Denis Gurianov left this season with a memento earned in an unconventional fashion. After the Stars were eliminated in the second round by St. Louis, Gurianov took home the puck from his first NHL goal, coupled with a picture from the day and framed in a keepsake.

Gurianov scored his first goal Nov. 10 against Nashville when a Ben Gleason shot deflected off his knee and into the net. It was the only goal Gurianov scored with the Stars this season despite his most productive season in the AHL that earned him action in 21 NHL games this season. While Gurianov's NHL results (one goal and three assists) haven't inspired confidence, his tools still make him one of the franchise's most intriguing assets.

Gurianov's speed is the best part of his game and is potentially the best among Stars players (let's propose a race between Gurianov, Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen during training camp) with explosive strides that allow him to rush through the neutral zone and take defensemen wide to the net. It's part of the reason why he scored 20 goals and dished 28 assists in 57 AHL games this season, and it's what he flashed during his time in the NHL.

Derek Laxdal, coach of AHL affiliate Texas, lauded Gurianov's play away from the puck during the season and complemented his backchecking ability. In the NHL, Gurianov split time in the top six (started 10 games on the top two lines) and the bottom six (11 games), but averaged just 10:52 of ice time per game. Stars coach Jim Montgomery said when Gurianov wasn't scoring goals in the NHL, his confidence and attention to other parts of his game waned.

Next year will present Gurianov with perhaps his best opportunity to secure a role in the NHL.

"Roope Hintz is a great example for him," Stars general manager Jim Nill said. "They played together and they've really been on the same path. Both have gone through the same struggles trying to make it to the NHL. They both have come up and grabbed it for a while and disappeared into games."

Nill said that Hintz figured it out, how to play in the NHL and win battles for the puck, developing into a bona fide second-line center for the Stars. Hintz was a revelation during the postseason, transforming himself from preseason fourth-line question mark to an essential part of Dallas' offense.

The Stars are hoping Gurianov, the No. 12 pick in 2015, can do the same.

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"We've watched them down in the minors, both of those guys have played the same way," Nill said. "They both bring speed to our team, they're both big bodies. We're excited about his development. It's a great example for Denis to see Roope. We brought him up here to watch all the playoff games. He watched these games and he watched Roope, and he said 'Oh boy, that's where I got to get to.' And it is. Just part of the process."

Gurianov turns 22 years old on June 7, still plenty young enough to make an impact and fill the potential expected from him as a first-round pick. But every player selected ahead of him in the 2015 draft has played at least 100 NHL games, though it may be unfair to compare Gurianov to players like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Timo Meier and Mikko Rantanen.

But Gurianov could be presented with a chance in the Stars' top six next season with Jason Spezza not expected to return to Dallas, and with Valeri Nichushkin and Mattias Janmark potentially slated for bottom-six roles. Gurianov's emergence in the top six would allow Montgomery to slip Jason Dickinson down further in the lineup, where his all-around game fits more than in a scoring role alongside players like Tyler Seguin or Mats Zuccarello.

Briefly: The Stars will open training camp Sept. 13 at the Comerica Center in Frisco, with a full schedule to be released later. This season, the Stars held training camp in Boise, where their ECHL affiliate is.

The Stars will also hold development camp for their prospects and 2019 draft picks from June 25-28 in Frisco.