When Ryan Garbutt scored the game-winner in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Montreal, the Dallas Stars forward became the third rookie to find the back of the net this year.
Garbutt, a 26-year-old center who was recalled from the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League on Friday, found the back of the net for the first time as an NHL player in just his third career game.
While he might not be young in terms of age, he definitely fits the bill in terms of making his NHL debut on Saturday at Phoenix.
Here is a look at the other Stars who have gained NHL experience this year.
Richard Bachman (24)---Bachs' stellar performance while Kari Lehtonen was out with a groin injury in late November and early December was enough for the Stars to send veteran backup Andrew Raycroft to the AHL. In 13 games, 11 of which were starts, Bachman has gone 6-3-0 with a 2.72 goals-against-average and one shutout. He might not play much down the stretch as the Stars figure to ride Lehtonen almost until the wheels fall off, but in Bachs they know they have a dependable secondary option if and when Kari needs a breather.
Jordie Benn (24)—The younger brother of 2012 NHL All-Star center Jamie Benn, Jordie is a defenseman who was recalled in early January and ended up playing two games for the Stars. In his league debut on Jan. 3 against Detroit, he and Jamie teamed up to deliver the assists on a first-period tally by 2011 All-Star Loui Eriksson. He also played the following game before returning to the AHL. With the Texas Stars he has 22 points (8-14-22) in 48 games.
Brenden Dillon (21)—Dillon was recalled from the AHL earlier this season when the Stars needed an extra body at the blue line, but didn't see any action with the big club and returned to Cedar Park in about a week's time. With the Texas Stars, he has 17 points (2-15-17) in 52 games. Should the Stars need defensive depth in the future, Dillon could very well get a look and make his NHL debut.
Matt Fraser (21)---Fraser is a 21-year-old forward who made his NHL debut on Jan. 24 against Anaheim but didn't log a single point. He returned to Cedar Park after that game as the Stars started the 2012 NHL All-Star break. With the Texas Stars, he is one of their top scorers with 42 points (26-16-42) through 50 games.
Ryan Garbutt (26)---Garbutt's first NHL goal was a huge moment for the 26-year-old center who was skating in just his third league contest. He was recalled from the AHL last Friday, where he had posted solid numbers (16-17-33) in 50 games. Once Jamie Benn is healthy, it looks like he'll return to Cedar Park, but he's played well in his first three games with the Stars, so maybe he gets another look in the future.
Philip Larsen (22)---Through 33 games, Larsen has performed pretty well at the NHL level, so well that his emergence sent Stars off-season signee Adam Pardy to the bench for much of this season. Lars has six points (1-5-6) thus far and in January, scored his first NHL goal, off a long-range blast at Minnesota. The Danish-born blueliner has definitely entrenched himself as a defensive cornerstone of the future in Big D. Sure, there are still some rookie mistakes and he has been taking an unhealthy amount of penalties of late, but it's hard to argue with his upside.
Tomas Vincour (21)---Vinny has really come on of late and through 28 games, he has six points (2-4-6). He has spent parts of this season in the AHL, which was also the case last year, when he had two points (1-1-2), including his first NHL goal, during a 24-game stint with the Stars. Vincour will be an interesting player to watch the rest of the season as the stretch run figures to be something of an audition so that Stars brass can truly get a read on the young Czech forward.
Francis Wathier (27)---At 27, Wathier is definitely the old man of the group and to date, he's only appeared in one game for the Stars this season, a 1-0 loss at St. Louis back on Jan. 16. But he continues to post solid numbers in the AHL (11-18-29 in 51 games). Wathier made his NHL debut on Oct. 21, 2009 and has nine games of NHL experience to his credit. He continues to be a guy the Stars would be comfortable calling up when they need some forward depth in a pinch.
