3 prospects to watch for at Dallas Stars developmental camp
The Dallas Stars 2021 developmental camp opens Friday, Sept. 10 at the team’s practice facility in Frisco, Texas. 24 players will be in attendance but the general public will not due to COVID mitigation protocols. We will rely on the on-site media and coaches to monitor the performances of Stars prospects.
Of all the prospects in Frisco, Blackout Dallas has underlined three we’re most interested to watch.
1. Thomas Harley, Defense
It is not a question of if Thomas Harley will be skating with the Dallas Stars in 2021-22, but when.
A quick look at Harley’s AHL tape (below) shows why he’s a highly-touted prospect in the Stars system. Harley is imposing at 6-foot-3, but glides on the ice with ease. It was common to see him carry the puck from end to end while skating with AHL-Texas last season. The Syracuse, NY native is an above-average stickhandler that is adept to seeking offensive opportunities along the blue line.
Harley led all AHL defenseman with 8 goals and finished 2nd in points (25) over 38 games last season.
Harley’s path the to Dallas Stars narrowed when the team signed Ryan Suter this offseason. However, Suter’s addition is a positive because it allows the Stars to progress Harley at a more favorable pace. Harley is only 20 and still has some work do in preparing for the physicality featured at the NHL-level. For now, Harley is one injury to a Stars defenseman away from a call up.
Harley remains a big part of the Stars future, especially if the team decides to move on from John Klingberg. The potential also exists for Harley to be the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade. Such would seem unlikely, but the Stars’ offseason moves show they are pushing forward in a “win now” mode.
2. Ty Dellandrea, Forward
Ty Dellandrea is one of few prospects heading to Friday’s camp with Dallas Stars experience under his belt. Injuries to forwards thrust the former 13th overall pick (2018) into action with the big club last season. Unfortunately, Dellandrea struggled in 26 NHL games, scoring a meager 5 points with roughly 17 minutes of average ice time.
It remains unfair to judge Dellandrea’s potential on his relatively small, NHL sample size. The young centerman was not ready to contribute at the highest level, which is not supernatural for a 20-year old. Stars head coach Rick Bowness admitted such while also praising Dellandrea’s work ethic. It is no secret that Dellandrea needed time at AHL-Texas to develop, but the immediate needs of the Stars came first.
The Toronto native was immaculate in his final season (2019-20) with OHL-Flint, posting 70 points in 47 games. Dellandrea was expected to bring his knack for scoring to the NHL, but not without some time in the AHL. Dellandrea will see plenty of time with the Texas Stars in 2021-22, where we expect him to thrive.
There was some though that, with a strong camp, Dellandrea could crack the Stars opening night lineup. Such is now unlikely with the team adding Michael Raffl and Luke Glendening this offseason. Still, it will only take one injury in Dallas and Dellandrea will find himself in the Stars lineup.
Dellandrea won’t be hard to spot among the Stars prospects during camp. Skills aside, Dellandrea will have the No. 10 sweater he wore in Dallas last season. Virtually all other Stars prospects will skate around, wearing numbers in the 30s through 60s.
3. Riley Damiani, Forward
Riley Damiani remains a potential steal for the Dallas Stars. Selected in the 5th round (137th overall) of the 2018 draft, Damiani was fantastic in his first season with AHL-Texas. The Mississauga, Ontario native scored 36 points last season to include 8 multipoint games and Texas’s lone hat trick.
Damiani earned All-AHL Rookie Team honors at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. He reminds some of a young Zach Parise in that he’s always around the net, looking to back-door the puck in a scrum.
Damiani is a smaller forward at 5-foot-10, 170 lbs., thus overlooked at virtually every level of the game. Director of Stars player personnel, Rich Peverley, was also overlooked by scouts for being “too small”. In Dallas, Damiani uses Peverley’s 10-years in the NHL as motivation and proof that work ethic matters most.
The speedy-winger tallied 78 points and a +21 in his final OHL season in 2019-20. Damiani credits his time with the Kitchener Rangers for teaching him how positioning and speed in the defensive zone contributes to offense. Such statements make him seem as a nice fit for Rick Bowness’s scheme with the Dallas Stars.
We envision Damiani’s future with the Stars is on the the third line with the potential for top 6 minutes. Damiani’s speed and ability to find the back of the net make him ripe for an aggressive, forechecking line. However, Damiani needs to add muscle to his frame before he can realistically be considered for NHL action.
What Dallas Stars prospects intrigue you the most this season? Find us on Twitter and let us know. -J.G.
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