Taylor Goes Down, Heiskanen Signs Point Up: Stars Get Ready for Winnipeg and Benn's Shot at 1,000

By Nolan Frost, RF Sports Radio Stars voice

Stars Nation, sometimes the biggest news is a minor-league transaction. On Monday, Dallas loaned rookie defenseman Trey Taylor back to the Texas Stars, and that one move tells you the team expects Miro Heiskanen back soon. Then Thursday, Jamie Benn gets another shot at history at home.

The facts

Per Dallas Hockey Insider, the Stars announced Taylor's loan to the AHL on Monday, and Bruce LeVine hinted that good news on Heiskanen is likely coming. Nothing is official. Heiskanen is listed day to day with an upper-body injury, sat out the 4-3 win over San Jose on Saturday and was not at Sunday's practice in Euless, per DHI. PuckPedia's projected lines for Thursday have Heiskanen back on the top pair with Esa Lindell, with Thomas Harley and Lian Bichsel moving down a pair, but that is a projection, not a lineup.

Taylor played three NHL games without a point. Before his injury, Heiskanen had three goals and eight assists in 15 games and averaged 24:53 a night, per Dallas Sports Journal. Glen Gulutzan said Saturday that the four-day break "comes at a good time."

Benn is at 999 career points: 417 goals and 582 assists in 1,269 games, all with Dallas, per DHI. His next point would make him the second player in franchise history to reach 1,000, after Mike Modano's 1,359, per Dallas Sports Journal. He was a fifth-round pick, No. 129 overall, in 2007. He has been skating with Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen.

Dallas is 10-5-2 and second in the Central. The Jets visit American Airlines Center on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on KDFI and Prime Video, a military appreciation night, per DHI. Buffalo comes Saturday and Florida Sunday, then two games at Vegas next week.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: the Taylor move is the tell, and I like it. You do not clear the roster spot unless you expect to use it. But I said it last week and I will say it again, if Heiskanen is not 100 percent, Thursday is not the hill. Three home games in four days plus two at Vegas is where you need him.

Here is what has impressed me: the defense held up without him. Harley took on huge minutes, and Dallas took three of four points against Columbus and San Jose. That is a deep team.

On Benn, it should happen at home this week. Playing with Johnston and Rantanen gives him the best chance he has had in years, and the building will be ready.

Prediction: Stars 4, Jets 2 on Thursday. Benn gets point No. 1,000 on an assist, and Heiskanen plays.

What to watch next

Watch Wednesday's practice and morning skate Thursday for Heiskanen, and the lineup for any other returns. For our Saturday recap of the Sharks win, read our Nov. 8 Harley power-play recap, and follow every game on our Dallas Stars page.

Radio question: what is the right way for Dallas to celebrate Benn's 1,000th point, and should it come with the captain's own goal?

Sources: Dallas Hockey Insider - Injury update: LeVine hints at Heiskanen news; Dallas Hockey Insider - Jamie Benn will have to wait for his 1,000th point; Dallas Sports Journal - Jamie Benn hits 999 points; Dallas Sports Journal - Heiskanen injury update: Stars catch a timely break; Dallas Hockey Now / PuckPedia - Stars projected lines.