Shooting Star Stankoven draws rave reviews from owner Gaglardi

He forced his way into the Dallas lineup by racking up 57 points in 47 games for its American Hockey League affliate, the Texas Stars.

Fans of the Kamloops Blazers might not be shocked by what has happened since, watching while the WHL club’s former captain uses his motor, grit, sticktoitiveness and lightning-quick release to tally five goals and eight points in six games.

“Every day, I kind of approach it as if I could get sent down and that’s my mindset going into games, as well,” said Stankoven, who the Stars nabbed in Round 2 of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Dallas was trailing the hometown San Jose Sharks by three goals on Tuesday (March 5) when the River City dynamo cued the comeback, scoring at 12:58 of the third period to help spur his club to a 7-6 overtime victory.

Stankoven had two goals and four points in the contest, including an assist on the OT winner.

“It’s been a special couple weeks, getting to play my first couple of games with my family in the building,” Stankoven said.

The former Thompson Blazer was held off the scoresheet in his NHL debut on Feb. 24, when family members — including dad Wes, mom Deana and sister Macie — were whisked off to Carolina in time for the Stars-Hurricanes contest in Raleigh.

That trip was covered by the Stars and their owner, Tom Gaglardi, who is also majority owner of the Blazers.

“He never ceases to amaze,” Gaglardi said. “I have a son born the same year as Logan, so he played against Logan and I’ve known them forever. It’s such a cool story, with my history in Kamloops.

“Just the opportunity to draft Logan in Kamloops was incredible, given he’s from there and he’s the best player to come from Kamloops since, you know, it’s got to be Mark Recchi. And then to have him on my NHL team is a bit surreal. Luckily, the stars aligned — pun intended.”

Gaglardi said Stankoven’s youthful injection into the Dallas lineup offers spark to veterans who may already be turning focus to the post-season.

Among Stars’ veterans is Joe Pavelski, who has opened his home to nomad Stankoven.

“He has a younger son, so we hang out with him and play video games or mini-sticks,” Stankoven said. “We try and keep the hockey chat at the rink.

“[I’m] very motivated. The first few games are a bit of a learning moment, but then you get this opportunity and you don’t want to get sent back down.”

Injuries and salary cap considerations are among moving parts that threaten Stankoven’s tenure with the big club.

“My view is I don’t think the coach [Pete DeBoer] wants to see him go, but that will be the call of the general manager (Jim Nill), as well,” Gaglardi said. “We’ll see who comes back and when from injury.

“And we’ll see how Logan fares. It’s a tough league. He’s had an awesome start and he’ll get to play a few more games and we’ll see how it goes day by day.”

Perhaps Stankoven will cough up to pay for future family visits. His pro-rated contract pays U.S. $80,000 for work undertaken in the AHL and about U.S. $800,000 while toiling in the NHL.

“My most recent paycheque, I think it had one day of NHL pay, so it wasn’t like a huge increase,” Stankoven said. “It will be interesting to see this next paycheque, what it comes out to be.

“If you’re putting in the work when you’re younger and you keep at it, good things happen. It’s nice to get rewarded for it.”

Stankoven followed the scoreless debut with goals in three straight games, with his family in the crowd to watch him open his NHL account — on his 21st birthday — against the Islanders on Feb. 26 in Dallas.

“Just incredible,” Wes Stankoven said. “It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Not many parents get to experience this opportunity in life. Just super proud of him.”

Stankoven is allowing moments to savour the splendour of realizing his hockey dream.

“A private jet and food upon food,” he said. “Basically, you get treated like kings.”

But there is no time for complacency when you’re in pursuit of the throne, said Stankoven, whose Stars are among betting-odds favourites to win the Stanley Cup.

Those odds have improved in recent weeks, thanks in part to a shooting Star.

“I don’t know what to say other than — are we really surprised?” Gaglardi said.

DRAFT DAY DIALOGUE

Gaglardi was in the room when Dallas selected Wyatt Johnston 23rd overall in Round 1 of the 2021 NHL Draft.

“It was a tough decision between Logan and Wyatt Johnson,” Gaglardi said. “Our head amateur scout spent lots of time on Wyatt Johnston and that’s where he wanted to go.

“We took Johnston and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s too bad. I guess we won’t see Logan.’ Disappointed.”

Gaglardi was unfamiliar with Johnston, in part because Canadian Hockey League play had been halted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But our guys in Ontario knew him and it turned into an unbelievable pick,” Gaglardi said.

Johnston is fifth in Stars’ scoring this season, with 48 points in 64 games.

Stankoven continued to slide down the draft board, with his home-province Canucks among the clubs who passed on the Kamloopsian in Round 1.

“We had two consecutive picks in the middle of the second round,” Gaglardi said. “I knew we were taking Logan if he was there.

“I just didn’t believe until our picks came that he would be there. There he was.”

Both Johnston and Stankoven (who are friends and former national team teammates) had multi-goal games in the victory over San Jose on Tuesday, with Johnston registering a hat-trick and the pair combining for nine points.

They are the first teammates 21 or younger since Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri on Dec. 19, 1981, to accomplish the feat, according to statsperform.com.

by Marty Hastings

Shooting Star Stankoven draws rave reviews from owner Gaglardi

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