Under the provision of a possible Hall of Famer, Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas has seen ownership problems plague their team on the ice. At one point in the season, the Stars were essentially one of the best in the West, only to slip right out of a post season spot in the last game of the season. While the cupboard in Texas can't be considered a strength, Nieuwendyk and his team have a few blue chippers in their arsenal. Jack Campbell and Scott Glennie headline their prospect charts, with Alex Chiasson as another name to watch in the coming years.
"With the fourteenth pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Dallas is proud to select, From Assat of the Finnish League... Joel Armia."
The lack of any defensemen at this stage of the draft, Nieuwendyk returns to adding forward prospects.
Once considered a lock for the Top Ten, Armia has seen his stock slip, following a poor World Junior performance. Armia clocks in at 6'3 and 191 lbs, which bodes well for long term abilities to handle the NHL game. His tall lean frame will need some bulking up, as most prospects do, but his core strength will be the most needed improvement for his body.
Long fluid strides get Armia around the ice very well, though he could really work on his explosiveness through his few few strides. Not to mention continued improvement on his footwork and the ability to go east-west, will be a focal point for coaching staffs.
However, any team looking to snag up the Finn will be doing so based on his superb offensive upside. A guy who can absolutely control the puck, Armia has impressive hands, especially in tight, coupled with a very good shot. More of a finisher, Armia is deadly in the slot and on the rush. His shot is not only hard, but it's pretty accurate and he can get it off fast. The team that selects him will be doing so based on their desire to refine his scoring abilities.
Defensively, Armia isn't a liability, though one would never call him an asset there, either. His biggest hurdle will be his inconsistent showings, sometimes looking uninterested in the play, entirely.
A guy who can see the play develop fairly well, and can distribute the puck as a last resort, Armia comes in as a top pick for a team looking for a potential home run. The risks are there with the Pori native, but sometimes swinging for the fences can land you exactly what you need.
Taken Previously...
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Gabriel Landeskog
3. Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Dougie Hamilton
5. Adam Larsson
6. Sean Couturier
7. Ryan Strome
8. Ryan Murphy
9. Duncan Siemens
10. Mark McNeill
11. Nathan Beaulieu
12. Jamie Oleksiak
13. Mika Zibanejad
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