Dallas Stars Might Want To Consider Nick Ebert On Defense
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars will be running a relatively young defensive group this year. This reconstructed blue line will give rookies and prospects a chance to shine, and one in particular may deserve consideration for a starting spot.
On the second day of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Dallas Stars fans had their minds set on one thing: acquiring Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop.
They knew exactly why they wanted the trade. They did not necessarily even care how it happened. They simply just wanted Bishop in the crease in victory green by the start of the coming season.
In the end, GM Jim Nill made a hard push at acquiring the American goalie but abandoned it in the end. There were still rumors floating around that the Stars may try and make a move later on in the coming season considering Bishop went untouched on the trade market.
However, Nill did make a move involving goaltenders that surprised everyone. But it wasn’t involving Bishop. It involved the Stars’ 2010 first-round pick Jack Campbell.
Amidst all of the draft talk and Bishop rumors, Dallas made waves by trading the goalie they chose 11th overall back in 2010 for defenseman Nick Ebert. The trade came slightly out of the blue, but had some legitimate reasons behind it.
Campbell was days away from becoming a free agent, and it was evident that it was time for the Stars to move on. The 11th overall pick they had back in 2010 just never panned out for them. It’s a rough shot to the prospect board, but at the end of the day it’s simply how the game goes. Every once in a while, a first rounder will drop into your lap and still not meet your expectations.
That’s exactly what happened with Campbell. He had only played one NHL game in six years and could not keep a consistent and halfway decent save percentage through the tail end of his Stars career. Injuries played a sizable role in his time with the organization, and eventually led to Dallas searching for change.
So they traded Campbell to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenseman Nick Ebert. As a result, the Stars received a prospect defenseman who is chomping at the bit. He has yet to play in a regular season NHL game, but seems to be getting close.
In the LA system (which thrives on defensive skill), it’s no wonder a 22-year-old wasn’t receiving any opportunity. Meanwhile, Campbell was stuck in a mass of injuries and could never work his way up to the number two spot. Now each of these players has a chance for a fresh start.
Throughout the Stars’ first four preseason games and training camp, it looks like Ebert is right where he needs to be.
He skated in his first preseason game of the year on Sunday in London, ON against the Panthers. Ebert ended up being one of only two Stars to score a goal, and his came as the overtime game winner.
This was following up his hat trick performance in the intrasquad scrimmage on the final day of training camp, so he now technically (sort of) has four goals in two games as a member of the Stars. That’s not bad at all for a young defender.
In his most recent season, Ebert played with the Ontario Reign (the Kings’ AHL affiliate). In 44 games last season, he scored two goals and tallied 12 total points and finished with a +12 on-ice rating.
Over the past four seasons split between the OHL and AHL, Ebert has racked up 79 points, 23 of which are goals. He is not only skilled on the offensive side of the puck, but also plays consistent defense.
The 22-year-old has not been given many opportunities to prove himself yet. After the trade, it was assumed that the Dallas Stars would use Ebert as a leader on defense for the Texas Stars this year. That could be an excellent role for him to fill.
But it might not be a bad idea to give Ebert another look and consider him for a potential NHL spot sometime throughout the year.
Next: Stars Reduce Training Camp Roster By Three
The Stars already have a plethora of potential defensive starters to sort through, and Ebert would simply add to the confusion and competition. But maybe that’s not a bad thing. After all, he has proved that he is eager to produce.