Stars Draft Review And Dance Party 2017-08-12 Dallas Draft Review The EHE Expansion and Entry drafts have come and gone. Free agency looms around the corner. The Dallas Stars have begun their rebuild now one season removed from the last of their back to back Cups. Speaking with sources inside the Stars organization provides little to no insight on the plans going forward in the off-season. One thing is for certain though, the organization is very happy with the recent entry draft and what the club was able to draft with the picks they had. Dallas’ offseason has seen the team rebuild its core with younger controllable RFAs. Along with some skilled prospects waiting to develop into pro players, there was the opportunity to take some real fliers in this year’s draft in the later rounds. Coming into the draft after dealing all but the 16th pick (Anaheim’s), scouts were caught between three different names that they thought should be available with that pick: Dynamo Moscow player Klim Klostin, Kailer Yamamota of Spokane in the WHL and Kristian Vesalainen of Frolunda HC. With the club also sitting on the 35th pick of the draft, McGugan had been trying for days to move those two assets to move into the top 7, a first tier where the players they had ranked were head’s above the others and highly prized by the Dallas scouts. Once the 6th pick of the draft went by and it became known that Arizona GM Tim Scholl was open to moving the 7th pick, McGugan picked up the phone. Minutes later, the Dallas war room entourage made their way to the podium, and Director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell stepped up to the mike to make the club’s first round selection, center Casey Middelstadt from the USHL and the Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. With that began the latest round of hopeful picks for the rebuilding Dallas Stars: 1 – Casey Middelstadt: The 2017 Mr. Hockey Award winner, Mittelstadt prefers playing center rather than left wing as he enjoys being in control of the play with the puck on his stick, but he can play either position equally well. He has the complete package of speed, skill, and hockey sense. His small area skills are at an elite level and he can play the game at top speed. Casey has been dominant no matter what level of competition he’s playing against, having been at least a point per game player at every level of hockey he’s played. FUTURE: #1 Center 2 – Troy Terry: Dealing away 16 and 35 to grab Middelstadt, the Stars had to wait 61 picks to grab 19 year old Troy Terry. Terry cut his teeth in the U.S. National Team Development Program, playing the program with names like Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Roslovic, Colin White and Jeremy Bracco. With that depth ahead of him, Troy played in a bottom six role, allowing him to develop into a great two way player. At the University of Denver, Terry is now tasked with top line duties and is performing very well. FUTURE: 2nd or 3rd line. 3 – Connor Hobbs: Dallas, like most teams, had a list of players about 20 deep that were the players that they would like to select from during the draft, reasonable choices for the picks that they had. The scouting department was happy to have grabbed two players at “discount” picks, as far as they were concerned. Connor Hobbs was a player they had ranked right next to Terry, but 20 picks higher. After a brief discussion with GM McGugan, followed by a quick call to Martins Auzins, the Rangers GM – Dallas had another 3rd round pick (71) at the cost of a 4th and a 7th from 2017. McGugan selected Hobbs with that pick. The 19 year old ripped up the WHL, setting defenceman club records for the Regina Pats in goals (31), assists (54) and points (85) while also leading all WHL defencemen. Two names commonly mentioned when scouts are asked for comparables are Mike Green and Kris Letang. Lofty heights to attain for sure, but not out of the realm of possibilities for this supremely talented kid. Possible steal at this point of the draft. FUTURE: Top paring and #1 PP Defenceman. 4 - Andrei Altybarmakyan: Another 5th and 7th dealt, this time for 4th round pick #120 so that the Stars could grab Altyburg…Altybyama….Altad…Double A. Going off the board starting more with this pick than previously, the club started drafting risk/reward looking for high skill players that were boom or bust. Very offensively skilled with great speed. He’s played lower levels in Russia so far, but the Stars are hopeful that this longer term prospect will earn his way into the KHL or come over to North America for development. FUTURE: Top 6 player or released within 5 years 5 - Miro Aaltonen – The most EHE ready of their picks, Aaltonen could be ready for the 2018 season. In 2016-17, Aaltonen finished first in the KHL in under-24 scoring with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 59 games. Another smaller player, he’s known as an impressive stick handler and gifted passer. Dallas scouts do expect Miro come over to play for the Missouri Mavericks in 2018-19. FUTURE: Middle 6 Forward 6 - Ivan Chekhovich – If Ivan was bigger, he might have been a 1st or 2nd round pick. Arguably the 3rd most skilled under 18 year old in the QJMHL behind Nico Hischier and Antoine Morand. He was 4th in scoring in the league for U18 players in goals, 3rd in assists and 3rd in points. He has shown he can play both an offensive and defensive game as he skates hard to backcheck. He’s very quick and accelerates to top speed faster than most of his draft peers. FUTURE: Top 6 player or released within 5 years
