Top prospects for Dallas Stars

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, the top five prospects for the Dallas Stars, according to NHL.com.

Stars 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown | Behind the Numbers]

1. Ty Dellandrea, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 13 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
Last season:Flint (OHL): 60 GP, 22-41-63; Texas (AHL): 11 GP, 2-1-3
Dellandrea not only led Flint in scoring last season but had the opportunity to develop his leadership abilities on a team that finished 19th of 20 teams in the Ontario Hockey League. The 19-year-old center then made his professional debut with Texas of the American Hockey League, where he played 11 games and impressed coach Derek Laxdal.
Because of the agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League, Dellandrea (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) can play in the NHL or OHL this season because he is not yet 20, but Dallas coach Jim Montgomery said Dellandrea will get every opportunity to show he belongs during training camp.
"I've got to work extremely hard and take the stuff I learned from a bit of pro experience," Dellandrea said during Stars development camp in June. "I've got to come in, do everything I can and give myself the best shot to make the team."
Projected NHL arrival: Next season

2. Denis Gurianov, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 12 pick in 2015 NHL Draft
Last season:Dallas (NHL): 21 GP, 1-3-4; Texas (AHL): 57 GP, 20-28-48
The 22-year-old has shown he can produce in the AHL, finishing third on Texas in scoring last season. Like Dellandrea, Gurianov (6-2, 195) will be afforded the chance to become a full-time NHL player this season.
"Denis has all the speed, the shot, the vision, the hands to be an elite player and a very important, impactful player for us," Montgomery said. "He needs to go grab it, mean it, believe it all on his own. We can inject him into the lineup and he's got to get in there and he's got to go earn it."
Projected NHL arrival:This season

3. Jason Robertson, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 39 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
Last season:Kingston/Niagara (OHL): 62 GP, 48-69-117
Robertson (6-2, 195) showed what he could do offensively last season, leading the OHL in scoring and finishing tied for second on the United States with seven points (one goal, six assists) in seven games at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The 20-year-old will make his debut in professional hockey this season, and although he has a chance to crack the Stars' opening-night lineup, it's more likely he'll play start the season as a top-six forward in the AHL.
Projected NHL arrival:Next season

4. Albin Eriksson, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 44 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
Last season:Skelleftea (SWE-JR.): 5 GP, 3-2-5; Skelleftea (SHL): 44 GP, 9-7-16
A forward with size (6-5, 205), Eriksson made strides in his development last season in the Swedish Hockey League after he had one assist in 17 games in 2017-18.
An above-average skater, the 19-year-old said he models his game after Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine, and after playing for Sweden in the World Junior Summer Showcase, Eriksson will have another season in the SHL to refine those skills before he makes the move to North America next season.
Projected NHL arrival:2021-22

5. Jake Oettinger, G

How acquired:Selected with No. 26 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
Last season:Boston University (NCAA): 36 GP, 16-16-4, 2.45 GAA, .926 SV%; Texas (AHL): 6 GP, 3-2-1, 2.47 GAA, .895 SV%
Oettinger signed a three-year, entry-level contract March 25 following his junior season at Boston University and the 20-year-old got his first taste of professional hockey late in the regular season with Texas.
With Dallas solidified in net with Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop and veteran Anton Khudobin as his backup, Oettinger (6-5, 220) will get some time to develop in the AHL.
"I would say the timeline with Jake Oettinger is the same with Dellandrea, (and) any of our young, elite defensemen coming up … it's when you're ready to play in the NHL, we're playing you," Montgomery said. "I can't give you a crystal ball with that, but I know our entire organization is high on his prospects at being an elite goaltender for us, and hopefully sooner than later."
Projected NHL arrival:2021-22