The competition to watch at Dallas Stars training camp

Contracts make jobs in today’s NHL.

In reality, there are really only one or two roster spots up for grabs during camp and the preseason. That’s the norm across the league, not just here in Dallas.

For the Dallas Stars, that competition lies within the depth forwards.

Dallas currently has 12 NHL forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders with NHL jobs because of their contract status or history.

That means the actual training camp battles will be for either a fourth-line spot, an extra forward, or the first call-up from the AHL.

“I think it’s probably in our third, fourth lines,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “I think our top three lines are pretty set. It’s fun, it’s these young kids coming in and finding their way now. Let’s see where they’re at. I’m like everybody else, I’m going to sit and watch. In the end, the players will decide.”

The top players competing for these spots appear to be Arttu Hyry, Matěj Blümel, Oskar Back, and Cole Lind. For more on some of the prospects listed, check out Sean Shapiro’s notebook from Traverse City.

Outside of that group, the competition on the ice will primarily be to move up the lineup or make a good enough impression to be remembered after heading back to Europe, junior hockey, or the American Hockey League.

The good news for these young guys is that they are in a system that sets them up for success.

With the style that coach Pete DeBoer and the Stars like to play — rolling four lines and finding balance within the lineup — young players have the ability to step in and immediately play an important role. The last thing an organization wants is for a top young prospect to come into the NHL and play fourth-line minutes in a checking role. That doesn’t help the team, and it can hinder both the development and confidence of the player.

In Dallas, prospects can step into an NHL role and play their game right away. They’ll have the chance to get solid minutes and play in both ends of the rink. But that also means they have to be ready, as the Stars’ high-pressure system makes it very difficult to hide within the game.

“There’s a responsibility in that you have to be able to play,” DeBoer said. “And we have to be able to trust you to play. Because otherwise, you get exposed really quickly. We don’t play a game where we can hide people, the way we want to play. We want to pressure the puck all over the ice, we want to skate, we want to attack with speed, we want to defend and close quickly on people. So we need four lines and six defensemen, and you can’t hide people in that system.”

Training camp notebook

• Jason Robertson underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his foot on July 30. He recently began skating after six weeks of a non-weight bearing recovery program. Robertson is at camp, but will not skate with the main group. He is expected to be ready for the season opener on Oct. 10.
• Nill has had contract discussions with both Jamie Benn and Jake Oettinger, who will become free agents next summer (Benn a UFA, Oettinger an RFA). Benn informed Nill that he only wants to worry about winning this year, and then figure out a contract later. For Oettinger, the communication has been open and will remain that way, but neither side is worried.
• DeBoer believes Dallas is in a better spot defensively than either of his previous two seasons.
• Dallas will not have any NHL veterans on PTO’s (professional tryouts) at camp.
• Nill and Detroit GM Steve Yzerman have been discussing the future of the Traverse City tournament, with the goal being to involve more teams and potentially shift it to Dallas for at least one year. Nill believes each team playing two games is ideal.
• Communication between the Stars and Joe Pavelski has been open and continuous. Currently, Pavelski is focusing on coaching his son’s hockey team (who recently beat his old Dallas team). But the window remains open for Pavelski in Dallas.