The Hockey News breaks down each player's past and future for the Dallas Stars in preparation for the upcoming NHL season.

In advance of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, The Hockey News’ Dallas Stars team website is introducing a series of player projections for the Dallas Stars. Yesterday we left off with Wyatt Johnston and Mavrik Bourque next up is Colin Blackwell.

After spending his last two seasons with the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, Colin Blackwell finally gets an opportunity to join a squad prime for another deep playoff run. Blackwell worked hard to get his shot in the NHL after being drafted in the seventh round all the way back in 2011. He first broke in to the NHL with the Nashville Predators, and even suited up in the Winter Classic in Dallas back in 2020. Since then, he has played at least half a season's worth of games each year. Will he secure a featured spot on the Stars fourth line next to Sam Steel, or will he be in and out of the lineup?

Career: 35 goals, 74 points in 235 games

2023-24 Statistics: 8 goals, 12 points in 44 games

Salary Cap Hit: $775 thousand through 2024-25

Summary of 2023-24 Season: Blackwell played in just over half of Chicago's games last season after playing 53 games the season before. He was Chicago's Bill Masterton Trophy nominee after a grueling 10 month recovery from sports hernia surgery. Last off-season was focused entirely on rehab, aside from getting married, and Blackwell had admitted that it was one of the toughest times of his life. He didn't make his season debut until Dec. 19, and also missed six games toward the end of the year with an unrelated arm injury. When Blackwell was in the lineup, he was a spark plug that woke up a generally dismal offense outside of Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard. He netted his first career hat trick in March, and posted the third best plus-minus rating on the Hawks.

Projections for 2024-25 Season: Blackwell can add a speed element that was missing in Radek Faksa and Craig Smith, both departed fourth liners from last season. Faksa was traded to the Blues and Smith headed to the Blackhawks in free agency, while Blackwell signed a free agent contract with Dallas the day after free agency began. General Manager Jim Nill surely appreciated his tenacity and energy that can be a driving force to a strong fourth line. Blackwell has an opportunity in training camp to solidify one of the two open spots next to Steel, the only remaining every night starter expected to play on the bottom line. Blackwell has never appeared in more than 58 games in a season, which was set the 2021-22 season where he was sent alongside Mark Giordano from the Seattle Kraken to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. Blackwell could set a career high in games played if he takes advantage of this opportunity to play a significant role for a top NHL team. He has the ability to fill in on other lines as well, having experience playing in an expanded role with a Chicago team that was low on talent the past two seasons. With his highest point total of 22 coming with the New York Rangers in 2020-21, Blackwell could be poised to go above and beyond that mark if he stays healthy and regularly in the lineup.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Projecting the Stars: Mavrik Bourque

Projecting the Stars: Wyatt Johnston

Projecting the Stars: Mason Marchment

Projecting the Stars: Matt Duchene

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