Observations:

April 2017 – Oleksiak just didn’t play enough games to claim it a successful season. He looked very good at times, but didn’t provide much statistically other than penalty minutes. The injury to his hand couldn’t have come at a worse time, as he was starting to show more production. The big-bodied defenseman will likely compete for a third-line defensive pairing next year. –Matt Kowalski

January 2017 – Oleksiak was on his way to a blossoming prospect for the Stars before suffering a hand injury. Coach Lindy Ruff said he would be out three to six weeks. It couldn't have come at a worse time, he was getting consistent minutes over other highly touted prospects, while making his presence felt on the ice. Wait and see how he performs when he comes back from injury. If he picks up where he left off, he could fill a defensive role for the Stars nicely. Matt Kowalski

June 2016 – The Stars are going to have to make a decision on Oleksiak very soon. With all the offensive playmakers the Stars have at the blueline, they could use a guy like Oleksiak to stay at home and play a solid defensive role. The huge defenseman won’t impress with point production, but the non-point categories is where his value lies. A similar player to Stephen Johns, Oleksiak is clearly behind him on the depth chart. Stay tuned as to how the Stars handle his RFA status this off-season. With so many potentially moving parts on the blueline, he may land an NHL roster spot with Stars. Matt Kowalski

July 2015 – The Stars have signed Oleksiak to a one year “prove it” deal. Oleksiak split his time evenly between the NHL and AHL this season playing 36 games with the big club and 35 down on the farm. During his time in Dallas he scored one goal and seven assists, seeing mostly third pairing minutes and no PP time, to go along with 16 points and a plus 26 in the AHL. Entering his fourth professional season, Oleksiak is facing a crucial one. With a number of other defensive prospects knocking on the door, he needs to have a strong training camp and show that he can be a consistent NHL level defender. Brad Phillips

October 2014 – Oleksiak will now have a chance to be a starter for the Stars following the injury to Patrik Nemeth. So far Oleksiak has been a healthy scratch aside from getting the start alongside Nemeth in the game at Nashville. He will get some competition for that final starting spot once the Stars announce who will be the call up from Cedar Park to replace Patrik Nemeth. 

October 2014 – Oleksiak will start the season with the Dallas Stars. The decision to keep Oleksiak on the opening night roster was seen by some as a bit of a surprise given the play of fellow prospects Jyrki Jokipakka and John Klingberg, and Oleksiak's own up-and-down play. The Big Rig has all the makings of a good NHL defenseman but he has plenty of work to do to fully realize that potential as his play with and without the puck is still inconsistent. Rex Doty

September 2014 – For now it looks like Oleksiak will start the season in Dallas. The caveat with that is the contract talks with Brendan Dillon. Oleksiak has shown both the good and bad sides of his game this preseason and his having dodged the assignment to Texas so far may be to fill that opening until Dillon signs. More time in Cedar Park wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Oleksiak's development as he still has rough edges to get smoothed out. Defending Big D has a good article on Oleksiak and where he stands at the moment. Rex Doty

February 2014 – Oleksiak ended an abysmal 34-game goal drought dating back to Nov. 9 by beating Barons goaltender Richard Bachman with a slap shot from the point in Stars' 5-2 loss against Oklahoma City on Feb. 4. Marking his fourth goal of the season early in the second period, he went on to record a total of three shots and a plus-1 rating on the team's top defensive pairing alongside Derek Meech. Producing five points in the last six games, he appears poised to potentially make a case for an NHL roster spot again before season's end. Although with veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas set to return from IR next month, Oleksiak's development stands much better off in Cedar Park for the time being. Clayton Bailey

