Dallas Stars Top Prospects
A look at the Dallas Stars top prospects heading into the 2015-16 season. The write ups for the Stars prospects are from mid-season, updating the progress of some of the Stars top prospects.
Julius Honka: Defenseman - 5'11" / 185 lbs
Drafted: 14th overall to the Dallas Stars in 2014
Honka is a small puck moving defenseman that can quarterback a powerplay and provide stretch passes to streaking forwards. He likes to jump in on the rush, which tends to leave the defense sometimes vulnerable.
Dallas has been lucky lately with puck moving defenseman, as the emergence of budding star John Klingberg has been a pleasant surprise. Honka, although smaller than Klingberg, he plays a similar style and projects as a top-4 defenseman.
He has posted a solid 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games for the Texas Stars. Honka will be most successful as a second pairing defenseman that will get some time on the power play.
The back end is a little crowded in Dallas, so don't be surprised if management keeps Honka in the AHL until the 2017-18 season.
Denis Gurianov: Right Wing - 6'3" / 201 lbs
Drafted: 12th overall to the Dallas Stars in 2015
Gurianov may have a higher ceiling than Honka, but he's a bit of a wild card. He has perfect size for the NHL, with a powerful, accurate shot that will help him be a steady producer in the league as a top-6 forward.
He currently is in the KHL with Lada and has spoken with media about his intention to honor that contract, then decide what his future is. For that reason alone, Gurianov remains a wild card. In 39 games with Lada, he has posted 5 points (4 goals, 1 assist).
Brett Ritchie: Right Wing - 6'3" / 220 lbs
Drafted: 44th overall to the Dallas Stars in 2011
Ritchie is a big power forward that plays more with his size, rather than his skill. He can go to the dirty areas of the ice, screening goalies and using his large figure to drive to the net.
He is known for his two-way game and can contribute on both ends. Ritchie missed the start of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a ligament in his wrist. He has since returned, and has played well for the Texas Stars, posting 11 points (9 goals, 2 assists) in 19 games.
Offensively, Dallas is stacked so there is no need to rush Ritchie back to the NHL. It would be best to keep Ritchie in the AHL for the remainder of the season and bring him back to Dallas in a third or fourth line role at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Write-up by Justin Lape, on Twitter @LankyLape
2015 Draft
1 12 Denis Gurianov (R) - Tolyatti (Russia Jrs.)
2 49 Roope Hintz (L) - Ilves Tampere (SM-liiga)
4 103 Chris Martenet (D) - London Knights (OHL)
5 133 Joseph Cecconi (D) - Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6 163 Markus Ruusu (G) - JYP Jrs (Finland)
2014 Draft
1 14 Julius Honka (D) - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
2 45 Brett Pollock (C) - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
3 75 Alex Peters (D) - Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
4 105 Michael Prapavessis (D) - Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL)
4 115 Brent Moran (G) - Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
5 135 Miro Karjalainen (D) - Jokerit (Finland Jrs.)
6 154 Aaron Haydon (D) - Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
6 165 John Nyberg (L) - Frolunda (Sweden Jrs.)
7 195 Patrick Sanvido (D) - Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
2013 Draft
1 10 Valeri Nichushkin (R) - Chelyabinsk Traktor (KHL)
1 29 Jason Dickinson (C) - Guelph Storm (OHL)
2 40 Remi Elie (L) - London Knights (OHL)
2 54 Philippe Desrosiers (G) - Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
3 68 Niklas Hansson (D) - Rogle (Sweden Jrs.)
4 101 Nick Paul (L) - Brampton Battalion (OHL)
5 131 Cole Ully (L) - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
5 149 Matej Paulovic (R) - Farjestad Jrs. (Sweden)
7 182 Aleksi Makela (D) - Ilves Jrs. (Finland)
Dallas Stars Top Prospects
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| Rk | My NHL Trade Rumors | The Hockey News |
Corey Pronman ESPN | Hockey Prospectus | Hockey's Future | Dobber Prospects | NHL.com |
| 1 | J. Honka | J. Honka | D. Gurianov | D. Gurianov | J. Honka | B. Ritchie | J. Honka |
| 2 | D. Gurianov | D. Gurianov | J. Honka | J. Honka | B. Ritchie | J. Honka | D. Gurianov |
| 3 | S. Johns | B. Ritchie | E. Lindell | B. Ritchie | C. Ully | D. Gurianov | S. Johns |
| 4 | E. Lindell | J. Dickinson | R. Hintz | J. Dickinson | D. Gurianov | E. Lindell | B. Ritchie |
| 5 | J. Dickinson | J. Oleksiak | J. Dickinson | E. Lindell | P. Nemeth | D. Shore | P. Nemeth |
| 6 | R. Elie | R. Faksa | P. Nemeth | R. Hintz | J. Dickinson | M. Janmark | |
| 7 | B. Pollock | R. Hintz | R. Elie | D. Shore | J. Campbell | J. Dickinson | |
| 8 | R. Faksa | B. Pollock | C. Ully | P. Nemeth | B. Pollock | R. Hintz | |
| 9 | D. Shore | R. Elie | S. Johns | R. Elie | M. Backman | R. Elie | |
| 10 | P. Desrosiers | D. Shore | B. Pollock | P. Desrosiers | S. Johns | C. Ully | |
