Texas' Blueline Improving Rapidly with Kolyachonok Reclaim by Dallas

(Credit: Texas Stars)

Yesterday, the Dallas Stars reclaimed defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok and loaned him to the Texas Stars. This waiver claim and immediate assignment to the minors was only an option for Dallas because it was a reclaim. You can see the specific exemption spelled out in this article from Puckpedia.

This news coincides with multiple reports that Dallas defenseman Lian Bichsel is skating again following an injury and could return to the lineup before the Olympic break, which starts on February 6th. Kyle Capobianco would likely be loaned to Texas once Bichsel is removed from LTIR. Capobianco would have to clear waivers himself, but he has already gotten through without being claimed in the preseason, so he has a solid chance of clearing again.

That boost of two, just about, NHL quality defensman (and Luke Krys, who returned from his own injury just a few weeks ago) takes the Texas blue line from a patchwork group that was playing five AHL rookies just a few weeks ago, to a defending powerhouse loaded with AHL veterans and quality NHL-level prospects.

Here is how the defensive pairings could look:

Capobianco - Kolyachonok
Taylor - Krys
Bertucci - Karow

This will require multiple lefties to play on the right (the only true righty of these six is Krys), but that is still (suddenly) one of the deepest bluelines in the league. That doesn’t even mention that your seventh and eighth defenders would be Gavin White (currently injured) and Kyle Looft, who both have extended AHL experience and have improved drastically with the bigger roles they’ve been given this season. Tommy Bergsland, who's acquitted himself well this year, is your 9th. That's a luxury.

Texas’ offense has shown it was too much to ask them to cover the loss of their top two scorers in the offseason, but the recent success that has propelled them back into a playoff spot has been from the defensive side of the ice. The Stars held opponents to two goals or fewer in four of their six wins this month. The other two wins, they only allowed three.

They’ve learned that defense is what is going to win them games, and this influx of talent and depth will make it that much easier to rely on as this team moves forward. Furthermore, as one of the AHL's elite offensive defensemen, Capobianco should bolster the Stars' unproductive attack. Capobianco has four points in the only five AHL games he’s played this year.

These roster additions have been long overdue for a Texas team that has been plagued by injuries and callups, but for now, it appears that the best part of their game may be getting even better. Just in time for the push to the playoffs.