Stars Release Tryouts As Contract Players Get Healthy

Tomas Vincour (Credit: Rochester Americans)

Mutliple roster moves over the past 48 hours for the Stars have put the team in a different spot than when they played their last game against San Antonio. That's a good thing as the team is looking to break up a five game losing streak with their contest on Wednesday against the Heat.

First, the Dallas moves. Yesterday, Francis Wathier was returned to Texas after playing in no games during his recall. The NHL Stars' swapped Matt Fraser for Tomas Vincour today. Vincour has been lighting things up at the AHL level. It's uncertain how that shakes out for the Dallas lineup as Fraser has been a top six player and Vincour a bottom six. Fraser will no doubt slip into the Sceviour-Morin line as he has in the past.

Texas released two tryout players today which has to portent good things for the health of the players on standard or NHL contracts. Forward Doug Jones and defenseman Jacob Johnston were both released from their tryout contracts today. Without the return of a forward like Dowling, out since the Stars' last game with OKC after a high hit, it's a zero-sum gain.

On defense, the Stars would lose a player if someone weren't coming back from injury. However, they do have eight healthy defenseman and this gets them to seven. There was probably just some desire to ensure that Fortunus and Sloan were 100% before releasing anyone the Stars had brought into the fold. With their play this weekend, Texas felt confident enough to release Johnston.

If anyone is coming back from injury, now would be a great time for them to do so. Texas is at 76 points and Charlotte has caught up, now at 75. Both teams play Wednesday. Texas has a game in hand overall.