Dallas Stars: 2008 Draft Brings Stars Five Solid Propects

The Dallas Stars have earned a reputation for drafting players who turn out to be greats in the NHL.

Mike Modano is the name most often associated with Dallas and the draft, but several other NHL superstars have been draft picks for the Stars at one point or another.

Who you ask? The names of Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Marty Turco, Jamie Langenbrunner, Derian Hatcher and Richard Mativichuk are just a few of the NHL superstars that Dallas has drafted.

In 2008, Dallas hopes they struck gold again with one, if not all, of the five players they acquired.

The Stars lead off taking 18-year-old goaltender Tyler Beskorowany.

Beskorowany played for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he posted a 12-19-3 record, .900 save percentage, and 4.04 goals against average.

Tyler entered the draft as the 11th-ranked goaltender by Central Scounting, and was the fifth goalie taken overall in the draft.

The numbers by Beskorowany mimic those of Mike Smith, whom Dallas drafted in 2001. Smith turned into one of Dallas's most successful, backup, netminders, and posted his first career shutout in his first career NHL start, against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Another similarity between Beskorowany and Smith is their size.  Beskorowany comes into the league with a one-inch advantage over Smith 6'4" to 6'3" respectively.

If Dallas's luck with goalies continue, the NHL is looking at one of it's next top stars inside the crease.

Dallas's second pick in this year's draft was for 18 year old center, Scott Winkler.

The Norwegian-born Winkler posted amazing numbers for the Russel Stover Stars, of the AAA Midget.  In his 70 games played, Winkler put up 92 points, 40 of which were goals.

Winkler also plays on Norway's National Team during the World Under 18 Championships and notched seven points in five games.

Should this be a sign of things to come, Dallas could be looking at a bright offensive talent to boost their roster in the near future.

The Stars also picked up Canadian forward, Matt Tassone.  Tassone has played 102 games in the WHL for the Swift Current Broncoes.

The 2007-2008 season marked his first full season with the team, playing 60 games, and getting 36 points.

By the numbers, Dallas could be looking at another player like Niklas Hagman.  Tassone is not afraid to go to the penalty box and could be a force both offensively and physically.  If that turns out to be the case, Dallas will be able to withstand a concentrated physical assault by their Pacific Division rivals.

The last two selections for Dallas came in the form of two young defensemen, Philip Larsen and Mike Bergin.

Overall, Dallas addressed issues that could arise in the next few seasons.  The team knows Modano is looking towards a final season in the next two or three years, and their defense is slowly getting up there in age.

With the young forwards and defensemen Dallas acquired, Dallas could be an even greater force in the coming seasons.  And with a strong netminder like Beskorowany working through their farm systems, a successor to Marty Turco could be on his way to a starting position with Dallas.