The 2018 Traverse City Tournament wrapped up last night, signaling the beginning of the NHL preseason. But the tourney helped establish a lot of potential, especially for the Dallas Stars.
Throughout the month of September, the Dallas Stars annually follow a pretty typical schedule when compared to the rest of the NHL.
Players arrive back in town throughout the first week of the month, training camp typically commences during the second or third weekend, and the preseason starts up in the following week. Preseason action carries the team to the end of the month and into the regular season, which begins in the first week of October.
It’s an easy layout of events that gives hockey fans a firsthand look at how their team could pan out in the season ahead. In addition, it also serves as an excitement boost to get fans back into the swing and pride of hockey season.
But there is one detailed aspect of each September for the Stars that not every NHL team has the luxury of enjoying. In fact, only eight franchises in total get a chance to indulge in it. This extra event is the Traverse City Tournament.
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Hosted each year by the Detroit Red Wings, it’s a five-day tournament that gives eight NHL teams a chance to compile a roster of their brightest prospects and send them to compete against fellow top prospects. The Stars have been a part of the annual tourney for quite a while now, and 2018 was no different.
For the past five days, the coaches, management, and scouts of the Dallas Stars have been in Traverse City, watching a promising Dallas Stars prospect squad compete in the 20th year of the tournament. It’s a time for coaches and front office executives alike to get an up-close view at where some of their best prospects are development-wise and where that could put them with the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
The Stars sent a particularly loaded roster to the tournament this year, including some of their top draft picks of the past few years as well as free agent acquisitions. It made for a stacked lineup brimming with depth and potential and gave Stars fans something to look forward to with the commencement of the competition.
The first night of the tournament saw Dallas rally from a 5-3 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 7-5. One day later, they were bested by the Detroit Red Wings in a 3-1 final. After taking a break on Sunday, the Stars fell short in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild on Monday afternoon. And on Tuesday, Dallas played their final game and bested the Carolina Hurricanes, 7-3.
By the time it was all said and done, the Dallas Stars owned a 2-1-1 record and claimed fifth place overall in the tournament. And while that may not look entirely promising, it was the play of certain Dallas prospects that really stuck out during the weekend. And at the end of the day, that’s what the tournament is all about.
A good majority of the Stars’ prospects either lived up to their hype or found a way to surprise throughout the four games.
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Miro Heiskanen confirmed himself as the real deal after an incredible showing at the tournament that included three goals, a lot of highly-skilled play in a two-way game, and excellent decision-making. As a 19-year-old, the hype is there and it’s legitimate after a solid outing.
Jason Robertson was an early second-round pick in the 2017 Draft and is working his way up from the juniors. He has another year left before making his way up to the professional leagues, but his performance in Traverse City was nothing short of impressive. With two goals and nine points, he led the team on offense and made an impact with his play in each game. He’s got a strong shot and great handling skills. His skating looked better than it did when the Stars drafted him last summer, but that should only continue to improve.
Ty Dellandrea (first round) and Adam Mascherin (fourth round), two of the Stars’ newest draft selections, both put in decent first showings in Victory Green. Dellandrea played a strong all-around game while Mascherin showed off his physicality and goal-scoring prowess.
Older prospects like Roope Hintz, Colton Point, and Nick Caamano helped lead the charge in the tournament. It’s assumed that Hintz will compete for an NHL spot in the coming season, while Point and Caamano will try and work their way into the AHL lineup with Texas. All three put on strong outings and got a step ahead with training camp just around the corner.
And finally, some “long shot” prospects like Jermaine Loewen, Jakob Stenqvist, and Ben Gleason all surprised in one way or another. Loewen looked solid in much of his play for a seventh-round pick, Stenqvist earned a spot on the training camp roster after a strong performance, and Gleason was one of the team’s stronger players after signing a tryout contract with Dallas.
All in all, the Dallas Stars saw potential and promise in many different areas of their prospect team. Players stepped up, players surprised, and players worked their way onto the team’s radar. It was a five-day run that showcased the team’s future.
So, as we wrap up the Traverse City Tournament and turn our attention towards training camp this weekend, it’s a good time to reflect on just where the Dallas Stars could be headed. And after the performances over the past few days, it looks as though they are moving in the right direction.