Entering the first day of the 2015 NHL Draft, the Dallas Stars currently hold six picks. The franchise has had some post-draft issues with developing some of their recent first round picks into NHL regulars -- Scott Glennie did not work out, Jamie Oleksiak has struggled at the NHL level despite stong AHL performance, Jack Campbell is still not NHL-ready, Radek Faksa has had injury issues -- but the organization nevertheless boasts its share of strong young talent.
The Stars' roll-call of selections this year, barring trades to acquire additional assets or to move their own picks in deals are as follows:
1st round: 12th overall 2nd round: 49th overall 3rd round: No selection 4th round: 103rd overall 5th round: 133rd overall 6th round: 163rd overall 7th round: 193rd overall
A full rundown of the Stars' picks with profiles and upside analysis, along with analysis of any roster moves, will follow at the end of the Draft. In other Stars' news:
* Dallas Morning News beat writer Mike Heika reports that Stars officials have denied that the team is among the clubs pursuing veteran Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Sharp. The team is more focused on addressing other positions, especially goaltending.
Incidentally, Sharp has been one of the NHL's ultimate late bloomers during his career. He was not drafted until he was a few months shy of turning 20, when the Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the third round after a solid --- but next spectacular -- rookie collegiate season at the Unversity of Vermont. When the Flyers traded him to Chicago in Dec. 2005 in a trade for Matt Ellison, it was considered a minor trade of two seemingly middling prospects.
Sharp found NHL stardom at age 26; his third season in Chicago. Ellison did not find a regular NHL job and wound up in the KHL. As a result, the "minor" trade went on to be remembered as one of the most lopsided in recent NHL history. It just goes to show that the marquee trades are not always the ones that wind up having the biggest impact.
* The Dallas Stars released their complete 2015-16 schedule on Thursday. The club opens at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 8, with the road opener in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 10. Six of the Stars' first eight games will be against Eastern Conference opponents, with four of the games on the road. Dallas will play its first back-to-back set on Nov. 2 (at Toronto) and Nov. 3 (at Boston) as the trailing end of a three-in-four stretch.
* NHL Awards roundup: Jamie Benn accepted the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer and received NHL Second-Team All-Star left wing honors. John Klingberg was selected to the NHL's All-Rookie Team and finished a distant fifth in the Calder Trophy balloting.