Dallas Stars bumping top center prospect back to AHL

The Stars returned top center prospect Mavrik Bourque to AHL Texas on Thursday, the team announced.

Bourque was recalled last Friday for injury insurance after center Radek Faksa and left winger Mason Marchment sustained undisclosed injuries in Dallas’ Game 2 loss to the Golden Knights. However, he’s been a scratch in the Stars’ three straight wins to take the series lead, with the more experienced Ty Dellandrea and veteran Craig Smith slotting into the lineup instead.

This year’s AHL MVP will still get playoff action, though. Texas’ Central Division semifinal series against Milwaukee begins Thursday night and Thursday’s transaction permits Bourque to suit up for Game 1 of that series. The 22-year-old had two goals and two assists in Texas’ two-game sweep of Manitoba in the first round last week.

Dallas selected Bourque with the 30th overall pick in 2020 and he’s since emerged as a top-two prospect in their system along with small-but-versatile forward Logan Stankoven. Stankoven is slightly ahead of Bourque in his development, graduating to full-time NHLer status late in the season, but the latter’s impeccable sophomore professional season shouldn’t be ignored.

His 77 points (26 goals, 51 assists) in 71 games with Texas led the league in scoring, just ahead of established veterans Adam Gaudette and Rocco Grimaldi. He earned his NHL debut on April 6 against the Blackhawks, recording a hit and two shots on goal in 10:56 of ice time.

While Thursday’s move could solely be to ensure Bourque won’t miss any playoff action with Texas, it also suggests at least one of Faksa and Marchment will be able to return for Friday’s Game 6. They’ve been game-time decisions in all of Games 3, 4 and 5 but haven’t played.

Bourque will make a strong push to crack Dallas’ opening night roster next season with one year left on his entry-level contract. For now, he carries a cap hit of $894,167 and will be eligible to sign an extension beginning July 1 to avoid reaching restricted free agency next summer.