Dallas Stars Prospect Report: Dellandrea, Hawel, and other prospects
From Canada to Sweden, check out these five Dallas Stars’ prospects that have been producing numbers in the minor leagues across the hockey world.
Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
The Flint Firebirds have had an unsuccessful season at this point through the 2018-19 campaign, as they sit in last place in the league standings with an 8-33-3 record through 44 games. Their team overall -104 goal differential is worst in the league, and they’ve scored the second least amount of goals in the league with 124 goals.
Fortunately for Stars fans, prospect and 2018 1st-round pick Ty Dellandrea is responsible for 15 of those 124 scores and has tallied a team-leading 31 assists in 38 games this season. He is tied for second on the team in goals, second in points, penalty minutes, and shots. Dellandrea also leads the team in face-offs, having won 531 out of 902 attempts to equal a 58.9 win percentage. At 6’1″, 185 pounds, Dellandrea is a big, right-handed centerman—and those characteristics aren’t seen often in the NHL, as SportsNet contributor Elliotte Friedman points out.
light. Hot. Mediocrity is the dirty truth for the Stars
Dellandrea also has scored 13 points in his past four games, showing that he is more than capable of putting up solid numbers despite playing on a struggling team—solidifying himself as a reliable first line center in the OHL. Dellandrea, who signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Dallas on Sept. 19, will probably join the Texas Stars or Idaho Steelheads next season as a 19-year-old.
Liam Hawel, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Center Liam Hawel, who was the Stars’ fourth-round selection in 2017, is in the middle of his second full season with the Guelph Storm of the OHL.
In 40 games played, he has recorded 22 goals and 45 points, already surpassing his 14-goal outing in the 2017-18 season. He’s fourth on the team in points and is the starting center on Guelph’s second line behind the highly-touted Montreal Canadiens prospect Nick Suzuki, who was traded to Montreal from Las Vegas in the deal that sent former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty to the Golden Knights. Suzuki played the first season 33 games of the season with the Owen Sound Attack, but was sent to Guelph last week in a massive package deal.
In the meantime, Hawel and Suzuki are helping Guelph make a significant playoff push, as the Storm is in fourth place in the OHL’s Western Conference with 52 points. With just 140 goals allowed, they are one of the least scored on teams in their conference.
Hawel has not signed an entry-level contract with the Stars yet, and until he does, he’ll remain in the OHL.
Albin Eriksson, F, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)
Swedish power-forward Albin Eriksson is entering his fourth season in Skelleftea AIK’s organization and is his first full year in Sweden’s elite league, the SHL.
In 28 games, the 2018 second-round pick has put up four goals and 10 points to put him in tenth place on the roster in points and eighth among forwards.
Eriksson also leads the team in penalty minutes with 27, and he spent a staggering 86 minutes in the box last season in 38 games in the SuperElit league. Interestingly enough, Erikkson also posted 27 penalty minutes—in just five games—while competing internationally for his home country.
Eriksson has played in three games for Sweden on the international stage so far this season but has not registered a point or any penalty minutes.
Standing at 6’4″, 207 pounds, Eriksson brings a physical and aggressive style of play to the Stars’ list of prospects.
Like Hawel, Eriksson has not been signed by Dallas to an entry-level deal.
Oskar Bäck, C, BIK Karlskoga (Allsvenskan)
Stars’ 2018 third-rounder Oskar Bäck is entering his first season in Allsvenskan, the second-highest hockey league in Sweden, with BIK Karlskoga.
In 30 games, the left-hander has put up 16 points, 12 of which are assists. While competing at the World Juniors earlier in the year, Bäck put up one assist in five contests for Sweden and has recorded both a goal and an assist in eight other international games.
Bäck, who played in the SuperElit league and the SHL for Färjestad BK last season, will most likely return to the SHL next year.
Curtis Douglas, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
The final prospect in this edition of the prospect report is Curtis Douglas, who was picked by Dallas in the fourth round of last year’s draft.
Douglas has begun the first half of the 2018-19 season fairly well, putting up 16 goals and 30 points in 42 games with Windsor of the OHL. Douglas is third on the Spitfires in points and holds the second-highest plus/minus rating on the team with +11.
Like Eriksson, Douglas uses his large frame and physicality in how he plays. At 249 pounds, Douglas is ranked second on the team in penalty minutes with 47. Last season, Douglas recorded 28 penalty minutes and was able to finish sixth on his team in points with 28 even though he played just 38 games in the season with Windsor, as he played the first 28 games of the year with the Barrie Colts before joining the Spitfires.
Next. Stars trade Shore to Anaheim for veteran forward Andrew Cogliano. dark
Douglas will probably remain in the OHL for another season before making the jump to the Stars’ organization.
What say you, Stars fans? Which prospect are you most excited to watch this season, and which ones would you like to see in the next Prospect Report? Let us know in the comment section below!
- Published on 01/17/2019 at 23:01 PM
- Last updated at 01/18/2019 at 06:11 AM