November 2013 – Stars general manager Jim Nill announced the team has recalled Oleksiak from the Texas Stars (AHL). The announcement was made just hours after veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas suffered a severe leg injury on Nov. 29 against the Blackhawks. Despite spending the majority of the last two seasons in the AHL, it appears the ‘Big Rig’ will have a premier opportunity for consistent NHL ice-time in Dallas moving forward. Robidas, who ranks third on the Stars in average ice-time per game this season (19:55), is expected to spend the next 4-6 months on IR. For the time being, coach Lindy Ruff will opt to keep the remaining defensive units as is, leaving Oleksiak with the head up over fellow Stars prospect Kevin Connauton to replace Robidas on the team's top pairing alongside Brenden Dillon. While Connauton provides more speed and two-way skill-set on the blue-line, Oleksiak's 6'7 frame and steady defensive mindedness fits the mold to replace Robidas a fragment more. Either way you slice it, the window of opportunity has never been more wide-open for these two. Clayton Bailey

November 2013 – Oleksiak has yet to see any ice time in Dallas so far this season despite playing in six of the Stars' seven preseason games in September. Appearing in all 14 games for the Texas Stars (AHL), he's tallied a total of five points (three goals, two assists) and a plus-7 overall rating. Oleksiak's 6'7 frame won't keep him out of the NHL for long if he can continue to gain experience with extended opportunities in Cedar Park. Arguably on nothing more than a prolonged conditioning assignment, he could be brought back up at any moments notice as the defensive inconsistencies in Dallas continue early on this season. Clayton Bailey

June 2013 – With the acquisition of Sergei Gonchar it will be interesting to see if GM Jim Nill keeps the Big Rig idling in the AHL a bit longer. The blueline in Dallas is very crowded at the moment, and while Jamie looked better as his stint in the NHL this year went along, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he logged a bit more time in Cedar Park. If vets like Robidas and Daley are moved, and Robidas likely will be before the next season's trade deadline, then Oleksiak could move up. Look for Oleksiak to start 2013-14 in Cedar Park unless he really impresses in camp, but he may see some games in Dallas during the season even if he doesn't stick right out of camp. Rex Doty

April 2013 – Dallas has started a major rebuild of their prospect group on defense, adding four legitimate prospects to their corps approaching the deadline. With the Stars defense healthy, they decided the best step for Oleksiak’s development was to lead this new core of prospects in the AHL and through the playoff race rather than play in a reduced role on the NHL squad finishing out the season. He has posted another three points in his last four AHL games even with the additions of more offensive minded defenders Kevin Connauton and Joe Morrow. Jason Banks

February 2013 – After starting his pro career extremely strong in Austin, Texas, Oleksiak received his first NHL recall and was not out of place in six games. Glen Gulutzan has stated that Oleksiak is expected to log big minutes for Texas of the AHL rather than sitting in the press box in Dallas. His 26 points in 45 games thus far in the AHL is rather unexpected in his transition to pro, but what is more attractive is the fact he leads his AHL team with a plus-15 on the season which is also good for 12^th in the entire AHL. His pro transition has provided excitement for fantasy mangers looking for the next big thing, but it needs to be reminded that offense is not a natural asset of his, so expectations need to be kept in perspective. Jason Banks

April 2012 – The Dallas Stars rolled the dice on the massive defenseman from Toronto hoping that this project defenseman can develop into a Chara-like defender. Oleksiak joined the OHL this past season that seen him split time between the Saginaw Spirit and powerhouse Niagara Ice Dogs as a trade sent him there midseason.  Oleksiak is an extremely mobile defenseman with an endless reach that makes him difficult to play against.  Skating is certainly a strength of Oleksiak as he gets around the ice smoothly using good edge work but given his size and physical strength he needs to better utilize his large frame on a more consistent basis.  Rarely has Oleksiak dominated physically and he often overuses his stick check.  Offensively, Oleksiak is a raw defenseman but he did begin to find his offensive game after appearing for Team Canada at the 2012 World Junior Championships and returning to Niagara. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook:   C+

Has grown almost to Andre the Giant proportions, but doesn't always maximize this advantage. Will never produce lots of points, and needs to apply himself more consistently.

Footage:

{youtube}TH_Dsi9DZTI{/youtube}

Buy the latest Fantasy Prospects Report here.

{source}

{/source}