FRISCO -- Firmly entrenched as a top-four defenseman for the Stars, Roman Polak wasn't penciled into the role he's inhabited for most of the season. Signed to a one-year contract in the summer, Polak could have easily occupied a No. 7 defenseman role.
"I thought I would be a shutdown D, maybe third pair, just waiting for an opportunity," Polak said. "That's why I signed up here. I signed up here because I thought we had good fans, good team, good guys, that's what I heard. It was a good city, so it was an easy decision."
Except now he's taken on a larger role.