Skill over size: Stars' 2020 draft class could be one to remember

If the Stars' 2020 draft pans out the way it's supposed to, the team could be a lot of fun going forward.

READ MORE: [Mavrik Bourque far from a finished product, but Stars see 'big point producer']
While Stars general manager Jim Nill said it was more coincidence than anything, Dallas took some risks on highly-skilled players who have the ability to score a lot of goals. Now, whether they can do that at the NHL level is yet to be seen, but by adding players like Antonio Stranges and Yevegeni Oksentyuk on Wednesday to Tuesday's first-round selection of Mavrik Bourque, the Stars definitely put skill first on their draft board.
"It definitely has started that way," said Joe McDonnell, the Stars director of amateur scouting when asked if skill is starting to be valued more over size. "You would love to have a player that is 6-foot-2 or whatever being able to do things that say a Stranges can do, but it just goes to how that there's room for a smaller player."

Dallas just finished playing Tampa Bay, and two of the Lightning's best players are 5-foot-8 Tyler Johnson and 5-10 Brayden Point. The Stars last season saw just how impactful 5-8 Mats Zuccarello can be. So when you consider that Bourque is listed at 5-11, 185 pounds, Stranges at 5-10, 170, and Oksentyuk at 5-8, 163, it doesn't seems as shocking as it might have been five years ago when the Stars were taking Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz, both listed at 6-3.
"You looked at Tampa Bay and the Brayden Points and (Tyler) Johnson. You go back to Mats Zuccarello," McDonnell said. "There's always room for them, but they do have to have that special quality."
The Stars believe their group has something extra.

Bourque, who was taken 30th overall on Tuesday, is called one of the most creative players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He tallied 71 points (29 goals, 42 assists) in 49 games for Shawinigan last season. His average of 1.45 points per game was second in the QMJHL for draft eligible players.
The Stars traded away their second- and third-round picks in earlier deals and had to wait until pick No. 123 to take Stranges Wednesday, but they stayed with the skill mindset. The forward from Plymouth, Mich. has a unique "10-2" skating style reminiscent of former Stars forward Ulf Dahlen and is credited with doing things differently. While he was rated in the top 100 by most scouting services, he was available late in the fourth round because there is some thought he needs a little more size and some refinement.
That refinement will come with him using his unique skating style, because it does create problems for opposing defenders, McDonnell said, adding that it will take some time to get all of these players to a place where they can compete in the NHL.

Stranges said he feels his unique approach has helped him. He will turn his skates outward and push vigorously to generate speed. By doing so, he can change direction or hide his intentions with the puck.
"I think it's helped my game a lot," he said. "It kind of fools the defenders, because you don't know what I'm doing. You can spin back, pass, shoot, so I think it's tricky, a little different, and I use it to my advantage."
Bourque's vision of the ice allows him to use deception in different and interesting ways, while Oksentyuk uses quickness and strong edgework to maneuver in and out of tight spots. Oksentyuk tallied 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists) in 58 games for Flint in the Ontario Hockey League. He lasted all the way to pick No. 163 because of his size and because he is a year older than most drafted players at 19.

That said, he played on a Flint team that included Stars' prospect Ty Dellandrea, and Stars GM Jim Nill said Dellandrea gave a glowing scouting report. Could the two eventually recreate some of that chemistry for Dallas? It's certainly a possibility.
"He's got high, high-end skill, and he's competitive," said McDonnell. "Everybody that has seen him play said other than the skill level, it's the compete level. If you're not of 6-foot- stature, if your compete level is off the charts, you have a chance."
The Stars believe Oksentyuk has a chance. They also believe the skill can be something that can be contagious. Miro Heiskanen is 21 and just set the franchise record for scoring by a defenseman in a playoff season with 26 points in 27 games. Jason Robertson is 21 and led the OHL in scoring two seasons ago with 117 points (48 goals, 69 assists) in 62 games played. He had 47 points (25 goals, 22 assists) as a rookie in the AHL last season. Dellandrea is 20. He had 70 points (32 goals, 38 assists) in 47 games while playing with Oksentyuk in Flint.

That's a nice little grouping right there.
Of course, the players have to mature and improve, and the odds of fourth and sixth round players isn't always great in the NHL draft. But, if the organization continues to put skilled players with skilled players and the coaching staff tries to use that skill, well who knows where all of this could go.
"You're looking for the best player available, and it just kind of worked out this year that the best players were skilled guys," Nill said. "They are a little bit on the smaller side, and that's just the way the draft fell. But it worked out well."

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Photo credit: Flint Firebirds
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.