Dallas Stars: Top Three Players Set To Shine In 2016-17
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars have some very talented rookies and some strong players in the farm system. Here are three players who are prepared to make a big splash in 2016-17.
Everyone knows that a successful farm system is necessary for the consistent, overall success of major league clubs. While the NBA does not use the D-League as significantly as they could and the NFL does not have a minor league system, the MLB and NHL use their farm systems frequently.
The NHL offers each team the chance to pair with a team from a couple of different leagues, as well as send players overseas to play in foreign leagues. Every year, you can expect an NHL team to have at least one or two new rookies on the roster who can make a significant impact.
The Dallas Stars are no stranger to this, especially over the past few years. The management and coaching staff have made a sizable impact over the past handful of years and have helped carry the Star to being one of the most threatening teams in the league.
But which of the rookies are on pace to do some big things next season? The Dallas Stars will go into the 2016-17 regular season with a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup, and it would be terrible to waste it. That’s where rookie talent could come in serious handy.
Here are three of the Stars’ young guns that you can expect a big year out of.
1. Stephen Johns
Things go pretty well when you’re the only rookie in a defensive system that’s over six feet tall and heavier than 220 pounds. Considering you are the only player who can throw their weight around in an otherwise thin and small lineup, it’s obvious that you are the guy that’s going to be used to run over the opposition.
That’s exactly where Stephen Johns came in handy this past year for the Dallas Stars. The 6-4, 225 lb. defenseman from Ellwood City, PA is a product of the Chicago Blackhawks draft class in the 2010 NHL entry draft. The Stars traded for the towering defender during the 2015 offseason, and the move paid off in dividends for them.
Not only did the Stars get veteran winger Patrick Sharp for their high-caliber offense, but they received a potential gem in Johns.
After making his NHL debut on March 11, 2016 against the team that drafted him, it was clear that Johns was an NHL regular. He finished the regular season with one goal and two assists in 14 games played. He also tallied an outstanding 55 hits in these games.
The Stars have Johns paired with veteran Johnny Oduya on defense, which ultimately gives Johns a free pass to try some things out. He did not have a lot of time to do so last season, but he can continue to see what works for him at the NHL level while avoiding getting completely burnt.
If Johns can stay healthy, the American giant will make himself known across the league this coming year. He will also provide the Dallas Stars with a respectable threat on defense.
2. Mattias Janmark
Mattias Janmark came to Dallas as an asset in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings on March 1, 2015 that sent Erik Cole up north in exchange for Janmark and another prospect. Neither were NHL-ready at the time, but reportedly were nearing the mark.
This past year, Janmark found a way to hop on the Stars’ roster for the final game of the preseason. After the game, it was made public that he would start on Opening Night against the Pittsburgh Penguins and make his NHL debut.
To say he delivered would be an understatement. The 23-year-old scored his first goal on his first shift at the 1:39 mark of the first period.
Janmark went on to do wonders for the Dallas Stars during the regular season. Playing in 73 games, he scored 15 goals and tallied 14 assists. He also put up an impressive +12 plus-minus rating and did it all in an average of 14:10 on the ice.
His contributions extended into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where Janmark scored two goals and tallied five points in 12 playoff games.
Part of Janmark’s success came from being on a line with Jason Spezza, and the two were monsters on the possession game. If Janmark is on a line centered by Spezza this coming year, he could be in for a big payoff. There is still a lot of potential left to be found by Janmark, and he has proven that he can play anywhere throughout the lineup.
That gives Dallas a flexible forward who can provide quality depth scoring for many years to come. It’s a beautiful thing to have.
3. Radek Faksa
Radek Faksa had a strong rookie season with the Dallas Stars. After being rumored to be the Stars next first round bust in a line of bad draft picks, Dallas called up Faksa and gave him a chance at a pro spot. He delivered.
The 22-year-old Czech is a threatening center at 6-3, 210 pounds. In the middle of a relatively small center lineup in the dot for Dallas, Faksa provided a strong physical presence. He scored five goals and tallied seven assists in 45 games, as well as posting a +9 in the plus-minus category.
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Once the Stanley Cup Playoffs rolled around, he put on a strong showing along with Mattias Janmark. Faksa finished with three goals and two assists in 13 postseason games.
His face-off percentage leveled out at 49.1 percent, which is not bad for a first-year center. His possession numbers are off the wall, just like Janmark’s. All signs are pointing to Faksa having a big sophomore season, helping the Stars with his knack for physicality and ability to score down the middle of the lineup.
Faksa will head off to play for his native country, the Czech Republic, in the World Cup of Hockey in September. It will hopefully give him a chance to unleash some potential early before the season kicks off.
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Overall, the Dallas Stars always bring in some exciting rookies from their farm system to compete for NHL starting spots. It seems that there are always one or two that make the cut and end up sticking with the team.
Who do you think will be gunning for a spot this coming season? And more importantly: who do you think will land a full-time spot?