Just In: Edmonton Oilers to face super-charged Dallas Stars, as Stars coach inserts hot new attacker
Dallas Stars coach Peter DeBoer is reportedly looking to revitalize his team’s offense by integrating top prospect Mavrik Bourque into the lineup.
Pete DeBoer, the coach of the Dallas Stars, announced that Mavrik Bourque will replace Ty Dellandrea in the lineup for Game 6 tonight. This marks Bourque’s NHL playoff debut, as he is entering the lineup for the first time in the postseason.
Mavrik Bourque, the 22-year-old forward, had an impressive season in the American Hockey League, leading the league in scoring. He was drafted 30th overall in the 2020 draft, while the Edmonton Oilers selected Dylan Holloway 14th overall in the same draft.
Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer’s decision to insert Bourque into the lineup for Game 6 may be influenced by Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch’s recent move to play young defenseman Philip Broberg in Games 4 and 5. Broberg replaced Vincent Desharnais, who was struggling against the Dallas forecheck, and has done a solid job of retrieving dump-ins and moving the puck out of the Edmonton end.
Prospect evaluators Craig Button and Scott Wheeler have both highly ranked Bourque in their lists. Button placed Bourque 28th overall in his Top 50 prospects outside of the NHL, while Wheeler praised Bourque’s ability to maneuver in possession, manage the puck, and make quick skill plays. Wheeler also noted Bourque’s strong hands in traffic and his knack for improvisation.
