Former Texas Star Oskar Bäck Continues to Build in His New Role in Dallas

(Credit: Ross Bonander/Texas Stars)

Some say that significant on-ice time in the AHL is more important for development, while others say grinding it out in the big show leaves you better off in the long run.

For Oskar Bäck, after starting with the former, he is now taking on the latter, establishing himself as an reliable skater in the Dallas Stars’ talented roster.

The Swedish forward has been a permanent fixture on the Dallas Stars’ fourth line in his debut NHL season after spending the past three seasons in Texas.

Through his three seasons in the AHL, Bäck was never the flashy goal scorer like his fellow Dallas Stars’ linesmate Mavrik Bourque was last season with Bäck only netting 19 goals while in Cedar Park.

Goals aren’t everything; for Bäck that was never his role in the first place. For him, being there at the right place and time has always been his strong suit. From his career total of 69 assists and his career high last season of 29, Bäck has continued being a sure fire set-up artist in Dallas.

Only being on the ice for around 10 minutes every game, Bäck has proven his reliability making an impact with his limited ice time. Through his first 22 games in the NHL, Bäck has captured six assists and his first NHL goal in a November 14th matchup versus Boston.

The 24 year-old, had his biggest game of the year against Calgary. Capturing two assists, Bäck had his first multipoint game of his NHL career in the Stars’ massive, 6-2 victory over the Flames.

Fighting along the boards in the Stars defensive zone, Bäck chipped the puck to ease pressure to an open Jason Robertson, setting up a two-on-one opportunity. Brutalizing the Flames defender, Robertson’s wrist shot found the back of the net to bring Dallas up 2-1 in the middle frame.

After a dominant third period by the Stars, Bäck looked to add to the offensively explosive period with his own goal-scoring opportunity, his close range shot nearly missing the mark. Just seconds later another former Texas Star, Thomas Harley, made the connection with his first of two goals scored in the third.

“The first one I thought Bäcker hit it though,” Harley said on his first goal after initially thinking Bäck got credit. “In the huddle, I kept saying ‘Go, Go, Go’ and he said it wasn’t him, so I’ll take it.”

Earning an assist in last Friday’s road loss to Vegas, and his two versus Calgary gave Bäck another milestone in his rookie season, putting points on the stat sheet in consecutive games for the first time in his NHL career.

As the NHL season continues to ramp up, do not be surprised if Bäck starts to make headway as he moves up into a more elevated role, especially if he continues to stay healthy and produce at a high level with just fourth line ice time.