Image credit: CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

Q&A WITH STANKOVEN

Stankoven talks Calder Trophy race, his new brand launch, stunning puck-flip attempt, Stars’ start

Nov 20, 2024 | 3:36 PM

DALLAS — Logan Stankoven is picking up where he left off last season.

The 21-year-old forward from Kamloops is a staple in the Dallas Stars’ lineup and producing at a steady clip offensively.

With 14 points in 17 games heading into a game against the visiting San Jose Sharks on Wednesday (Nov. 20), Stankoven has earned his place in the rookie-of-the-year conversation.

Stankoven hopped on a Zoom call with CFJC Today reporter Marty Hastings to discuss his start to the campaign and the Calder Trophy race.

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The question-and-answer session below has been edited for length.

MH: What are your thoughts on your team’s play so far this season – 7-2 at home, 4-4 on the road and third in the Central Division?

LS: Record-wise, it’s been good. We’re still trying to find a bit more consistency in our game. Individually, too, some games we’re on it right away from puck drop. Other games, it takes us a few periods to get into it. It’s still early. You don’t want to peak too early. Obviously, it’s nice to have a hot start, but there is still lots of season to go, so keep building game by game.

MH: Tough one the other night (4-2 loss to visiting Anaheim on Nov. 18), but you got to play against your old teammate, Olen Zellweger. What’s your relationship like with him?

LS: It’s really good. I loved being able to finish that Memorial Cup season with Zelly, a huge acquisition. Just how much we love the game of hockey, we’re pretty similar that way. We’re always around the rink and we love to get better in the gym or doing extra stuff on the ice. That’s a way we bond over the game of hockey.

MH: You didn’t score, but you attempted an incredible puck-flip play over a D-man against Minnesota earlier this month. What happened on that play?

LS: I remember just slashing out of our own zone. The puck kind of got chipped off the boards and I recognized it was kind of a one-on-one. I think it was [Jared] Spurgeon. He was doing a good job of angling me. I just thought, hey, the puck is kind of on edge, might as well try something. I just thought of maybe flipping it over him. It would have been nice to get him to bite a bit more. He played it really well and defended it well. It would have been nice to finish that one off.

MH: Have you practised that?

LS: I think I’ve done it before in practice, but never in NHL games or practices. That’s more something you do in a summer skate or in juniors maybe.

MH: It appears you’ve started your own brand, Logan Stankoven 11. How did that come about?

LS: A guy here in Dallas (Ryan Totka) who I’ve kind of been connected with ever since I was called up last season, he kind of created T-shirts, Stank the Tank, and shirts with my face and head on it. He reached out to me and he’s got a lot of connections. He thought of a great idea of creating my own brand and I think it’s been pretty successful so far. He’s the one who created the website and controls all that. I just signed off on the papers and the contract we had between myself and his company and gave him the green light.

There is everything from hoodies and hats, to onesies and baby outfits, so there is everything there. It’s a pretty good selection.

MH: How often are you taking a peek at the scoring race?

LS: Quite often. I like to check in and see how the other guys are doing. You can’t put too much focus and pressure on yourself and you can’t base your game around what other rookies are doing, but it’s nice to peek in. If we’re not playing on an off-night, I’m usually watching other NHL games to see how some of the other younger guys are doing. I think when it comes down to that Calder race, everyone is in a different situation. Some guys are playing lots of minutes, some guys not so much. It would be awesome to win that award, but for now it’s just about helping the team win and trying to become an every day NHL player.

MH: Is it a goal to win the Calder and what would it mean to you?

LS: It’d be a huge honour. I feel like this year there are a lot of great rookies — [Macklin] Celebrini and [Matvei] Michkov, [Lane] Hutson and [Cutter] Gauthier, even Dustin Wolf in Calgary, just a lot of great rookies. Any one of us could win those awards. I’m just trying to put myself in the best situation to succeed and see where things go from there.