SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS - TEXAS STARS
Oct 3, 2016Over the Course of the next few weeks, IowaWild.com will preview each team on the 76-game regular-season schedule. Please keep in mind with training camps in full swing, players could change their final destination by playing well in camp and perhaps make the NHL club.
Texas Stars
NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars
2015-16 Record: 40-25-8-3, 91 Points
Iowa vs. TEX in 15-16/All Time: 2-2-0-0/5-11-1-1
TEX vs. Iowa in 15-16/All Time: 2-1-1-0/13-3-2-0
Place: 3rd Pacific Division / 6th Western Conference
Playoffs: Lost in first round to San Diego (3-1)
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Biggest Changes:
Texas didn’t have massive departures, but there is a strong expectation that defenseman Stephen Johns and forward Radek Faksa, are both expected to push for a full-time job in Dallas for the 2016-17 season. Faksa, the 13th overall pick in 2012, split the year between Texas and Dallas, including his Stanley Cup playoffs debut in the spring of 2016. Faksa played in 28 games for Texas, netting 15 goals and 26 points for the baby Stars. He also suited up in 45 games for the big club, potting five goals and totaling 12 points.
Johns came over in the trade for Patrick Sharp last summer. He spent the majority of his time in Cedar Park, suiting up 55 times for the AHL club. Johns scored four goals and added 20 assists for 24 points, to go along with a +7 and 43 minutes in penalties. Johns also played in 14 regular season games for Dallas and an additional 13 Stanley Cup playoff games in the spring.
The quietest departure from central Texas is veteran right wing Greg Rallo. Since 2009, Rallo has been counted on for 20 goals per season, hitting the mark in five of the last seven years. Since 2009, Rallo scored 149 goals and totaled 307 points in 483 AHL games. He signed with the DEL’s Iserlohn Roosters for the 2016-17 season.
Over the summer, Dallas turned the page on goalie Jack Campbell, sending the former first-round pick to the LA Kings for defensemen Nick Ebert. A steady, stay-at-home defenseman, Ebert is expected to play major minutes in Cedar Park this winter.
TOP OFFSEASON PLAYER SIGNING(S):
C – Adam Cracknell - 52 GP – 5g-5a-10 pts (between Vancouver/Edmonton)
D – Andrew Bodnarchuk - 51 GP – 2g-8a=10 pts (between Colorado/Columbus/Lake Erie)
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:
F Devin Shore – Injured in Nov. and missed rest of season. In 23 games, scored 15 goals and had 26 points.
F Travis Morin – All-time leading scorer in Texas Stars history. The captain had 15 goals and 39 assists for 54 points in 63 games played.
F Jason Dickinson – Had a great rookie campaign, scoring 22 goals and totaling 53 points in 73 games played.
F Brendan Ranford – Led Texas in scoring with 19 goals and 40 assists for 59 points in 76 games played.
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TOP NEW PROSPECTS:
F Denis Gurianov - (1st rd, 12th overall in 2015) – four goals and five points in 47 KHL games as an 18-year old. Enters his first pro season in North America.
G Philippe Desrosiers - (2nd rd, 54th overall in 2013) 20-12-6 record in 2015-16 between Texas (AHL)/Idaho (ECHL).