Johnston, Stankoven becoming Stars’ newest dynamic duo

The 2021 draft is quickly attempting to take over the 2017 class as the best in Stars history.

In 2017, Dallas nabbed Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson in the first two rounds. All three have already played in an NHL All-Star Game and arguably make up the core of the team right now. That’s impressive enough.

But the story of 2021 is becoming even more intriguing. The league was dealing with COVID that year and several players had not played in junior hockey due to leagues being shut down. So Stars GM Jim Nill traded from 15th to 23rd because he and scouting guru Joe McDonnell had their eye on a hidden gem by the name of Wyatt Johnston.

Dallas slid and still picked up the forward who hadn’t played a game in the OHL that season. In the second round, the organization had an in on a guy who played for owner Tom Gaglardi’s Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. Sure, Logan Stankoven was talented, but his 5-8, 171-pound frame ensured he would be available in the second round at pick No. 47.

Now, three years later, the “core of the team” probably needs to make a little room for the new guys.

After leading the AHL in scoring to start his pro career, Stankoven was called up six games ago to help fill in for injured forwards Tyler Seguin and Evgenii Dadonov. In that short span, Stankoven has 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists) and has helped the Stars go 4-1-1. He leads the team in goals over the span. In addition, Stankoven has been a spark plug for a line with Johnston and captain Jamie Benn. Johnston has 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) in the past six games, while Benn has 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists).

All of that became even more important when the trio helped lead the Stars to a 7-6 comeback win at San Jose on Tuesday, securing the team’s lead in the Central Division just a little more.

“Those two guys were our best players by far tonight,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Logan had four points, but he also drew the two penalties that we got power play goals on. And I thought Wyatt was outstanding, too. Those two kids pretty much grabbed our group in the last 10 minutes and willed us to a win.”

The intricacies of the game are not lost on the players. Stankoven has drawn four power plays in six games. On Tuesday, the Stars were down 2-0 when Stankoven’s work forced the Sharks into consecutive penalties. Dallas scored on both (including a power play goal by the rookie) and that changed the game. Johnston, meanwhile, has refined a number of details in his second season, leading to an improvement in points per game from 0.50 last season to 0.75 this season.

“You learn at this level that you’ve got to do a lot more than just score goals or put up points,” Johnston said. “I think you have to do all of the little details well. When you’re not doing those details, it will come back to bite you with getting scored on or just playing in your own end a lot.

“What I’ve learned in my time in Dallas,” he added, “is you’ve got to do the little things right and then all of the fun stuff will come with that.”

Tuesday was fun. It was certainly scary, but in the end it was a great lesson in what the team needs to do to be ready for the playoffs. Dallas is flirting with a top seed and would love to get one to have home ice in the first round and avoid a tough series against Winnipeg or Colorado. But, just as important, this team has been inconsistent during the season, so finding its groove would be a very smart thing to do.

Johnston and Stankoven can be a big part of that. The top line of Roope Hintz with Joe Pavelski and Robertson has carried the scoring load for the past three seasons, but they have taken a step back this year. The second line of Matt Duchene with Seguin and Mason Marchment has filled in nicely, but they have been struggling a bit with Seguin battling a lower body injury. That leaves a third line with Johnston, Stankoven and Benn. DeBoer wants Johnston at center and on a line with Benn, but he also has been tempted to move Johnston around in order to fix other lines.

That might be over now that Johnston and Stankoven have the potential to drive the best line on a regular basis.

“It’s been great,” said Johnston. “I’ve had a chance to play with him in the past and he’s just a really smart player. I think that helps a lot, just how smart he is and how he sees the ice. I think me, him and Benner can now feed off of each other and that makes it easier to play with them.”

Stankoven is from British Columbia and played for Kamloops. Johnston is from Toronto and played for Windsor. However, they were both members of Team Canada’s Under 18 team that won gold at the World Championships. That tournament, ironically enough, took place in Frisco, Texas just before the 2021 draft. That might be one reason they were drafted by Dallas.

Since then, the two have played in development camp and in the preseason.

“We go way back and he’s always been one of the guys who has been a top dog out there, so now to be on his side and play with him, I’m really thankful for that,” Stankoven said.

As for the chemistry, it seems pretty natural.

When asked if Johnston has stepped up his game since joining Stankoven in the past six games, DeBoer said, “Wyatt has had a good year and steps up all of the time, but they complement each other. It’s another high IQ player playing with him. I don’t know if it’s Wyatt stepping up as much as he now has somebody who plays the game at the same level that he does.”

That’s pretty darn neat when you consider Stankoven just turned 21 and Johnston’s 21st birthday is May 14.

Oh yeah, and one of those extra draft picks Nill acquired in moving down to get Johnston? It turned out to be defenseman Artem Grushnikov (48th overall), who Nill used to acquire defenseman Chris Tanev from Calgary.

Yes, that 2021 draft is looking better every day.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.