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Mission Impossible Rising Star: Can Stankoven make opening night roster

By Brian Sweet

Sep 26, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (57) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (57) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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I thought I would kind of theme this article around the new movie Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 which comes out in theatres on July 12th. The Dallas Stars have finished filling out the roster for the 2023-24 season. We will see new faces like Matt Duchene, Sam Steel, and Craig Smith wearing the victory green this upcoming season. With those signings, all 12 forward positions are filled for the upcoming season. However, I think we could see some drama at Training Camp this fall with Center Logan Stankoven.

For those who don’t know about the Stars’ top prospect, here’s some info for you about him. He has been a reckoning in the WHL. During the 2021-22 season, Stankoven finished with 45 goals and 59 assists during the regular season. He would add an additional 17 goals and 14 assists in the 2022 WHL Playoffs. He would go on to win the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy which goes to the top player in the league.

He showed the Stars’ front office that his MVP performance wasn’t a fluke this past season. He finished the 2022-23 season with 34 goals and 63 assists. He would score another 10 goals and record another 20 assists during the postseason. Despite missing a bit of the WHL season, he finished top five in scoring in the WHL this season.

Many fans predict Stankoven will make the opening night roster this upcoming season. However, with the recent signings, the road to making the roster just became a whole lot harder. He is going to have one heck of a prospect tournament and preseason performance to even get Jim Nill’s attention.

The Stars’ prospects usually don’t make the jump from the WHL straight into the NHL. They usually have a season or two in the AHL before making the opening night roster. The Stars had an exception as 19-year-old Wyatt Johnston made the jump right into the NHL last season.

Stankoven will have every opportunity to earn his spot on the opening night roster like Johnston did last season. However, he’s got a bit of a hill to climb with the recent free-agent signings this offseason. Even if he does end up in Cedar Park to begin the season, Stankoven’s work ethic on the ice will make it a short stay down there.

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