While Tyler Seguin’s World Cup injury has left Dallas Stars fans a little unsure of the present, let’s examine what’s going on with the Stars’ future over in Traverse City.
Even though it feels like there’s still a lull in the hockey world until October is upon us, different pockets of hockey activity are alive and well all over. If recent events have left you slightly disillusioned with the World Cup of Hockey and you need a slight distraction, you’ve come to the right place. There’s plenty to see in Traverse City.
With the annual prospect tournament underway in Michigan, the future of the Dallas Stars is testing its wings- or skates, as it were. The tournament opened on Friday, and Dallas’ prospects have had a packed weekend. Two games under their belt, and the mini-Stars have a 1-1 record. They won their opening game against Minnesota on Friday, and then lost last’s night tilt against the Rangers prospects in a shootout.
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Jim Nill, Lindy Ruff, and Rich Peverley, among others, are hanging around Traverse City to keep an eye on the future of their team. The results of Friday’s competition couldn’t have been too much of a surprise; although the prospects of a city don’t always mirror their NHL counterparts, coming out on top of Minnesota is always a Stars priority, and not one that the prospects forgot when they earned the 3-1 victory.
Saturday night’s contest, though, was a bit more difficult. The story will sound somewhat familiar to most of us: the prospects failed to hold a third period 4-2 lead, and lost it 5-4 in shootouts. Hopefully the higher-ups are seeing the same patterns we are, and devising what to do about it. In the meantime, the Stars’ prospect coach, Derek Laxdal, is keeping his eye on the talent.
We’re finally seeing the pay-off for some of those names we got excited about when draft time rolled around. Denis Gurianov, Devin Shore, and Cole Ully are becoming standouts. Although Shore was injured last December, his shoulder seems back at 100%, and he’s working his way back to the top of the barrel.
Laxdal also expressed great satisfaction with the fourth line, consisting of Grayson Pawlenchuk, Cordell James, Connor Chatham, who are all free agents at the tournament by invitation. During the second period, the efforts of this line scored the two back-to-back goals that tied the game and then put the Stars up 3-2. Although the Stars couldn’t hold onto that lead, that energy might find some of these fourth-liners a future with the Stars.
The Dallas Stars prospects have a rest day today, and then a game scheduled against Carolina tomorrow. We’ll have to wait to see who they face on Tuesday, but instinct says it’s going to be a fun ride. We’ll keep you posted!
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