Remember yesterday, when we discussed how much Dallas loved its young blueline prospects?
Well, you can add another one to the pile.
On Wednesday, the Stars inked OHL London d-man Chris Martenet to a three-year, entry-level deal. Martenet, listed at 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, was Dallas’ fourth-round pick in 2015 and is coming off a campaign in which he racked up 12 points, 85 PIM and a plus-44 rating with the Knights.
Martenet’s frame will remind some of another Dallas blueliner: Jamie Oleksiak, the 6-foot-7, 260-pounder that’s appeared in 78 games for the Stars over the last four years.
Now, it’s feasible Martenet could actually replace Oleksiak as resident skyscraper -- Oleksiak, a restricted free agent, has been mentioned in trade rumors for a while now, largely because the Stars have so many defensive prospects in the system.
It’s worth noting size is something that GM Jim Nill values on the blueline. The Stars aren’t exceptionally big, and Nill alluded to this upon inking 6-foot-3, 215-pound Steven Johns to an extension during the season.
“Stephen did a tremendous job leading in Cedar Park for Texas all season long,” Nill said in a release. “He brings size, physicality and skating to our group of defensemen, and we fully expect him to contribute at the NHL level for years to come.”