A rising force is quietly developing in the Dallas Stars system and everyone is noticing

Forget the household names, now's the time to watch Niilopekka Muhonen, the 19-year-old Finnish blueliner who just signed a three-year entry-level contract and looks like a monster on the back end for the Dallas Stars. He's turning heads fast.

Just signed by the Stars on July 2, Muhonen is fresh off a powerful season with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, where he posted 17 points and a +20 plus/minus in 60 games after just moving to North America

That's not just good, it's elite-level poise and effectiveness for someone his age. This really gets me excited for the future.

Why Muhonen's size, smarts, and skating make him a future Dallas cornerstone

At 6′4″ with strong mobility, Niilopekka combines physicality with excellent decision-making. Coaches have raved that he's both agile and defensively sound, precisely the kind of puck-moving defenseman the Stars crave.

His contract starts next season, giving Dallas time to let him develop properly before expecting major minutes. It will be interesting to see just how much he develops until he gets to the big leagues.

Recent scouting reports highlight him as "steady, reliable, and capable of matching up against skilled forwards", and that high WHL plus/minus tells the story.

If he keeps progressing, he could solve Dallas' long-term need for a top-four defender, something the team has been chasing for years.

For a full breakdown of the contract and stats, check out the official Stars announcement where General Manager Jim Nill confirmed his signing on the Dallas Stars website.

I think the Stars may have found a gem in Muhonenm as he's the kind of under-the-radar draft pick who could turn into a cornerstone.