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Stars have ‘high expectations’ for Nichushkin after 2014-15 season disrupted with hip injury

Dallas Stars v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 5: Valeri Nichushkin #43 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Claus Andersen

The Dallas Stars have been busy this summer. However, one of the players they seem to feel so optimistic about heading into the 2015-16 season comes from within their organization.

Valeri Nichushkin, 20, showed plenty of potential in his rookie season with the Stars two seasons ago, scoring 14 goals and 34 points in 79 games. But last season, he played in only eight games and recorded only a single assist.

A hip injury that required surgery greatly disrupted his sophomore season, keeping him out of the Stars lineup from early in November until the beginning of April, when he was recalled for a late push by Dallas to try and make the playoffs.

“We’ve got high expectations for him. He ended up playing in the last four games of the season and it was great to see the chemistry that him Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky,” said Stars GM Jim Nill, via the Dallas Morning News.

“They played together and it was amazing to watch. We’re excited. We think that they could be something special.”

Earlier this week, the Stars signed Johnny Oduya to a two-year deal worth $7.5 million. Prior to that, they acquired Patrick Sharp from the Chicago Blackhawks.

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