As much as fans worry about the Stars' potential goaltending problems in the NHL, the solution to future net success also is up in the air.

But while one big attempt to grow from within failed in Jack Campbell, Dallas is hoping to quickly refresh the young goaltenders with a three-man battle in the AHL.

The Stars have a 23-year-old free agent who has been in the system for two seasons (Max Lagace), a 20-year-old who was drafted in 2013 and is a second-year pro (Philippe Desrosiers) and a 20-year-old they signed out of the Western Hockey League this summer (Landon Bow). The trio is expected to compete in an open tryout to see who is the No. 1 goalie for the Texas Stars and a heartbeat away from the NHL.

"Any time you have three young guys pushing each other, it's a good thing," said Mike Valley, Stars director of goaltending development. "We need someone to step up and become our third guy in line."

Bow and Desrosiers are participating in the Stars development camp at the Dr Pepper Stars Center in Frisco this week. While it's just a small step before the prospect tournament in Traverse City in September and NHL training camp after that, it's a nice reminder for the young goalies that they are about to test each other in a fair fight.

"It's a great opportunity, and now it's up to me to work hard this summer and be ready," Bow said.

Bow had a great season in Seattle and is hoping to build off of that. The 6-5, 208-pound Albertan had a 16-6-0 record, 1.76 goals-against average and .938 save percentage after being traded from Swift Current. He said the move helped him reassess his approach.

"I simplified my game," Bow said. "I think I just tried to do too much when I was in Swift Current. But when I went to Seattle, I just focused on my game. I didn't worry about what anybody else's job was."

Desrosiers battled with Lagace and Campbell last season in the Stars' system. He played mostly in the ECHL and had a 15-7-6 record with the Idaho Steelheads. Desrosiers had a 2.34 GAA and .913 save percentage in Idaho. He said he's ready to battle for more playing time in the AHL.

"You have to be ready every day. You have to work hard," Desrosiers said. "Like [Stars GM] Jim Nill said, 'You have to be an everyday player.' You have to put the work in. ... I want to be ready and prove I'm the guy."

Lagace proved it last season. He outgunned Campbell, the 11th overall pick from 2010 who was traded to Los Angeles this summer, and finished with a 19-10-3 record in the AHL. Lagace had a 2.90 GAA and .913 save percentage and will enter camp as the favorite to win the job.

"I like Max. He's a mentally tough kid," Valley said. "He doesn't worry too much about things that happened yesterday, that's just part of his DNA."

But Lagace still will be challenged, and that could be a fun thing to watch. Yes, fans will be on the lookout for a goaltender trade all summer, but another way to secure the future in net is to grow your own. The Stars are hoping they're on the right track.

"It's nice to have a nice tight competition like that," Bow said. "We'll all be battling, but we'll still be friends. I like that. You want to push each other and help each other, and I think that's what we'll have here."

It's something Valley said he believes can produce quick results.

"These young guys, they can improve so much in one year," Valley said. "All it takes is experience. From experience they gain confidence, and then they just blossom."

Twitter: @MikeHeika