The latest from Tuesday's practice in Frisco.
DALLAS - The Stars practiced at Comerica Center on Tuesday.
Here are several key storylines that emerged from the workout:
On the injury front: It remains to be seen if forwards Roope Hintz (upper body), Wyatt Johnston (non-surgical procedure) and Radek Faksa (facial contusion) will be available for Thursday night’s opener against the Blues at American Airlines Center.
While the trio is questionable to make their respective season debuts in front of the Stars faithful, things could be looking up for at least one of them.
“Wyatt looked great,” said head coach Pete DeBoer, following the on-ice session. “It was a big step today for him.”
Johnston, 20, didn’t play any exhibition games, but he isn’t concerned about his readiness for the campaign.
“It would’ve been nice to get some games in before and get your legs under you a little bit, but overall I’m really happy with how the summer went and the preparation that I’ve done the last few months, so at the end of the day, I don’t think it really should matter,” said Johnston, who registered 24 goals and 41 points as a rookie in 2022-23. “It’s the first regular season game for everyone, right? It’s going to be an adjustment and a learning experience for everyone. I’m kind of just in the same boat as everyone else.”
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Given his success last season, the Toronto native knows that opposing squads will likely be paying closer attention to his every move when he’s on the ice.
It’s a topic that has already come up in his conversations with team brass.
“Last year, it was pretty easy to kind of fly under the radar. Talking to the coaching staff and Jim [general manager Jim Nill], teams kind of know a little bit more about who I am now. I think it’ll be more of a learning adjustment,” explained Johnston. “The biggest thing is just doing the things that I do to make me successful and do what I can to help the team. I think that will help me make the best impact.”
For his part, Hintz was given the day off from practice.
DeBoer confirmed, however, that he'll be back on the ice on Wednesday.
Good talk: Prospects Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque were recently loaned to the AHL's Texas Stars.
The pair made their respective cases for roster spots with the big club with impressive efforts during the preseason, but the decision was ultimately made to send them to Cedar Park to further their development.
DeBoer was asked about his conversations with Stankoven, 20, and Bourque, 21, before they departed to join head coach Neil Graham's contingent for training camp.
"Both had great camps. You saw as the preseason went on, and the last two games we played pretty much NHL lineups and NHL defenses, the ice closes up and the chances dry up and there’s less room. You can see the level, as opposed to early in the preseason where there’s lots of room to make plays and it’s more summer hockey. It’s great learning lessons for those guys," said DeBoer. "They were both very good in their self-assessment of seeing that the level went up and feeling that they both can play at this level, but they also understand this is a marathon, not a sprint to get here, and when you arrive at this level, you want to make sure you can succeed and turn it into a long career."
Thankful for the opportunity: DeBoer is a veteran in the NHL coaching ranks. There were stops with Florida, New Jersey, San Jose and Vegas before he was hired to lead the Stars last June.
The 55-year-old helmed both the Devils and Sharks to the Stanley Cup Finals, but has yet to triumphantly hoist the coveted trophy.
Will this finally be the year? Only time will tell.
He's really just enjoying the fact that he can pursue his true passion for a living.
"The older I get, it’s really gratitude. I know you want me to say it keeps me up at night that I haven’t won a Cup, but it’s gratitude to work at this level, and it’s also knowing I’ve coached against a lot of great coaches and coached and coached against a lot of great players that haven’t won a Cup. That doesn’t mean they weren’t very good at what they did. The bottom line is you’ve got to give yourself a chance to keep knocking on that door, and I really believe if you’re good enough to win a couple of rounds in this league in the playoffs, you’re good enough to win the Cup," shared DeBoer. "You need things to lay out the right way, health and overtime and goaltending, all those things, so just keep knocking on the door. In the meantime, I just have great gratitude that I’ve been able to coach at this level and coach players like this and work in this league because there’s nothing better."
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