The Dallas Stars’ prospect pipeline has taken a hit in this year’s rankings, landing at No. 30 for 2026 after sitting 23rd a year ago. The simple reason is right there in the system’s shape: the best young pieces have already pushed into the NHL, leaving behind a thinner group without a true top-end offensive driver.
That leaves Lian Bichsel as the headliner, and he brings a very specific kind of value. The 6-foot-7, 237-pound defenseman, drafted No. 18 in 2022, is built to overwhelm people.
He skates well for his size, plays with real edge and projects to erase a lot of problems just by being hard to get around. The swing skill is still the puck.
Bichsel has some ability, but it comes and goes, and under pressure he can fight it and make poor choices. Even so, his athleticism and compete level point to a player who should log plenty of NHL games and minutes, even if the offense never quite catches up.
Behind him, the pool shifts into more modest projections. Jakub Vaněček, taken No. 59 in 2026, brings size, mobility and a steady two-way game from the blue line.
The 6-foot-2 defenseman can make a dependable first pass and owns a heavy one-timer from the point, but he’s not viewed as a power-play weapon at the pro level. He can be plain with the puck, though his range, sense and work rate give him a path to becoming a third-pair defenseman.
Måns Goos, selected No. 158 in 2025, gives Dallas a goalie with a frame that stands out immediately at 6-foot-5. He moves reasonably well for that size, competes hard and can make difficult saves, even if some of the toughest lateral plays still give him trouble.
He reads the game well and usually stays square, though he can get a little scramble-heavy. The projection here is backup goalie in the NHL.
Atte Joki, drafted No. 146 in 2025, rounds out the next tier as a 6-foot-2 center with enough speed and skill to be interesting. He’s physical, plays a solid two-way game and has a shot that grades above average.
What he doesn’t have is a lot of creativity with the puck; he’s more direct than inventive. That gives him a realistic lane toward a bottom-six role if his game keeps translating.
Emil Hemming, the No. 29 pick in 2024, may be the most intriguing forward in the group even if the question around him is still his exact NHL fit. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger can skate, attack in transition and create controlled entries, and his shot can beat goalies from range.
He has real offensive tools and has shown more willingness to drive the middle and get to the net. The uncertainty is whether he becomes a clear-cut top-six type or something else, because he isn’t especially dynamic with the puck and he isn’t a punishing player to go against.
Still, he has plenty of NHL traits.
For Dallas, that’s the story of the system right now: one big, physical blue-liner at the top, a handful of useful prospects behind him, and not much in the way of high-end star power. The Stars’ 2026 draft grade comes in at C-.
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Roope Hintz Still Feels Vital To What Makes The Stars Work
Roope Hintz remained one of the most important players in the Stars lineup last season, even though his year was interrupted by injuries and ended early with a hamstring tear. The 29-year-old forward still managed 15 goals and 29 assists in 53 games, production that kept him near the top of the club in assists, points and faceoff win percentage while reinforcing how much Dallas leans on his speed, puck support and all-around play.
For a player who has dealt with recurring injury issues over the course of his career, Hintz has still found a way to be a steady two-way driver whenever he is available. That blend of finishing, playmaking and defensive reliability has made him a recurring anchor for the Stars, and it is hard to ignore how much the teams structure changes when he is on the ice versus when it has to get by without him. [Read more 🡒]