It doesn't happen often that an NHL team can contend for a Stanley Cup while having an exciting prospect pool, but that's exactly the case with the Dallas Stars, says Tony Ferrari.

The NHL prospect pool overview series continues this week with the Dallas Stars.

Tony Ferrari breaks down the strengths, weaknesses, top players, and depth by position in the Stars' group of prospects. He also analyzes the 2024 draft selections and whether anybody will graduate to the NHL next season.

A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for the purposes of these exercises, except in very specific cases.

First Thoughts

The Dallas Stars have lost in the Western Conference final in each of the last two years. The team has largely been one of the NHL's most competitive over the last six seasons, even reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2021. That would generally mean that the team has a barren pipeline, but the Stars have been absolutely fantastic at identifying value in the draft.

Wyatt Johnston isn’t a prospect, but his breakout sophomore season as a 20-year-old has made him one of the best young players in the game. His 32 goals were second among U-21 players, and his 65 points were fourth. Johnston is poised to take the reins as the next star in Dallas, leading the way for the next wave of talent that should keep this team in the thick of the fight as veterans, such as Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, finish their careers.

The Stars needed reinforcements late in the year, and Logan Stankoven got the call-up. His pace and persistence were immediately notable. Stankoven’s skill and ability to mesh with the team’s best players forced the coaching staff to keep him in the lineup.

Stankoven is an undersized forward who plays like he’s got something to prove on every shift. Everything is in place for Stankoven to be one of the league’s best rookies. It would almost be more shocking if he wasn’t in the conversation for the Calder at the end of the year.

Mavrik Bourque was the AHL's MVP last season, leading the league in scoring. His slick playmaking and vision of the ice make him a lethal offensive threat whenever he is on the ice. He elevates his teammates because he can hit teammates with passes through traffic or perfectly time his passes as lanes open up. Bourque can dance around, draw pressure and find teammates. If he can translate that to the NHL this season, he might be right there with Stankoven for the Calder.

Although he had a down year as a junior in college, Ayrton Martino remains a prospect of note because of his speed and skill. Martino is creative and uses slip passes or backhand saucers with proficiency to help diversify his passing arsenal. He must take a step at Clarkson University this season.

In the AHL, Antonio Stranges is the forward worth watching. The uber-skilled forward has fancy feet and nifty mitts, but he hasn’t really figured out how to incorporate his skills into gameplay at the pro level. Stranges can produce a highlight reel from time to time, but he isn’t consistent as of yet. The upcoming season will be huge for Stranges as he looks to get a second contract.

On the back end, Lian Bichsel is the name to watch. He’s a big, physical, defensive blueliner who plays as if it’s his job to punish his opponent for trying to enter his zone. Bichsel joined the AHL's Texas Stars to start last season but was loaned out to Rogle in the Swedish League in December. After his season in Sweden was done, he returned to the AHL and looked quite good in the playoffs for Texas. He could see NHL games this season as he was in consideration during the playoffs when injuries arose.

Jack Bar and Aram Minnetian are two defenders who are in college and looking to impress so that they can make the jump to pro hockey. Bar is entering his senior year at Harvard, and while his offensive game hasn’t translated, he is still a solid rush defender who has the tools to unlock another level. Minnetian is heading into his sophomore year with Boston College, looking to grow into a bigger offensive role. It will be interesting to see if either defender takes a step this upcoming season.

He’s a bit further away, but Tristan Bertucci is a shutdown defender who made his AHL debut this year after his OHL season ended. He plays a physical game in his own end, but he also shows some promise as a transition passer. He can get the puck up ice quickly and effectively. He has to get a bit more fluid on his feet, but he reads play and plays a steady game.

U-23 Players Likely to Be on the NHL Roster

Wyatt Johnston (C), Logan Stankoven (RW), Thomas Harley (D), Mavrik Bourque (C/W)

2024 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 29th overall - Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Fin.)

