FRISCO, Texas — Denis Gurianov has been a victim of circumstance since he was drafted by the Dallas Stars with the 12th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.



Four picks after he was selected, the New York Islanders took Matthew Barzal. Five picks later, the Winnipeg Jets selected Kyle Connor. Whether Gurianov was the right pick or not at No. 12, the early success of those two players quickly painted him deeper into a bust corner by comparison.



This past spring, he was part of a lengthy playoff run with the Texas Stars, who reached Game 7 of the Calder Cup Final. But Gurianov was scratched for six of the final eight games, souring any positives from what had been a productive season.



Instead of looking at Gurianov as the player who looked dynamic in the first two rounds of the playoffs, he was remembered as one who wasn’t good enough to beat out AHL-contracted players for a roster spot in the biggest games of the season.



“Watching...