***

The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects! Every day in August we will be bringing you a complete breakdown of a team’s draft, and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons. Check back often, because we plan on filling your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season long!

***

The Dallas Stars had an eventful draft and off-season after failing to advance past the Western Conference Final for the second year in a row. The Stars have been a strong playoff team for the last several years and will continue to stay in that category for the foreseeable future. The most impressive part is they did not have to go through a rebuild era. The draft of 2017, where the Stars were able to snag Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson set them up for years to come. Since then, they have drafted several more players that need little to no developing and can contribute to the quest for the Stanley Cup like Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, and possibly in the near future, Mavrik Bourque. The remaining voids are hand picked through free agency signings and trades to bolster the roster to success.

Moving forward into the 2024-2045 season, GM Jim Nill and the Stars organization are looking to finally get over the hump that has been keeping them from bringing the Stanley Cup to Dallas. 

NHL Draft

Round One, 29th overall – Emil Hemming, RW

Hemming is a power forward with an elite shot. Some of his strengths included puck handling, speed, and penchant for joining the rush, as well as his physicality and ability to read defenders. At 17 years old, Hemming joined the TPS Liiga league, where he was playing with and against players double his age. During his time in the Finnish league, he played a fourth-line role where he was able to fine tune some areas of his game, such as his play off the puck, decision-making, and defense. Since being drafted by the Stars, Hemming has signed a three-year entry level contract and joined the Barrie Colts of the OHL for the 2024-2025 season. If he continues to develop his game, which is something the Stars have mastered, Hemming has potential to be a serviceable middle-six forward in the NHL. 

Round Five, 158th overall – Niilopekka Muhonen, D

It is no secret the Dallas Stars love their Finns, so when they selected Muhonen in the fifth round, it was not surprising. The Stars’ depth does not extend to their defense, so when the 6-4 Finn was available, they jumped on the chance to grab him. Muhonen is a solid, shutdown defenseman that does not shy away from moving the puck. His skills are his skating and ability to close gaps. However, his greatest strength is probably his off-the-puck play. His hockey IQ and understanding exactly his role when he does not have the puck are what make him so reliable. As he continues to develop and get older, he should grow into being able to use his size to complement his play. Muhonen and KalPa have mutually agreed to part ways to give Muhonen a chance to play in the Western Hockey League. He was selected by the Medicine Hat Tigers where he will play this upcoming season.

Round Seven, 222nd overall – William Samuelsson, C

Samuelsson is a center who uses his strengths to overcome his weaknesses. It is likely that he dropped to the seventh round, due to being on the smaller side. Even with size working against him, he knows how to use his body well against the boards and how to handle a variety of situations on the ice. He has the ability to think ahead and avoid threats. He is very good at backchecking and is always on the puck. Before the draft, he decided to leave the Swedish league and joined the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, where he hoped to continue developing his game. 

Off-Season

Incoming:

• Matt Dumba
• Iyla Lyubushkin
• Colin Blackwell
• Brendan Smith
• Casey DeSmith

Outgoing:

• Scott Wedgewood
• Ty Dellandrea
• Chris Tanev
• Ryan Suter
• Jani Hakanpaa
• Craig Smith
• Joe Pavelski
• Radek Faksa

Re-Signings:

• Matt Duchene
• Sam Steel
• Nils Lundkvist

Pending RFAs:

• Thomas Harley 

Final Thoughts

Going into a new season, the Stars hope to advance farther than they have the past two seasons. They are one of the few teams that have the luxury of being able to really contend for a championship, while also building their future without compromising in either area. We are very likely to see some of Dobber’s tracked prospects make their NHL debut for the Stars this upcoming season, as well. Training camp starts in September.