game
Back works hard in the defensive zone, but still has some work to do before he is a good defensive player. He is strong in the face-off circle. He also is willing to support the defence down low and work in containing the cycle. This is another area where strength and balance would help him to contain bigger opponents. He also needs a bit of work on his positioning as he can seem lost at times. These are areas that he can develop with good coaching.
Outlook
Back is expected to move up to the SHL this year, playing for Farjestad. He will need to continue to work on shooting the puck more and on filling out his frame before he is ready to come to North America and push for a job with the Stars.
Prospect #10: Nicholas Caamano
Right Wing — shoots Left
Born September 7th, 1998 — Ancaster, Ontario
Height 6’2″ — Weight 194 lbs [188 cm / 88 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round, #146 overall at the 2016 NHL Draft
Coming off a breakout campaign where Caamano helped the Hamilton Bulldogs to the OHL Championship it was time to make the jump to the AHL. In his first pro season, Caamano put up 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 73 games for the Texas Stars.
Skating
Caamano is a very good skater. He has good speed and reaches that speed in just a few strides with his strong acceleration. He can get to the outside on defenders off the rush and cut to the net. Caamano has good agility and edgework which he can use to manoeuvre through traffic. He has good balance and is strong on his skates at the junior level. However, he can stand to bulk up even more now as he heads to the pro game.
Offensive Game
Caamano is a goal scorer. He gets to the front of the net and is able to score goals in tight to the net. He can deke a goalie, fit pucks through small areas, deflect point shots and put things in with a quick one-timer in front. He also has a good release on his wrist shot which can fool goaltenders and helps him to score from further out. However, he can continue to add upper body strength and improve the power on his shot.
Caamano is a strong forward in the cycle game, protecting the puck and moving it quickly to an open teammate. He sees the ice very well and also anticipates where teammates will go. Caamano also gets assists by getting in quickly on the forecheck and pressuring the defenders into mistakes. After creating the turnover, he is able to quickly transition into creating an offensive chance by finding a teammate streaking to the front of the net.
Defensive Game
Caamano is also good in the defensive zone. He uses his quickness to create turnovers. He is also well-positioned to do so. Caamano shows a strong hockey IQ reading the play and anticipating what opponents will do. He battles hard in the corners and in front of the net, supporting the defence down low.
Outlook
Caamano is set for another season in the AHL this year. He should be given a further opportunity to develop his game with the Texas Stars. Caamano is likely two-to-three years away from playing in the NHL on a consistent basis. He is a longer-term project.
Sleeper Prospect: Colton Point
Goalie — shoots Left — catches Left
Born March 7th, 1998 — North Bay, Ontario
Height 6’4″ — Weight 219 lbs [193 cm / 99 kg]
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round, #128 overall, at the 2016 NHL Draft
After two brilliant years with Colgate University, Point moved up to the pro game. Playing behind a young Texas Stars team, Point struggled. In seven games, he had a 3.77 goals-against-average and .857 save percentage. Point also played 13 ECHL games, with a 3.28 goals-against-average and .887 save percentage.
Skating and Talent Analysis
Point has a good frame at 6-foot-4 and makes the most of it. He comes well out of his net, cutting down angles and reducing the amount of room that shooters have to look at. Point is a very good skater. This allows him to get back in his net and avoid being deked. He also has a strong leg push and tracks the puck well. He gets side-to-side quickly making a number of acrobatic saves.
Point has very quick legs. He takes away the bottom of the net very effectively. He is also strong on the blocker side. Point’s glove hand can sometimes be an issue as he has a tendency to drop it too low. He has worked at correcting this and does it less, but it can still be an issue from time-to-time. Point can also stand to work on his rebound control. That said, he is good at staying square to the puck and making the next save even when he gives up a rebound. Point gets out of his net to play pucks. He is a decent stick-handler and makes a good outlet pass.
Mental Makeup
Point is calm and composed in net, even when facing heavy traffic and a lot of shots against. When he is at his best, he is a leader on the back-end, as defenders and other teammates lean on his calm and coolness to permeate to the rest of the lineup.
Outlook
Point will look to bounce back and put up a better season in his second pro campaign. With Jake Oettinger also headed to Texas, Point may end up in the ECHL so that he can get plenty of ice time and improve facing pro shooters. If he can take steps forward, he could be in the AHL by the end of the year. Just 21-years-old, there is time for Point as a longer-term project.
System Outlook
The Stars system is built around big, powerful wingers. There is plenty of size and skill up front as seen in the prospects reviewed above. Former first-round pick Riley Tufte seems to have plateaued at the NCAA level and will need to take a big step forward to avoid being a first-round bust. Other forward prospects worth watching include forwards Riley Damiani, Jacob Pettersson, Tye Felhaber, Joel Kiviranta, Curtis Douglas and Nicholas Porco.
In goal, the Stars also have Landon Bow in addition to Point and Oettinger. The team needed to add prospects on the blue line though, and Harley was a strong first-round pick. Other blueliners to watch in the system include Ben Gleason, Joseph Cecconi, Dillon Heatherington, Jakob Stenqvist, Samuel Sjoland, Ben Brinkman, and Dawson Barteaux.
