{"id":13687,"date":"2017-07-26T09:00:02","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=13687"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:50","slug":"tsp-dallas-stars-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/07\/26\/tsp-dallas-stars-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Dallas Stars Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. \u00a0During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. The cut-off for prospects is typically 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Dallas Stars Prospects<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Dallas Stars had big expectations this year. Coming off a first place finish in the Western Conference in 2015-16, many expected the Stars to take the next step. It was not to be. Injuries, defensive issues, and goaltending problems combined to take the Stars down to the seventh worst record in the league, and third worst in the conference.<\/p>\n

Things have started to change in the off-season. The Stars got some luck in the NHL Draft Lottery<\/a>, winning the third overall pick. In addition, general manager Jim Nill<\/a><\/strong> has made a number of trades and signings to overhaul the team. He has picked up Ben Bishop<\/a><\/strong>, Marc Methot<\/a><\/strong>, Alexander Radulov<\/a><\/strong>, and Martin Hanzal<\/a><\/strong>. The Stars look like the NHL’s most improved team heading into 2017-18.<\/p>\n

2017 Draft Picks:\u00a0Miro Heiskanen<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Jake Oettinger<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Jason Robertson<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Liam Hawel<\/strong>,\u00a0Jacob Peterson<\/strong>,\u00a0Brett Davis<\/strong>,\u00a0Dylan Ferguson
\n<\/strong>Graduates: Esa Lindell<\/a><\/strong>, Devin Shore<\/a><\/strong>, Stephen Johns<\/a><\/strong>, Brett Ritchie<\/a><\/strong>, Curtis McKenzie<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Top Prospect Miro Heiskanen<\/h3>\n

The Stars drafted Heiskanen with the 3rd overall pick in this year\u2019s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Heiskanen. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can\u00a0check out the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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#2 Prospect: Julius Honka<\/a><\/h3>\n

Defense \u2014 shoots Right
\nBorn December 3rd, 1995 \u2014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
\nHeight 5\u201911\u201d \u2014 Weight 185 lbs [180 cm \/ 84 kg]
\nDrafted by the Dallas Stars in the 1st round, #14 overall at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft<\/p>\n