‘Hockey junkies’ Stankoven and Bourque earn DeBoer’s praise

Head coach Pete DeBoer knows he has special prospects in Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque.

DALLAS - Two of the most talked about players in North Texas during the preseason are prospects Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque.

Both have certainly made their respective cases in recent weeks to secure opening-night roster spots with the Stars.

While it remains to be seen where either of them will ultimately start the year - in Dallas or Cedar Park with the AHL's Texas Stars - it’s safe to say they’ve already earned the respect of head coach Pete DeBoer.

“They have two different personalities, but they share a similar trait that I think all good young hockey players share, and it’s a quiet confidence. They’re not overwhelmed by situations or meetings or video or practices or who they’re out there with or aren’t out there with,” said DeBoer, following Friday’s practice at Comerica Center. “I had a conversation with Logan the other night because I think he played 10, 11 minutes. I said, ‘You probably haven’t played 10, 11 minutes in a game in your life.’ He said ‘No, I don’t think I have.’ They have to get used to some of those things, but they also are smart enough and have enough perspective that they understand that this is a process and you’ve got to work your way through it.”

That’s high praise from a bench boss like DeBoer, who knows a future star when he sees one.

In this case, he has two youngsters with incredible potential.

“Both guys are in a real good place from a habit point of view. They’re both hockey junkies. You can see it,” said DeBoer. “They want more, they want more feedback, they want more video, they want more advice. ‘What can I do better?’ And they both have high expectations that they feel they can play at this level, which is great. That’s what you expect out of your high-end prospects.”

When asked to compare their respective personalities, DeBoer shared some key insight.

It’s clear that general manager Jim Nill chose wisely when he added them to the mix at the NHL Draft.

“Mavrik’s a real cerebral player, and I think his personality is kind of like that. He kind of takes it in and processes it. I think Logan has that bulldog mentality, and I think that’s reflected in his personality, too. I don’t think that’s an accident,” explained DeBoer. “I think their games kind of reflect their personalities.”