The task remains the same for Dallas Stars scouts as it was 10 years ago, but fulfilling it has become much more difficult. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s it was easy to find players like Mike Modano, Derian Hatcher and Richard Matvichuk with high first round picks. Now, picking in the lower half of the first round, Dallas has to wait longer to see if their selections turn out. But you do find players who can have an impact at 24 and 25. The Stars are hopeful about the development of hulking defenseman John Erskine and shift disturber Steve Ott.
Skilled forwards remain a weak spot.
Before this year's World Junior Championship appearance with Canada, Ott learned choice insults in Swedish, Russian, Finnish and Czech. At first, the Stars thought they had the second coming of Tyson Nash, a nice checking line player. Ott's development this season playing alongside Jason Spezza has them thinking they've got a scorer with a sneer. He leads the Spitfires with 43 goals and is second to Spezza in points with 79 in 52 games. He's a tenacious player with an attitude.