While the December 4th departure of defenseman Lian Bichsel from the Texas Stars came as a surprise to those outside the organization, those inside knew it was on the table thanks to the European assignment clause in Bichsel's contract.
"We discussed it leading up [internally] that it was always a possibility," said Texas Stars GM Scott White, reached by phone Tuesday afternoon. "We became aware in communication with his agent that he wanted to exercise that option."
Bichsel, Dallas' 2022 first-round pick, was drafted out of the SHL and had a clause in his entry-level contract to allow him to make a decision to return to Europe by December 1 if he was not playing in the NHL.