Dallas Stars: 13th Overall Pick Might Be Their Lucky Number

There was a lot of initial commotion whenever the Dallas Stars selected Ty Dellandrea at thirteenth overall. But how does he compare to their other 13th overall pick in Radek Faksa?

The Dallas Stars have a relatively short draft history when compared to the history of the NHL. That history becomes even shorter when talking about drafting at the 13th position.

In the franchise’s 25 years in Dallas, the Stars have drafted only one 13th overall pick, being Radek Faksa. That being said, it’s definitely a stretch to claim that a trend has been set and 13 is the team’s lucky number. But to say that the Stars did okay with their last 13th pick could very well be an understatement.

Faksa has earned his spot on the Stars’ roster and done so in relatively short time since he was picked in 2012. So how do Dellandrea and Faksa, both young centers and both thirteenth overall selections by Dallas, compare?

How Faksa Has Fared

Size is an important attribute to the Dallas Stars when signing and drafting players.

At 6’3″ Radek owns decent height on the Dallas roster and is a pound short of the 207 lb. team average. That pound is not missed when he forechecks or back checks an opponent, though. He has been nothing impressive on the ice for the Stars, which is why Dallas went ahead and secured him through 2020.

2016-17 was a breakout season for the 24-year-old center as he turned into a regular lineup option for Lindy Ruff and Dallas. His mixture of physicality, defensive smarts, and scoring touch made him a dangerous asset. On top of that, he proved to be a quality penalty killer.

This season, he once again found a way to exceed expectations even with a more limited role. Faksa became one of Hitchcock’s favorite players to match up against the opposing top line due to his style. It quickly wore on the opposition, giving the Stars’ top line a chance to jump on the attack. He finished the 2017-18 season with a solid 17 goals and 33 points along with a +21 rating. Faksa also landed at seventh in Selke Trophy voting for the NHL’s top defensive forward.

A lot of what was said in his early scouting reports near the 2012 draft turned out to be accurate.

“Faksa is an above average skater, with good speed and strong balance which makes him difficult to knock off the puck”-Ben Kerr

The highlights certainly seem to support this as well. Faksa broke many of his negative draft expectations over the past two seasons.

With the loss of center Cody Eakin to Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft, Faksa was granted an even larger opportunity to showcase his playmaking abilities. He knows how plays will develop on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice and uses his greatest assets, namely size and speed, to close gaps, find gaps, close off passing lanes, or get the puck in the back of the net. The Stars could not have asked for a much more fitting player for their scheme.

Can Dellandrea Meet Expectations?

Is Dellandrea another seemingly perfect fit? He is shorter than Faksa, standing at 6’1″, and weighs less at 190 pounds. But he is much younger than his Czech counterpart, and his height/weight is the same as my nearly 50-year-old father who can take a few blows before bowing out. Thankfully, Dellandrea’s 190 appears to be worn better than my father’s. Do expect him to make a sizable jump in the weight column by the time he makes the jump to the NHL.

Even though he has a decent-sized frame, he is not all that dependent on it. In his game footage, he prefers to use his speed and high IQ to zip to the right place at the right time. He’s a smart player that uses his vision and looks calm, as we saw in development camp as well. He waits for the right play to open up and then makes it. That’s what good centers do.

The best comparison I can think to describe his offensive patience is to that of a running back in football. He knows how long to wait for a gap to open before he shoots it. He doesn’t just aimlessly stand in front of the net to obstruct the goalie’s vision, he stands with a purpose. Everything he does is with a purpose. His IQ and compete level are his greatest assets.

“I think Dallas is getting an all-around forward who is extremely competitive and takes care of his own end and plays a strong offensive game,” said Dellandrea of himself on draft night. “I think I play with a lot of character and a lot of passion and I think that comes first and my abilities follow that up. I leave it all out there, and so that’s what they’re getting.”

Dallas Stars: 13th Overall Pick Might Be Their Lucky Number

There was a lot of initial commotion whenever the Dallas Stars selected Ty Dellandrea at thirteenth overall. But how does he compare to their other 13th overall pick in Radek Faksa?

How Faksa Has Fared

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