Texas Stars Assign Button, Labrie and Vause to Idaho

Ryan Button (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

With several players shuffling into the roster from Dallas, the Texas Stars announced today that they are sending defensemen Ryan Button and Hubert Labrie and forward Taylor Vause to the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads. Button and Labrie are on contract to Dallas, and Vause is on contract to Texas. Vause was expected to spend much of the season in the ECHL, having signed a standard contract with Idaho but since earning a deal with Texas. Button and Labrie are bubble players for Texas and could go either way depending on their performance this season.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that forward Taylor Vause and defensemen Ryan Button and Hubert Labrie have been assigned to the Idaho Steelheads, the team's ECHL affiliate. Button and Labrie were officially reassigned by Dallas, while Vause, who signed an AHL contract last week, was loaned by Texas to Idaho.

Button, 22, was acquired by Dallas on July 4, 2013 in a seven-player trade with the Boston Bruins, along with Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley in exchange for Loui Eriksson, Matt Fraser, Joe Morrow and Reilly Smith. The Edmonton, Alberta native is in his third pro season and has played in 95 career pro games, including 60 in the AHL for the Providence Bruins where he had three assists and 33 penalty minutes. Button attended training camp with Dallas and Texas, but has yet to play an AHL game for the Stars.

Labrie, 22, is in his third pro season after being signed by Dallas as an undrafted free agent to a three-year entry-level contract on September 18, 2009. The Victoriaville, Quebec native has played in 90 career pro games, including 60 AHL games for the Stars, with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) and 63 penalty minutes. Labrie attended training camp with Dallas and Texas, but has yet to play an AHL game for the Stars.

Vause, 22, is in his second full pro season and has played in 62 career AHL games and has 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) and six penalty minutes, all with the Stars. The Calgary, Alberta native attended Texas' training camp on a tryout and made the Stars opening night roster after signing a PTO on October 2nd. Vause skated in the first two games of the 2013-14 season and then signed an AHL contract with Texas on October 10th.