FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Stars will play their final home preseason game tonight against the Minnesota Wild.
It’s a bit of a showcase game for the likes of Gemel Smith, Remie Elie, Jason Dickinson, and Roope Hintz — players that are on the bubble and hoping to prove they could grab a final roster spot or earn the first injury call-up from the AHL at some point this season.
It’s also another big game for Julius Honka, who seems to be on the outside looking in and may be a victim of roster numbers and easily sent down with his waiver-exempt status.
“You got to respect contracts, if the guys are than obviously the one-way stays and the two-way goes down,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. “That’s just the economics of the game. I think we’ve got to pay respect to that.”
Hitchcock did add that the younger guys have made it a more difficult job for general manager Jim Nill, who needs to sort out the contract situation.
Injury update
Marc Methot skated on his own before practice started Tuesday and was also part of the game group. He won’t play tonight and was still sore the other day after a minor lower-body injury against the St. Louis Blues.
Radek Faksa won’t play due to an injured finger after he blocked a shot against St. Louis. He has been a full practice participant the past two days, and was tipping shots after practice.
Hitchcock said both players would have been able to play in a real game, but with preseason he wanted to take an extended look at other players.
Stars projected lineup:
Dallas didn’t run lines at morning skate, so this merely a projection.
Shore-Seguin-Radulov
Janmark-Spezza-Ritchie
Roussel-Hintz-Pitlick
Elie-Smith-Dickinson
Lindell-Klingberg
Oleksiak-Johns
Pateryn-Honka
Lehtonen
Bishop
NuttySquirrel says
With your projected line-up what is going to happen with Nemeth? Sent to minors? Trade (for what little value he might have)? Thanks!
Sean Shapiro says
I think ultimately he gets waived. But the Stars could try and swing a trade and make something work.