Nathan Bastian Thinks Players Like Him Should Do More Conditioning Assignments, and He's Right

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

Sometimes conditioning assignments are so-so; sometimes it's very clear why a player is in the NHL. Nathan Bastian's brief assignment this past week proved he's NHL caliber in case anyone doubted him.

The Texas Stars got two game-winning goals, a shootout winner and an assist from the instantly-first-line Bastian during his four games here in Cedar Park. Now he's headed back to Dallas.

Val Nichushkin had a hat trick in one of his assignments. Stephen Johns scored a cathartic power play goal in his. The conditioning assignment is used less than once a year historically for Texas but, of all people, Nathan Bastian made a really solid case that it should be more common for players like him after Saturday night's game.

We asked about his experience in the league on assignment, knowing it was likely his last game, and he answered with praise. This extended quote from the interview is illustrative (emphasis mine):

"It's been very positive, I would say. I think I've gained a lot from it. I almost wonder why situations like myself, you don't see it more often, the whole conditioning stint.

"Obviously, I'm a hockey player, and I want to play hockey at the end of the day. I'd like to be with the guys in Dallas, but there was a window for me to come here and get my legs under me and play some really good hockey. And I'd like to think that so far, I've made the most of it."

"When you're in a role like mine, in a position like mine, I think you you value every day differently compared to the older guys or the better guys on the team. And for me at this point, this season, this was what was going to set me up, and ultimately the team up for the best success moving forward.

"Obviously, I take a ton of pride in that, and the goal is now, when I go back in the lineup with Dallas, I'm in better shape and more ready to play. And if I can have a little bit more confidence out there, then that's gravy."

Bastian is right on the money here, and I am surprised as well that the conditioning assignment isn't a tool we see more teams use more often. There are, of course, limitations to the process. The player has to agree to a conditioning assignment and non-injury assignments are more rare. The overall limit is 14 days, and you can't stack them up to get around the waiver wire.

But even with all that at play, why not use the tools at your disposal? Bastian had played just twice in the month of December and wanted to stay warm for his role as 13th/14th forward in Dallas. The Texas Stars are literally right here, three hours down the road.

Perhaps there is some element of swallowing your pride to accept a conditioning assignment, but Bastian's mindset above is clearly the right one to try to put himself in the best position to help his team win.

If you can play some really good hockey in first-line minutes, chip in a few goals, help some of the young guys win and keep your skills sharp at game speed, what's the harm? It seems like a perfectly good way to utilize the proximity of the AHL club.

Separately, Dallas activated goalie Casey DeSmith and reassigned Remi Poirier to Texas and Ben Kraws to Idaho. More coming on Poirier later this week from Chris Chambers.