Dallas Stars: Five Questions Facing The Team In 2019 Offseason
By Josh Clark
4. Who Will Line Up Next To Miro Heiskanen In 2019-20?
Out of all of the big surprises from the Stars’ 2018-19 campaign, it’s hard to not pick the emergence of Miro Heiskanen as the most exciting one.
After being drafted third overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and spending the 2017-18 season in Finland, Heiskanen made the trek over to North America during the 2018 offseason and prepared for his rookie season in the NHL level. And, at the time, many didn’t know what to think.
The reviews and highlight footage of the young defender over in Finland were nothing short of impressive, and it was clear that he had the potential to be a generational talent.
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On the other hand, the Stars’ defense didn’t necessarily need “saving” and there were questions revolving around how long it might take the rookie to adapt to the NHL style of play.
After a handful of games in October, though, it was clear that Heiskanen was not just a player that the Dallas Stars needed, but a player that every other NHL team wanted.
Heiskanen wasted no time in leaving a sizable footprint on the league and catching the eye of every opposing player, coach, and GM in the process. His mixture of speed, poise, and focus made him an intriguing asset to the Dallas blue line. He was just as disciplined and structured in the defensive zone as he was overbearing and dominant in the offensive zone, and it showed.
The rookie played in all 82 regular season games, scoring 12 goals and posting 33 points in an average of 23:07 on the ice. He was also named to the 2019 NHL All-Star Game for his efforts and was the lone representative for the Stars.
And when the playoffs rolled around, he didn’t stop. In 13 starts, Heiskanen scored two goals and tallied four total points while averaging 25:31 on the ice.
Whether it was at even strength, on the power play, on the penalty kill, or in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, no stage was too big for the 19-year-old.
But before the 2019-20 season begins, the Dallas Stars will need to find a partner to skate alongside no. 4.
Heiskanen skated with Roman Polak for a majority of the 2018-19 season and through the playoffs, and the duo managed to generate chemistry with each other. But with Polak becoming a free agent this summer and the Stars not showing a ton of interest in bringing the gritty defender back, Heiskanen will be in need of a new partner.
Is the free agent or trade market the solution in this case? As mentioned in the previous slide, names like Stralman and Myers may come up as respectable right-handed shots that could mesh well and complement Heiskanen’s style.
Or what about finding a solution that’s already under the Stars’ roof? What if Stephen Johns feels good and is medically cleared for the 2019-20 season? Or could another rookie fill the void?
There’s a fair amount of questioning and research that must go into finding a new partner for the defensive phenom. And if the Stars want their rookie to continue budding and their defense to turn in another strong performance in 2019-20, it will require that they make the right decision when choosing the puzzle piece to complete their top four.