CEDAR PARK, Texas — The Dallas Stars will field a more veteran lineup in the first preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
That means Jamie Benn, Mattias Janmark, and Ben Bishop (for two periods) will all play vs. St. Louis.
“It’s important that we play really good lineups at home, and we’re going to do that,” Hitchcock said. “I know we’ve got to play eight pros, but we’re playing a lot more than eight pros. And the reason for that is we owe the people who pay the money to watch us play, we owe them a good lineup and we’re going to do that.”
Hitchcock also said that Nick Caamano will play in the first preseason game. While it’s important to play good lineups for the home fans, it’s also important to reward younger players that have earned opportunities.
“He’s earned it, just by his good play at Traverse City and his even better play here,” Hitchcock said.
Off day
Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, and Mattias Janmark didn’t practice Monday after they were given a day off by Hitchcock.
“I wanted to make sure we weren’t pounding on them if we’re asking them to play quite a bit early (in preseason),” Hitchcock said. “I didn’t want to pound on them here and then say you have to jump in.”
Hitchcock added that Jason Spezza will likely play in the preseason game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
Heiskanen to stay in Finland
Stars general manager Jim Nill said that top prospect Miro Heiskanen will not be coming to Texas for the remainder of training camp or preseason.
Heiskanen sustained a concussion in a Champions Hockey League game and the Stars decided it wasn’t worth bringing him over and rushing him onto the ice. Heiskanen is going to play for HIFK this season and could have a chance to make the Finnish Olympic Team.
News and notes
-Martin Hanzal didn’t skate in Cedar Park, but he and Radek Faksa are already starting to build chemistry. Hanzal and Faksa have been hanging out off the ice and this weekend the two NHL players went out to dinner with Tomas Soustal and Ondrej Vala, the other two Czech players in training camp.
-Mike McKenna will play the third period of the game against St. Louis.
-It’s not confirmed, but this could be a hint at the St. Louis Blues lineup in the preseason game tomorrow:
My guess would be Group A is likely going to Dallas on Tuesday, Group B playing at home vs. Columbus on Wednesday https://t.co/q3gVqFTnQR
— Tom Timmermann (@tomtimm) September 18, 2017
-The AHL coaching staff will be working with the NHL coaches for the remainder of this week. They will return to Cedar Park on Sunday right before the AHL team starts its training camp.
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