Dallas Stars Keep Third Pick, Draft Defenseman Miro Heiskanen

The NHL Draft is well underway, and the Dallas Stars stuck to their guns with the third overall pick, selecting Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

Well, there you have it, Dallas Stars fans.

After months of wondering whether the Stars would trade or hold onto their third overall pick that they received through the NHL Draft Lottery, Dallas answered all speculation by spending their pick on defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

The 17-year-old (that’s right, he’s 17) from Espoo, Finland is the Stars’ highest draft selection since the team moved to Dallas in 1993 and is considered the top defenseman in the draft pool. This is an excellent pick for a Stars team that can really use a young and talented defender that could become a cornerstone for the franchise for years to come.

Dallas Stars

It’s a great pick for multiple reasons.

Heiskanen is a smooth skater and has strong athleticism with a 6’1, 172 lb. frame. He knows how to move the puck well and plays the game smart, rarely gambling or putting the team in jeopardy. He also knows how to make the smart defensive play when breaking out of the zone and plays a shutdown game within the zone.

Our own Tom Dorsa wrote a full profile on Heiskanen, and you can read it here. He will have an in-depth look at the new Stars’ defender up in the near future, highlighting what he brings to the team and where we might see him land in the Stars’ system.

In Dorsa’s profile on Heiskanen, he compared the young Finn to players such as Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Cam Fowler, two players who already have established and thriving NHL careers going.

“His defensive game is similar to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, a stout complete defenseman from the San Jose Sharks. His gap control in terms of the space he allows opposing forwards entering the offensive zone is as good as any current NHL defender, as his ability to skate backwards and put his stick into passing and shooting lanes compensates for his lack of length and size.”

“Heiskanen’s most-direct comparison to a pre-established National Hockey League defenseman is, to me, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler. Fowler is a bonafide elite offensive defenseman with skating abilities that allow him to play effectively and calmly in all three zones, and Heiskanen mirrors that play.”

There were rumors and reports that the Dallas Stars had plenty of trade offers come in for the third pick, but Nill ended up holding onto it due to his want for a young and talented defender. He got that in Heiskanen.

More on the Stars’ newest defender will be up very soon.

Next: A Mass Of Possibility Meets Stars In First Round Of Draft

The Stars also hold the 29th overall pick in the first round, though there is speculation that this one could be moved as well. Still, keep your eyes glued to the draft. It isn’t that far off, after all.