The Dallas Stars have done a great job at drafting prospects throughout the last decade and Kamloops product Logan Stankoven looks to be the next big player down in Texas. Today on Daily Faceoff Live, prospect analyst Steven Ellis weighed in on why Stankoven is destined for big things in the NHL.
Tyler Yaremchuk: We have talked a lot about the Dallas Stars on this show and how good they are at drafting prospects, you look at Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley is taking a big step, is Logan Stankoven next in line to be one of these great late round picks that can turn into a gem for Dallas?
Steven Ellis: Absolutely. With Stankoven, he’s been one of my favourite prospects for a while now. He’s not big, he’s only 5-foot-8 but the big question was, he could produce big in the Western Hockey League, he can look good with Connor Bedard as his linemate at the world juniors, but what can he do at the pro level? This season he is on pace in the AHL for 90 points and the last player under the age of 21 to do that was Patrick O’Sullivan and that was I think in 2005-06 it’s been a very long time since a player has come close to that.
Steven Ellis: He does so much with Mavrik Bourque as his linemate, they’re such a good one-two duo. But the thing with him is he’s not big but he’s not afraid to throw hits, he gets feisty. I talked to him a few years ago and he talked about how he really knows how to use his centre of gravity because he’s smaller to his advantage to win battles and he’s great in the faceoff dot as well. He’s one of those guys who I think will have no problem adapting to the NHL and being a skilled guy who can put up a ton of points. The AHL is one level and the NHL is totally different but he’s got the skills and tenacity to thrive.
You can watch the full segment here…
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