Sean Shapiro examines Jim Nill’s previous picks to predict the action in Vancouver. Plus, when Stanley Cup experience matters, when Faulkner discovered hockey, and more.

The Dallas Stars have a pretty thin draft coming – at least it currently stands. Recent trades have left them with a record-low four selections currently available, including that No. 18 overall pick. The question now is not whom fans would pick, but whom GM Jim Nill is likely to go for.

Sean Shapiro examines The ’Stache’s history in the June show to see what the past might tell us about the upcoming action in Vancouver:

The Stars have made 44 selections in the Jim Nill era, which dates back to 2013. Those selections included 24 forwards, 14 defensemen and six goalies. That roughly reflects the makeup of an NHL roster for each of those positions. Of those 44 picks, just over half — 23 — have come from the Canadian Hockey League. Of the CHL picks, 15 have come from the Ontario Hockey League, with only one selection from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Thirteen combined picks have hailed from either Finland or Sweden.

Shapiro’s own prediction for Nill’s eventual first-round pick came down to a coin toss – blueliner Cam York from the U.S. National Team Development Program, or center Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies:

York makes the most sense in my view. The Stars have much of their long-term defensive core locked up, with Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg here for the long haul. But an additional home-grown top-four defender is a luxury York could provide as the paydays start to pile up for Heiskanen and Klingberg. Newhook’s status as a Junior A player isn’t going to scare off the Stars, and he would be an intriguing addition to the Stars prospect pool at center, which is currently led by Ty Dellandrea. Either way, locale really isn’t going to predict who the Stars draft in the first round.

Find out how Sean filled out the rest of the draft card at the link. [The Athletic DFW]

Stars Stuff

The Stars have put together a handy 2019 offseason tracker, from contracts to camp – starting with the beginning of the first buyout period on June 17. [Dallas Stars]

Dallas Stars

In the meantime, Jim Montgomery got the ride of a lifetime before Saturday’s IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Around The League(s)

The Boston Bruins will have home-ice advantage for Game 7 after a convincing 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Enterprise Center.

Color Frank Seravalli unsurprised that this series is going the distance.

Stanley Cup of Chowder posts a funny-in-the-way-that’s-not story about how Boston has brought on all the Blues’ goonery themselves.

The Charlotte Checkers have lifted the 2019 Calder Cup, and Jared Clinton has some thoughts about what that means for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Also at THN, in the All-Access section: There really used to be offer sheets other than the one that gave Shea Weber That Contract.

Check out this incredible bit of history from Sports Illustrated, when the great William Faulkner wrote about his first NHL game.

Finally

Soooooo, what’s your answer?