2019 AHL Free Agency: Texas Stars Team Needs

CEDAR PARK, TEXAS -- The Texas Stars failed to make the postseason in 2018-19, just a season removed from a surprising run that took them all the way to Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals. While the team's youth remained mostly intact this past season, losing a lot of their veteran leadership core from the season prior, like captain Curtis McKenzie, goaltender Mike McKenna, and defensemen Brett Regner and Andrew Bodnarchuk, certainly affected the team.

This upcoming season, the outlook is different. While speedy, young forwards like Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov will almost certainly make the Dallas Stars roster out of training camp, the new influx of young talent is sure to make the Stars one of the most intriguing teams to watch across the American Hockey League this season.

Returning forward prospects Adam Mascherin and Joel L'Esperance are supported by incoming Dallas pupils like Jason Robertson, Tye Felhaber, and Ty Dellandrea. Defensive prospects Joseph Cecconi and Emil Djuse join the fold as well, while former first-round pick Jake Oettinger looks to split time in the crease with Stars regular Landon Bow.

Texas head coach Derek Laxdal will have a fast and exciting team to work with when the season starts in October. Let's take a look at what his lines might look like on Opening Night in Cedar Park.

UNDER CONTRACT

Forwards: Justin Dowling, Nicholas Caamano, Tony Calderone, Tye Felhaber, Rhett Gardner, Denis Gurianov, Riley Damiani, Joel Kiviranta, Joel L'Esperance, Parker MacKay (AHL), Adam Mascherin, Michael Mersch, Brad McClure (AHL), Josh Melnick, Jason Robertson, and Riley Tufte

Defensemen: Joseph Cecconi, Emil Djuse, Benjamin Gleason, Joel Hanley, John Nyberg and Ondrej Vala, Taylor Fedun

Goaltenders: Jake Oettinger, Tomas Sholl, and Colton Point

IMPENDING FREE AGENTS

NHL RFA: goaltenders Landon Bow (received qualifying offer from Dallas) and Philippe Desrosiers (did not receive a qualifying offer, will become UFA on July 1) and defensemen Gavin Bayreuther (received qualifying offer), Niklas Hansson (received qualfying offer, but signed with Rogle BK of SHL), Dillon Heatherington (received qualifying offer), and Chris Martenet (did not receive qualifying offer, will become UFA on July 1)

NHL UFA: defenseman Reece Scarlett and forward Erik Condra

AHL UFA: defensemen Nolan Gluchowski, Shane Hanna, Brady Norrish and forwards Colton Hargrove, Samuel Laberge, Colin Markison, Brad McClure (re-signed a one-year AHL contract with Texas), Travis Morin, Spencer Naas, Robbie Payne, Elgin Pearce and James Phelan

DEPTH CHART

Mersch - Dowling - Tufte Mascherin - L'Esperance - Robertson Caamano - Gardner - Felhaber Kiviranta - Melnick - MacKay (Calderone)

Bayreuther - Heatherington Djuse - Cecconi Gleason - Hanley (Vala, Nyberg)

Bow Oettinger (Point, Sholl)

STARS TEAM NEEDS IN FREE AGENCY

Abundance of Youth in Goal

After the aforementioned Mike McKenna was let go at the end of the 2017-18 season, the Stars opted not to sign another veteran AHL goalie, and instead, rode the backs of their deep goaltending prospective class. Last season, Texas experimented with going full youth-movement in the blue paint, and this year will be no different. Landon Bow (23) and Jake Oettinger (20) are expected to split time as the Stars starter, while Colton Point (21) and Tomas Sholl (24) -- who was recently inked to an AHL contract -- will serve as organizational depth pieces with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads.

Unfinished Defense Core

While three of their top defensemen from last season return to the club in 2019-20 (Heatherington, Bayreuther, Hanley), the Stars lack veteran depth on the blueline, an asset that has been a key to all three of the organization's Western Conference championships. Taylor Fedun signed a two-way contract, but might land on the Dallas roster again. This season, the need for veteran d-men should be more a focus than the last, as the Stars give outright playing time to a group of young goalies who will benefit from stability on the blueline. Expect Texas to be active on the market for an AHL defenseman.

One Mo' Season?

While age has started to set in on Travis Morin, the AHL scoring champion and Most Valuable Player in 2014, his playmaking and veteran presence can still have an impact on the team. Whether he'll return to the club for his 11th season as a Texas Star, or if he has already played his last AHL game, is unknown. But if he is willing to play, he would be a very valuable addition to an incredibly young forward group.