Preseason win over Wild provides another look at Stars’ growing depth

The Stars lineup will be, in a way, somewhat “liquid” this season.

A tight salary cap is expected to make it so the team can’t keep a full complement of 14 forwards and seven defensemen that the league allows, so that creates a challenging hurdle right from the start. Add to the fact players like Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene and Colin Blackwell are rehabbing injuries and you have a little more uncertainty heading into the season opener on Oct. 2. And top that off with the fact several good players from last year’s team are not returning, and you have a few blank spots in the canvas that coach Glen Gulutzan is trying to paint over.

But if that’s the case, then Wednesday’s 2-0 preseason win over Minnesota was just what the team needed. Depth players stepped up, as goalie Rémi Poirier stopped all 24 shots faced, defenseman Kyle Capobianco had two assists, and forward Matthew Seminoff contributed a goal and a fight. All three might start the year in the AHL, but each left the impression that he is ready to step up when the opportunity presents itself.

“Guys are clawing,” Gulutzan said.

Seminoff was probably the most obvious. The 22-year-old has spent the past three seasons in the minors after getting drafted by Dallas (179th overall) in 2022. He made a huge leap forward last season with the Texas Stars, scoring 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 72 games, and seems hungry to take another step.

“You look at his mentality and he probably had a fight tonight because he’s climbed that ladder and he’s pushing,” Gulutzan said. “That’s a good sign.”

Seminoff made a good play to read Capobianco’s charge to the net in the second period and cashed in with the first goal of the game. He also helped create scoring chances for his teammates.

“You try to get involved any way you can,” said the winger who played his junior hockey in Kamloops with former Star Logan Stankoven. “There’s a lot you can’t control, but you control what you can and try to show up with a positive attitude every day.”

Poirier also had a bit of a breakout season with Texas. He went 27-19-6 in his fourth AHL season with a 2.61 GAA and .912 save percentage and led all AHL goalies with 52 games played. The 24-year-old has pretty much secured the No. 3 spot on the organization’s goaltending depth chart behind Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith, but when Oettinger had some lower body tightness after morning skate, Poirier took the opportunity to show just how good he can be in a pinch.

Stepping in behind some solid defenders in Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Trey Taylor, Capobianco, Lian Bichsel and Tyler Myers, Poirier was the best player on the ice and out-dueled Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt.

“I thought Remi was really good,” Gulutzan said. “He made some big saves and he made some stuff look easy, which is always a sign of good positioning. I thought he was pretty smooth tonight.”

“I was excited to play a full game in preseason,” he said. “Full games are always fun and I’ll take everything right now. It helped that there were basically six guys from the NHL on D, and those guys were really good for me.”

Poirier said he worked on controlling his rebounds more and was happy with the result, and also tried to build his patience.

Now, if Oettinger or DeSmith gets hurt, Poirier can be confident if he has to make his NHL debut.

“I think the big difference from the year past is that I feel when I’m going on the ice, I know the players and I know I can communicate with those guys, and I know it’s going to be all right,” Poirier said. “It’s just experience for me, and I feel comfortable when I’m out there. If it’s NHL, I don’t even realize that.”

Capobianco is more of a veteran at 29 and has played 107 NHL games, including 33 with the Stars last season. But after Dallas lost Ilya Lyubushkin and Alexander Petrovic in the offseason due to salary cap concerns, Capobianco has moved up the depth chart.

I still think Capo is a guy who can grow in this league,” Gulutzan said. “He hasn’t played full time for a bit, and I think he can. I thought he was good tonight.”

Capobianco was drafted by Arizona in 2015 and ended up in the Stars organization in 2024. He has shown great skill and two seasons ago tallied 50 points (7 goals, 43 assists) in 64 games for the Texas Stars. Now, with the NHL team looking to “tweak” their style of play, his puck skills could be huge.

“I like it,” he said. “It’s a little bit of what I’ve played before, less passive and more aggressive. You’ve got to be on your toes, which is a style I like.”

Dallas moves to 3-0-0 in the preseason and finishes things off Friday with a game in Minnesota. Oettinger will be re-evaluated at practice on Thursday and that will determine whether he plays on Friday. But even if he doesn’t, the team seems to be in a good place as they get ready for the season opener.

Especially with the depth players being in such a good place.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on X @MikeHeika.