Dallas Stars Recall Jason Dickinson, Should Get Him In Lineup Soon
By Josh Clark
Jason Dickinson was recalled by the Dallas Stars this morning after an impressive start to the AHL season. Ken Hitchcock would be smart to get him in the lineup as soon as possible.
As the Dallas Stars trimmed down their roster in preparation for opening night this past September, Jason Dickinson was “on the bubble.”
No one knew where Dickinson would fall. Would he play the role of 13th forward or be bumped back down to the AHL? It was a tossup and could have gone either way. But in the end, Dickinson was one of the final players reassigned to the Texas Stars before the regular season started.
That upset some of the Stars faithful, mainly because of the impact Dickinson had on the team the season before.
When it was clear that the 2016-17 season was a lost cause for the Dallas Stars, they did what any sensible team would do: call up young talent and give them playing time at the NHL level. Over the final weeks of the season, the Stars called up multiple forwards and defenders and gave them a chance to prove themselves in the big leagues.
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One of those players was Jason Dickinson, and he had an immediate and sincere influence on the team. Dickinson had made his NHL debut at the end of the 2015-16 season when he scored his first career goal in his first career game.
He played 10 games to close out the 2016-17 season with Dallas, tallying two goals and a -3 rating in an average of 11:47 on the ice. Through his play, he left an impression on the Stars organization as a whole.
And now, the 2013 first-round pick is back up at the NHL level. Earlier this afternoon, Dickinson was recalled by the Dallas Stars to help round out their 23-man roster. After sending defenseman Julius Honka down to the AHL on Tuesday, the Stars had an extra spot to fill.
Dickinson traveled to Winnipeg and will be with the team tomorrow night for the game against the Jets. It will be the final matchup of a long and grueling five-game road trip for the Stars. Whether Dickinson makes it into the starting lineup or not has yet to be decided.
But if Ken Hitchcock can find a way to get him in, it might be a good idea. That’s because Dickinson could provide the Stars with just what they need: depth scoring.
He’s a valuable forward considering he can play both at center and on the wing. With Dallas, there is potential that he could play both roles. In addition to that, he also has a certain knack for scoring. He knows how to set up his teammates as well as be in the right place on the ice to cash in for a goal. His hockey IQ is high for a 22-year-old.
At 6’2, 205 lb., he’s one of the Stars’ sturdier forwards and can provide a boost in size and offensive physicality.
In nine AHL games this season, Dickinson has six goals and seven points. He’s first on the team and tied for fourth in the AHL in goals scored. That hot start could very easily translate to the NHL level and give Dallas a chance to receive more scoring from their bottom nine players.
If the Stars give Dickinson a chance to prove himself, they could see some truly beneficial results.
At the end of last season, Jason Dickinson was one of the brightest assets of the Stars’ future. His potential is valuable for Dallas and he now has a chance to prove himself.
Next: Recapping The Highs And Lows Of October For Stars
If there’s an open spot in and the Dallas Stars want to inject some youthful exuberance into the lineup, give Dickinson a chance. Chances are they probably won’t regret it.
We’ll see how things go down tomorrow night in Winnipeg.