The Dallas Stars decision last join to trade erstwhile second-line center
Mike Ribeiro to the Washington Capitals for 21-year-old center prospect
Cody Eakin and a second-round pick was a pretty clear indication that the Stars wanted to go in a different direction after narrowly missing the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
The subsequent acquisition of
Derek Roy relieved a bit of immediate pressure on Eakin to carry a significant offensive workload; that is, assuming the
Jamie Benn contract situation gets resolved soon and it is not necessary to slide Roy and the other centers up a line in the rotation.
Eakin developed into a fine offensive player at the junior level. However, I see him as someone who projects to be more of a versatile role-playing center who is a pain to play against -- think
Vernon Fiddler with better hands -- than a top-end sort of forward.
Eakin got 30 NHL games under his belt in Washington last season (four goals, eight points). As an AHL rookie in Hershey last season, Eakin tallied 13 goals and 27 points in 43 games. This season, he played with the Texas Stars during the lockout, producing 12 goals and 24 points in 35 games.
This represents a solid pace of development for a player who will be expected to contribute at the NHL level. It's NOT the type of development rate that would be normal for a near-future top-six at the NHL level. Rather, he is producing like a guy who can be an NHL top-nine forward in short order and perhaps work his way up a line higher over time. He's handling more and more responsibilities and turning into a well-rounded young pro.
On the flip side of the coin, I have started to grow very concerned about whether 2009 Stars first round pick
Scott Glennie (for whom the Stars used the eighth pick of the opening round and bypassed several players who are already bonafide NHLers) is going to make it to the big club. If he does, it's probably not going to be this season.
For one thing, he's been injury prone thus far in his career and it seems to have affected his development curve. He's only played in half of the T-Stars' 38 games this season and has not logged major ice time. For another, even a year ago, the Stars were trying to dial down the pro expectations for Glennie, basically calling him more of a role-playing type than a future All-Star caliber player.
Now that we're a half season of (AHL) hockey past that projection point for Glennie and he hasn't progressed at all -- if anything, he's regressed -- there is reason for worry about whether he's got a future as a regular with the big club.
Every player develops at his own pace, and some take longer than others. By no means am I saying that a little more patience with Glennie is not in order. By virtue of where he was chosen in the Draft, I think he will get the benefit of the doubt within the organization for up to one season longer.
That said, Glennie's early pro path has been that of a first-round bust (which I define as a highly touted player who never finds a full-time role in the NHL and NOT as someone who becomes a decent NHL contributor but less than an impact player). Forwards are usually NHL-ready a little sooner than defensemen and goalies. It does not bode well that a top-10 pick is in his second AHL season and is nowhere near breaking down the door to earn a regular spot with the big club.
Can Glennie still turn things around in the Dallas organization? Yes, and he'll get a little more time to do so. But if he's still in Austin come this time next year, there won't be a future for him with the big club.
That's harsh, but that's the reality of pro hockey. Being a former first-round pick, even a high-end one, will only buy so much time and patience.
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