Here's an update on some of the Dallas prospects playing with Texas this season.
• C/LW Jason Dickinson (1st round/2013): He's been outstanding in the AHL and has been called up to the NHL three times and played five games with Dallas this season. The 22-year-old leads Texas with 13 goals in 23 games played.
"He's doing what he needs to do at that level, and he's just got to keep doing what he's doing. That's what we tell him all the time," Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White said. "He's going to push through. He's right on the cusp, in my opinion. His game is getting better and better down there. He's an important piece down there, but he's right around it, I believe, for the NHL."
• C Roope Hintz (2nd round/2015): The Finnish forward is in his first season in North America. Hintz, 21, has been playing center and has tallied 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 31 games, leading all Texas rookies in scoring.
"He's adjusted well," White said. "There is plenty of growth in his game still, but he's adjusted well to the North American rink. He's a good player. He's going to play in the NHL for a long time, I believe. He just needs some development time, but he is trending well."
• LW/RW Denis Gurianov (1st round/2015): The Russian forward is in his second full season in North America, and he's had some struggles. Gurianov has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and a minus-14 rating in 29 games.
"Denis has been up and down. Inconsistent. He would admit that to you if you asked," White said. "He's getting opportunities, and he just has to learn to bring it every night and be more consistent. But we have to remember that he is still a young man, 20-years-old, and on his own. Really his first full year on his own, taking away last year because there was lots of help. This year, he is on his own, and it's a little different. We have to show some patience, and we are. His game has got to come, and it's been trending well as of late, the last couple weeks, so we're hoping things get going a little better for him."
• G Landon Bow (free agent/2017): The 22-year-old struggled early in the season, but he's turned things around and has taken over the net for Texas. He's 11-6-1 with a 2.78 goals against average and .905 save percentage, leading AHL rookie netminders in wins and ranking third in goals against.
"Landon was patient. Traverse City (prospect tournament) he was okay, main camp okay. Credit him, when he got an opportunity - after Mike McKenna kind of struggled, came up here or whatever it is - he's taken it," said White. "His game has gotten better. I credit the player for sure. Jim Bedard (Dallas goaltending development coach) has worked with him a lot. I give Jimmy a lot of credit working on [Bow's] feet, his skating and that's paid off. But ultimately, it's the player. He looked in the mirror and said I better go, and he's going. Now, it's up to Landon to keep it going. He's getting lots of run down there and deservedly so. The team has really turned it around since he has taken it over and I expect that to continue."
• D Dillon Heatherington (trade acquisition/2017): Dallas acquired Heatherington at last season's trade deadline from Columbus for forward Lauri Korpikoski. He's been a rock on the Texas blue line playing a lot on a pair with veteran Brent Regner. With Regner out recently due to injury, Heatherington, 22, has been chewing up even more minutes. He has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and a plus-four rating in 31 games.
"He's good. He's been solid. He's a shutdown type defensive defenseman," White said. "His first pass is fine. He's not going to come up here and play on the power play or anything like that, but he is going to give you minutes. He's been a real good shutdown guy down there. He's done a lot of good things in Texas. He's been very positive."
• D Gavin Bayreuther (free agent/2017): Dallas signed Bayreuther, who has some offensive upside, out of St. Lawrence University last spring. He's had some ups and downs this season. The 23-year-old tallied six points in his first eight games but only three in his last 19. For the season he has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 27 games.
"Gavin had a great start offensively. Points came early, and then I think people took note of him," White said. "He kind of went down a bit, but I think we see that naturally with some guys especially out of college with the number of games. Over the last three weeks, the coaches have said he has started to come. He's played more consistent, he's more attentive defensively, more detailed in his game. Now, we've got to free him up. He's got a real heavy shot, and now he's got to get back going offensively. I think that is starting to come."
• D Niklas Hansson (3rd round/2013): The Swedish defenseman is in his first full season in North America and has played well for Texas. The 22-year-old right-handed shot defenseman, who has seven points (one goal, six assists) in 31 games, is highly skilled.
"Niklas has been a pleasant surprise," White said. "We didn't know where he was. In Traverse City and main camp, he was okay, but he hadn't played a lot of hockey last season. We weren't sure what we were going to get, but he's been fairly consistent. There are areas he has to work on like a lot of people, but from a standpoint of how he has played, he's performed. He's been in the group every night, and I don't see that changing down there with injuries and things up here. He's been a pleasant surprise. He just plays a steady game. He's got to get stronger, work on his shot but it's been a good first three months."
