The first in a series of scouting reports on the other eight players Dallas drafted this weekend.
Round 2 - Pick 13 (43 overall):
Ludwig Bystrom - D, Modo Hockey (Sweden) (@Luddebystrom)
6'0"/~210 lbs
This was a steal for the Stars. Bystrom had a first round grade and could've easily gone in the top-20 of the draft. A run on offense near the end of the first round and some pretty big reaches contributed to his drop and again, the Stars had a solid player fall into their laps.
Bystrom is a solid puck moving defenseman with some pretty good offensive potential. He's probably not as physical as one would hope, but Dallas has plenty of those guys already in the prospect pool. Bystrom looks like he'll fill out as a very solid third pair defenseman that could be top-four if needed, which is great for the organization. He is a left-handed shot though, which is a bit superfluous on the blue line for this team.
Most of the top defensive prospects on the team are just about ready to enter the NHL so this provides depth in the minors and another guy down the line. Look for him to stay in Sweden for another year or two before heading to the AHL.
Round 2 - Pick 24 (54 overall):
Mike Winther - C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) (@winzer15)
5'11"/~180 lbs
Winther was the second of the Stars run on centers. After taking a big boy in Faksa, they took a smaller, quicker player in Winther. However, like Faksa, he plays an all-around game and could be used all over the ice and on either of the special teams. He's a tenacious player and smart on the ice. He'll have a lot of room to grow and has a future on the team as a third/fourth line center, but that's 3~5 years down the road. He'll need a few more years at the WHL and AHL levels to improve his game and to get a little bigger.
He also spent a lot of time at wing so he could move there if needed. The best thing about Winther? He's a big fan of Mike Modano and tries to emulate his game.
Round 2 - Pick 31 (61 overall)
Devin Shore - C, University of Maine (NCAA) (@devinshore)
6'0"/~185 lbs
Center number three in the draft was Devin Shore, the top rookie in the OJHL with the Whitby Fury last season (He'll be going to U of Maine next year). Shore is a playmaker and did well with 58 points in 41 games. While the Stars first two center picks were focused on two-way players, Shore is about the offense and has an offensive upside that the Stars don't have too much of in their prospect pool.
He's got great vision and hands and has more than enough time to keep improving in college. He's going to a solid system in Maine and should progress well while playing in a power conference in the NCAA against top competition. He's got upside as a third liner, though that won't be until he finishes college so that's well down the line.