Mr. Fix-it: Dellandrea's consistency makes huge impact

OTTAWA - Every team can use a Mr. Fix-it.
You know, the kind of player who can bounce around the lineup and bring consistent energy to lines that are struggling? Jere Lehtinen served that role for Ken Hitchcock. Patrick Eaves and Cody Eakin have done some similar things in more recent years.
It's a valuable commodity for any coach.
"Ty seems to be one of those guys that wherever you stick him, he makes an impact," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Saturday. "He plays a heavy, fast game, a straight-line game, he recovers pucks, he's good defensively. Wherever we've stuck him, he's added something to the group."

DeBoer shifted Dellandrea off of a line with Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment Saturday in place of Denis Gurianov. While the move was probably more targeted to helping Gurianov get a kick start, it also aided Benn. Dellandrea brought energy early in the game, and Benn finished with two assists and five shots on goal.
When it was jokingly suggested to Benn that Dellandrea was put there to help him out, the captain matter-of-factly stated: "That's exactly what happened."
"He brings energy, grit," Benn said "I love playing with him. It's simple. You know what you're going to get out of him. He's one of those players that can really play on any line. He's got skill to play on the first line, he's got grit to play on the third and fourth line."
Dellandrea has had a unique path to the NHL, which has helped expand that versatility. He played on one of the worst teams in the Ontario Hockey League, the Flint Firebirds, but was named captain and eventually helped them post a 40-21-2 record in his final season. He was drafted in the first round by Dallas (13th overall) in 2018 and played 26 games his rookie season (2020-21). However, he didn't make the NHL roster last season and then had to work hard to find his game in the AHL.
"I think he handled that really well," said Rich Peverley, the Stars Director of Player Personnel. "He worked hard, he had a great attitude, and he ended up taking a step in his career."
Dellandrea finished 2021-22 with 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) in 68 games for Texas and came to training camp with a lot of energy. He was looking good until he broke a finger blocking a shot, and that put him on the sidelines for a couple of weeks. But the coaches said they knew what they had, and on opening night, he was in the lineup.
"You can see how his game has grown," said Stars forward Joe Pavelski. "You've got to give that guy credit. He started with us, had to reestablish himself in the AHL], had a really good camp, breaks a finger early, then works right through it and doesn't miss a beat."
Dellandrea said battling through the adversity helped him.
"I've learned a lot, especially last year and the start of this year," Dellandrea said. "You've got to stay level. It's a long year, it's a marathon, so just stay in neutral. There are going to be highs and lows, and you can't ride every single one of them. You have to stay level-headed. We've been working on that a lot, and it's paying off."
In five games this season, he is fourth among forwards in time on ice at 15:25. On Thursday, he took the opening faceoff in overtime against the Maple Leafs. On Saturday, you could argue that he was placed on a line with Benn to help get things going. That's pretty impressive stuff.
In his first four games on a line with Tyler Seguin, Dellandrea helped the veteran center find his game. So maybe he really is Mr. Fix-it.
Or at least, he has the chance to become that.
"He's been a good energy piece for us, and he made that play the other night to Seggy, that kind of got us going," Pavelski said. "You get those guys who are playing and want to work, and that's when the skill is allowed to come out."
*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*.