Craig Ludwig says the Stars must give this D-man more minutes or they risk wasting a first-round pick

On the latest DLLS Stars podcast, former Dallas defenseman Craig Ludwig raised the question fans have been asking for two seasons: Is Nils Lundkvist ready to finally make the leap to being a full-time NHL blueliner, or is this his last shot in Dallas?

Lundkvist, 24, has shown flashes of the offensive skill that made him a first-round pick, but consistency and trust from the coaching staff have been harder to earn. With Glen Gulutzan taking over behind the bench, Ludwig believes this could be Lundkvist's best chance yet to prove he belongs.

According to NHL.com, the Stars are counting on a few young defensemen to step up as the roster turns over this summer.

Nils Lundkvist must earn more minutes to prove he can anchor a role on Dallas's defense

When asked if Lundkvist needs more ice time to be evaluated, Ludwig didn't hesitate:

"Yes he does. Under DeBoer, everybody was playing the same kinds of minutes on defense, of course, Miro (Heiskanen) and Thomas (Harley) got a few more minutes."

He then added:

"Yes, he should get a few more minutes, especially when you're trying to figure out if this guy can play in your system. There's a reason he was a first-rounder."

Ludwig also noted that the expectations remain high:

"They were some high expectations for him. I think you have to allow him to make mistakes. I think the biggest thing is that he has to have confidence in himself."

Even Sportsnet reports that Dallas plans to give Lundkvist more leash this year, knowing the decision could define his future with the team.