Stars' Honka turning heads in Traverse City

Derek Laxdal saw enough of Julius Honka when they were in the Western Hockey League last season, Laxdal as coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings and Honka a slick, offensive-minded defenseman with the Swift Current Broncos.

Now, though, they're on the same side as Laxdal, the coach of the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and the coach for the Stars at the Traverse City Prospect Tournament, gets to enjoy having Honka on his team. Dallas choose Honka with the 14th pick of the 2014 NHL Draft.

"I saw a lot of [Honka] in the Western Hockey League and he is dynamic," Laxdal told the Stars' website. "He moves well. He's agile. He moves east-west as well as he moves north-south. He gets pucks to the net. He's a forward playing defense. He's an exciting player to watch and he's going to be an exciting player for the Dallas Stars for years to come."

For more on Honka, click here.