With Julius Honka unsigned and now playing in Finland, Dallas Stars fans have needed a focus for their anxieties about wasted draft picks. The obvious choice, especially with Jamie Oleksiak stepping up in his role as third-pair defender, is Denis Gurianov.
Joining the Stars in the same draft as Roope Hintz, but with full first-round pedigree, comparisons should be expected. Given Hintz’s meteoric rise at the end of last season, which has been confirmed by his play in this season’s first five games, why can’t Gurianov follow that same path?