Five Assigned as Robertson Signing Creates Depth for Cedar Park

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

The Dallas Stars announced today that five players, four forwards and a blueliner have been assigned to Texas. Oscar Back, Mavrik Bourque, Fredrik Karlstrom, Fredrik Olofsson and Ryan Shea were those five players. The additions sent even more considerable firepower to an already stout Texas front line (and blue line) with more to come.

As of this assignment, Dallas still has 28 players on their roster, needing to reach 23 by opening night. At least one of those subtractions will be Anton Khudobin, who is the third man in net for Dallas. He may or may not end up in Texas depending on if the Stars find a trade partner for him.

Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven are in camp with Dallas still but they are both ineligible to come to the AHL. If they don't make the Dallas Stars, they'll head back to major juniors (OHL and WHL, respectively) for the entire year.

That leaves some combination of Riley Damiani and Joel Kiviranta as assignments to Texas. Ty Dellandrea's likely to make the team but there could be an outside chance he misses opening night with his hand injury. All of the above have spent decent time in the AHL and are known quantities at this level. Both Damiani and Kiviranta would garner top six, if not top line minutes.

Dallas is also looking to carry up to 8 defensemen this year but they've still got nine on the roster. Will Butcher or Colin Miller seem like the likely send down but there is an argument to be made for sending a waiver-exempt Thomas Harley to play all minutes all the time in the AHL instead of every few games in the NHL. That's a decision that is made easier by the ability to platoon players up and down I-35.

Dallas opens its schedule next Thursday and Texas follows on Friday.