Round 5, 158th overall - Niilopekka Muhonen, LD, KalPa Jr. (Fin.)

Round 7, 222nd overall - William Samuelsson, C, Sodertalje Jr. (Swe.)

The Dallas Stars didn’t have many draft picks, but they still managed to add a couple of solid prospects. 

Emil Hemming can excel in various roles, playing up and down a lineup. He was a very good player at the men’s level in Finland this season, showcasing his versatility. His shot, particularly his one-timer on the power play, is absolutely lethal. His motor never stops, constantly looking to get in on the forecheck or annoy opposing puck carriers on the backcheck. 

Part of Hemming’s value is that if he hits his ceiling, he could be an excellent complementary player with finishing ability in the top six. If he doesn’t fully figure things out offensively, he could be an effective bottom-six guy.

Niilopekka Muhonen is a big, rangy defender who had high expectations coming into this year but failed to really live up to them. The hulking Finn throws his weight around and pins opponents to the boards when engaged in a puck battle. He showed flashes of transition ability or excellent gap control but never put everything together. Muhonen is a worthy swing for a team like the Stars, as they could unearth a gem if he can return to his prior form.

In the seventh round, Dallas tabbed two-way center William Samuelsson as its man. His tools don’t immediately stand out, but he’s always working to keep himself ahead of the play, which mitigates his underwhelming physical tools. Samuelsson’s offensive game is built around his passing, and it’s not necessarily flashy, but it's effective. He’s got a ways to go, but there is a path to being a solid depth piece with some patience.

Strengths

The Stars' prospect forward talent is impressive, to say the least. 

Stankoven will be one of the pre-season favorites for the Calder Trophy entering the season. Bourque will be given every opportunity to make the roster in camp. Adding Hemming was excellent as he brings a high work rate, which allows him to play up and down the lineup. His lethal shot makes him a power-play threat. 

Martino and Stranges are long shots for various reasons, but if either hits, they could be high-impact players in the NHL. Matthew Seminoff, Francesco Arcuri and Brad Gardiner all have realistic shots at the bottom of the lineup. The Stars are in a great spot with their forward corps.

Weaknesses

When a team has been as competitive as the Stars, they generally have a fairly weak prospect pool. That’s not the case with the Stars. 

In fact, they have a deep and stable pipeline that doesn’t really have a glaring weakness. None of the netminders are really high-end prospects, but they have Jake Oettinger in the NHL, who is just 25 years old. They lack a high-end defender in the system, but they have Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, who are 25 and 22, respectively. 

The reality is that even though they may lack a star-level prospect on the back end or in net, they have plenty of young stars already on the NHL roster.

Next Man Up: Logan Stankoven (RW) and Mavrik Bourque (C/W)

The Stars got a preview of just what Stankoven could bring last year when he played in 24 games as the team made its way to the playoffs. His 14 points is almost a 50-point pace. Stankoven had some really nice moments throughout the playoffs for Dallas as well. 

Bourque made his NHL debut and even got into a playoff game this year. After both of them proved they have nothing left to prove at the AHL level, they could be competing with each other for a Calder nomination at season’s end. Both Stankoven and Bourque could be difference-making offensive players for the Stars, helping them continue to be one of the deepest teams in the NHL.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Antonio Stranges, Ayrton Martino, Chase Wheatcroft, Mathias Emilio Pettersen

C: Mavrik Bourque, Francesco Arcuri, Brad Gardiner, Angus MacDonell, William Samuelsson

RW: Logan Stankoven, Emil Hemming, Matthew Seminoff, Kyle McDonald, Albert Sjoberg

LD: Lian Bichsel, Tristan Bertucci, Niilopekka Muhonen, Connor Punnett

RD: Aram Minnetian, Jack Bar, Christian Kyrou, Gavin White

G: Remi Poirier, Arno Tiefensee, Maxim Mayorov

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Future Watch and upcoming Yearbook print editions in The Hockey News.