Texas Stars undergo significant roster adjustments

They are turning the soil in Cedar Park, and it's a process worth watching.

The Dallas Stars' American Hockey League affiliate, the Texas Stars, is experiencing significant changes to its roster this season, and the hope is it will help the parent club down the line. It's also a reminder of just how tough it is to make it into the NHL, and how challenging it can be to develop prospects into players.

The Stars organization has bid adieu to Riley Tufte, Riley Barber, Rhett Gardner, Marian Studenič, Tanner Kero, Will Butcher, Ben Gleason and Ryan Shea. They are clearing space for a group of younger players, which includes four defensemen in Lian Bichsel, Artem Grushnikov, Christian Kyrou and Gavin White, as well as a talented group of forwards.

It's part of the process, the Stars front office says, as there is a window to see if a player can help. Some of the push for change is from the next group of prospects. Some of the push is from the fact players who want a chance at the NHL might get a better chance someplace else. It's a natural evolution, but that doesn't make it easy.

The Texas Stars won the Central Division last season with a 40-20-9-3 record (.639), so finding a way to repeat that is tough with this much change. But it's part of being a development coach. Texas head coach Neil Graham said he's excited about the new group.

"Rhett Gardner is gone, Tufte is gone, Studenič is gone, Ben Gleason, Ryan Shea," Graham said. "It's the nature of the league. If you're doing it right, which Dallas does, it's cyclical. All of those guys were in our organization for four or five years, and you get to the point where when they become UFA's, they take the next step in their journey someplace else."

The biggest challenge could be on defense. While the Stars are very excited about the potential of Bichsel (18th overall in 2022), Grushnikov (48th in 2021), Kyrou (50th in 2022) and White (115th in 2022), all four will be making a big jump. Dallas has some older players to help lead the way in Alex Petrovic, 31, Derrick Pouliot, 29, and Jerad Rosburg, 27. They even have Gavin Bayreuther on a one-way contract in the NHL and will likely use him in the AHL because they have eight defensemen under NHL contracts.

Graham said having returning veterans like Petrovic and captain Curtis McKenzie, 32, is like having extra coaches. And that's an incredible advantage when you consider the focus of the affiliate is to help young players prepare for the next step.

"Those guys echo your message, they help push your message and that allows the journey to be enjoyable," Graham said.

"They've had their own adversity in their career, they've had their own success in their career," he added. "Curtis McKenzie has won a Calder Cup. He has been in the Calder Cup Final three times. Alex Petrovic played close to 300 NHL game before being sent down. So, between those two guys and some other veterans on our team, there's not many situations they haven't been through."

Graham and his coaching staff are key components in the process. They are young and understand the battles being fought by prospects who are trying hard to get to the NHL. Sometimes, it's going back and forth and not being able to stick. Sometimes, it's having to play a different role in the NHL. Sometimes, it's never getting called up. Graham has helped players like Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley and Jake Oettinger handle the mental strain. Last season, he helped 2020 first-round pick Mavrik Bourque get through a rocky start in his AHL career and now he looka strong heading into his sophomore campaign.

"I think it's about building relationships," Graham said. "Whether it's Mavrik Bourque or Antonio Stranges or one of our veteran players, each player is different, and you have to recognize that. You need to build relationships. That doesn't always mean it's all sunshine and rainbows, but you challenge them and you help them through difficult times. I'm a huge believer in growth. It doesn't mean you have to go 10 steps at a time, but it's about the process."

That process will get tested this year, as top prospect Logan Stankoven is coming off a fantastic junior career, tallying 1.94 points per game over the past two seasons, playoffs included. Stankoven had a great camp last year but was sent back to juniors for one more season. After posting 97 points in 48 regular season games and another 30 in 14 playoff games, there was a real thought that he would be able to step right into the NHL. However, Dallas has a full roster with one-way contracts, and if Stankoven wants to force the issue in camp, Dallas will likely have to make a trade to make room.

"We think competition is good," Stars GM Jim Nill said. "First of all, there are going to be injuries. We were very fortunate last year. We know there are going to be injuries and we've covered that. We're looking forward to training camp. There's going to be great competition and it's a good problem to have. We have flexibility and that stuff always works out."

Plus, this organization has a history of helping players get better in the AHL. Roope Hintz played 91 AHL games over two seasons. Robertson played 60. Harley logged 131 AHL games over three seasons. So, the time spent there can be very valuable.

"It's a full-time job," Graham said of the fact that players are learning off the ice, as well as on. "It's one thing for it to be a dream. It's another thing for the reality to set in and say, `Wow, this is a full-time job, and how do I manage that?' You add a little bit at a time."

The good thing about this year's team is there will be plenty of players sharing that dream and going through the same steps.

"I think the key word is process," Graham said. "Every year is different. We're going to be younger, we have a lot of talent coming in, and we have a lot of skill coming in. Our job is to add tools and hopefully unlock hidden potential."

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.