Dallas is turning to Trey Taylor to help patch a battered blue line, and the timing couldn’t be more direct: his first NHL game is set for Thursday night against the Canadiens.
The Stars recalled the AHL defenseman on Thursday as they prepared for the matchup with Montreal. The roster shuffle came after depth defenseman Kyle Capobianco was hurt, while forward Dylan Hryckowian was assigned to the AHL to open up space. Tristan Bertucci was a name some around the team had circled as a possible call-up, but Dallas chose Taylor instead.
Taylor brings a physical presence on the back end, and the 24-year-old has spent this season in the AHL after a steady climb through college and the minors. The six-foot-two defenseman is in his second full professional season after signing with Dallas following three years at Clarkson University.
His college production kept trending up. Taylor had eight points as a freshman, then finished his junior and final NCAA season with 29 points in 39 games.
He carried that offensive touch into his first full year with Texas, posting eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points across 70 games. This season, he has not scored yet, but he does have three assists in eight games.
Now he gets his first shot at the NHL level against a Montreal club that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season. For Taylor, Thursday is the debut. For Dallas, it’s a chance to get a fresh body onto a defense that needs one.
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