Dallas Stars Could Say Goodbye To Another First Rounder

The Dallas Stars traded away a former first rounder during the 2016 NHL draft that did not pan out for the team. By the next offseason, they may be saying goodbye to another first rounder.

It’s not often that you see a goaltender drafted in the first round of an NHL entry draft. If a goalie is ever taken within the first 15 picks, it typically means that he is probably at most one or two years away from being a regular in the NHL. It is rare to ever see a goalie taken in the first 15.

Yet the Dallas Stars did just that when they drafted G Jack Campbell at 11th overall in the 2010 draft. The American-born goalie had a stellar pre-draft career, and the Stars were hoping for a homegrown goaltender that would lead the franchise for years to come.

But on June 25, 2016, those plans went in the toilet. The Stars traded Campbell’s rights to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for D Nick Ebert.

Things had slowly been going downhill for Campbell over the past few years. He spent five seasons with the Texas Stars that were riddled with injuries and inconsistencies. He eventually lost his starting spot and began spending a majority of his time on either the bench or the injured reserve.

During the 2015-16 season, he was assigned to the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL for a stint that ended up lasting much longer than expected. He only played 19 games with the Texas Stars last year, posting an atrocious 3.65 GAA and a .884 save percentage.

Campbell left Big D with only one NHL game under his belt and a lot of stones left unturned. It was a disappointment to say the least for the Dallas Stars. There was so much hope for the young and promising goalie that ended up falling through.

But it could potentially get more disappointing. It looks as though defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, the Stars’ 2011 first round pick, could be on the way out as well.

The Dallas Stars re-signed the RFA yesterday after he agreed to a one-year, one way deal worth $918,750. The 23-year old defenseman is entering his fifth season of action in the NHL this coming year, but could once again experience some trouble finding his way into the lineup.

Over the past four years, the Big Rig has only played 78 games in a Dallas Stars uniform, scoring one goal and tallying 11 assists, along with a -13 plus/minus rating. His most active season was 2014-15 when he played 36 games with a struggling Stars blue line.

In other words, he is not a lock for a spot in the starting lineup. He has spent the past few seasons playing the role of a seventh man, sitting as a healthy scratch until his services are needed. In other words, he’s not necessarily playing the role that most players picked 14th overall would be playing at this point in their career.

And things very well may not be changing. Though the Stars lost three different defensemen to free agency and trading this offseason, they have a supposed lineup ready to go that could do plenty of damage. At the current moment in time, it looks like Oleksiak is not one of the six starters.

There are rumors that Dallas will probably run with eight defensemen next season, which means the Big Rig would spend another season at the NHL level. But how much playing time would he get? That is the question yet to be answered.

At this point, it looks like John Klingberg, Dan Hamhuis, Johnny Oduya, Stephen Johns, Jordie Benn, and Patrik Nemeth have him beat for the starting spots. Some could even make a case that rookie Esa Lindell could be the seventh man instead of Oleksiak.

Not to say Oleksiak is bad, per say. The Stars just have a stacked defensive arsenal with a plethora of young and prospering talent.

Now Oleksiak brings some solid qualities to the Stars’ blue line. He’s 6-7, 260 pounds, making him the tallest and heaviest defender for Dallas by a good margin. He can lay the body out strong and play physical at a consistent rate. He can drop the gloves and go toe-to-toe with anyone. He’s all you could ask for when looking for an enforcer on defense.

And that is exactly why the Dallas Stars could be losing him in the near future. With his contract expiring next offseason and an expansion draft scheduled for June 20th, things are not looking bright for the Toronto native’s chances of staying in Dallas. The Stars can only protect three defensemen, and John Klingberg, Dan Hamhuis/Johnny Oduya, Esa Lindell, Patrik Nemeth, Jordie Benn, and Stephen Johns are just some of the names on the Dallas defense that need protection.

Chances are you can pick three names from that list that you would rather Dallas protect than Oleksiak. If the Stars do end up leaving him unprotected, that would make him available to the new Las Vegas team. As a towering defenseman still growing in his game, he could be a legitimate target.

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Each team will only lose one player though, so Oleksiak could end up going undrafted and returning to the Dallas Stars if one of their other defensemen, forwards, or goaltenders are taken instead. He would then need to negotiate a new contract, considering he will once again be an RFA.

Overall, it’s disappointing that the Stars have not been able to use a first round pick as unique as Jamie Oleksiak is to his fullest potential. At the end of the day, it’s all in how the chips fall. And they always fall in the best interest of the team.

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Oleksiak has a chance to go into training camp and put on a magnificent showing, one good enough to earn him a starting spot. He has the skill set and the potential to, and nothing is decided yet.

But he could be looking at another year of switching between the ice and the press box. That’s not necessarily what you want out of your first rounder.