Lian Bichsel has returned to the Texas Stars from Europe, but could play a role in Dallas's postseason if needed.
Lian Bichsel has returned to the Texas Stars from Europe, but could play a role in Dallas's postseason if needed.
Dallas Stars prospect Lian Bichsel has been reassigned to the club's AHL development affiliate in Texas, general manager Jim Nill announced Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Switzerland native played 42 games with Leksands of the Swedish Hockey League in 2022-23, recording six points (1-5-6), and scored a goal in three playoff appearances. He also skated for Leksands' junior club, registering a goal and two assists in eight regular-season contests and had one assist in five postseason games.
The 6-foot-6, 233-pound defenseman began the 2023-24 regular season with Texas, making his AHL debut October 13, 2023, against Tucson, picking up his first career point.
In 16 AHL games, Bichsel recorded seven points (1-6-7), and had a multi-point game by registering two assists November 4 against Iowa. He followed that up with his first career goal the following night.
Dallas made Bichsel their 18th selection in the first round of the 2022 NHL draft to bolster their defensive depth, despite reports he was recovering from a broken ankle suffered in a game. Bichsel signed a three-year entry level contract that began in the 2023-24 season.
Last December, Bichsel chose to exercise the European assignment clause of his contract and was reassigned to Rögle BK of the SHL, with the agreement he would return to Texas once the SHL season was complete.
With Rögle, Bichsel recorded four points (2-2-4) in 29 regular-season games. The club ended up making the postseason and advanced all the way to the league finals, falling just short of the championship.
Now, Bichsel is back with the Texas Stars and will join the team for the start of their second-round Calder Cup playoff series against the Milwaukee Admirals Thursday.
Could he be an option for Dallas at some point during this postseason? Yes, Nill told The Dallas Morning News Wednesday. With the minutes he accumulated both in Texas and Sweden, he is in a position to provide depth on defense if the club believes he is ready.
"We'll see where he's at," Nill told DMN. "He's only 19 years old, so we've got to be careful. But he adds to our depth."
Dallas coach Pete DeBoer has rotated only five defensemen during the club's First Round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, with Nils Lundkvist seeing an average of just over five minutes TOI a game. Jani Hakanpaa, who hasn't played in the series due to injury, is still rehabbing.
"All those guys are used to playing minutes," DeBoer said earlier this week. "If we're still having these sessions a month from now, it might be (a concern). We're day-to-day right now."
Which could open the door for Bichsel to be called up. The Stars haven't been shy about thrusting 19-year-old youngsters onto the big stage, Wyatt Johnston being the most recent example. While it's doubtful Bichsel could be brought up during the Vegas series, he could be a consideration should the Stars get deeper into the playoffs. His size and physical style of play would give the club additional muscle on the back end.
"We want (the Texas Stars) to win," Nill told DMN. "We hope they could make a good run, but we know (Bichsel) is a possible option."
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