NHL Prospect Watch: Dallas Stars

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL’s criteria for rookie status.

To quote the late, great Prince: ‘Baby, I’m a (Dallas) Star’.

Jaxon Fuder

Six-foot-1, 176-pound forward Jaxon Fuder flipped a mid-season switch to the WHL into an NHL deal. After earning an invitation to Stars Development Camp last summer, the 20-year-old inked a three-year, entry-level contract with Dallas as an undrafted free agent in September of 2025. Fuder responded with 37 points (8G-29A) in 52 regular-season games with the Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Cold Lake, Alta. product has amassed 63 points (19G-44A) in 97 regular-season games over parts of two seasons in the Dub and is expected to make the jump to pro with the AHL’s Texas Stars in 2026-27.

Brandon Gorzynski

Mr. Score-zynski, come on down! The Scottsdale, Ariz. product got off to a roaring start with 13 goals and 29 points in 27 games to kick off his third season with the Calgary Hitmen. The Prince Albert Raiders traded for the 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward in December in anticipation of a long postseason run. Gorzynski tallied 40 points (14G-26A) in 38 games as a Raider, highlighted by a hat trick and two assists in his home debut in green and gold. He added nine points (5G-4A) in 12 playoff games to help Prince Albert claw its way to the 2026 WHL Championship Series, though a significant injury held him out of the lineup for the bulk of the Final. Gorzynski was drafted with the 126th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Niilopekka Muhonen

Offense has never been Niilopekka Muhonen’s calling card, but the 6-foot-5, 215-pound rearguard has found plenty of ways to contribute with the Medicine Hat Tigers. After capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2025, Muhonen logged 12 assists and a +27 rating in 39 games with the Tabbies in 2025-26, in addition to another two points (1G-1A) and a +8 rating in 14 playoff tilts. Since being selected with the 158th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Kuopio, Fin. product has picked up 29 points (4G-25) over two seasons in the Gas City, played in the Memorial Cup Final, and put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level contract with Dallas.

Cameron Schmidt

The wildly talented 2025 third-round pick (94th overall) topped the WHL goal-scoring race with a whopping 51 goals in 72 games with the Vancouver Giants and Seattle Thunderbirds. Schmidt hit the century mark for the first time in his major career to finish third in points among all WHL skaters, trailing only the Ruck twins in Medicine Hat. The 5-foot-8, 158-pound winger had one four-goal game in addition to a pair of natural hat tricks, helping him become a finalist for WHL Player of the Year. Schmidt owns 237 points (123G-114A) in 195 tilts over parts of four seasons in the WHL, and will return to the B.C. Division as a member of the Victoria Royals in 2026-27. The Prince George, B.C. product is currently in Ontario participating in the World Junior Summer Showcase with Team Canada.

Matthew Seminoff

After splitting last season between the AHL and ECHL, 23-year-old Matthew Seminoff iced a breakout campaign with 50 points (24G-26A) in 72 outings with the Texas Stars. He paced the AHL squad in goals while finishing second in points and third in assists. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound forward, who was born in Virginia and raised in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, spent his entire WHL career with the Kamloops Blazers, where he racked up 170 points (73G-97A) in 196 regular-season games, in addition to 28 (16G-12A) in 31 postseason contests. Seminoff joined the Stars organization as the 179th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the club in June of 2026.

Jakub Vanecek

Czech defender Jakub Vanecek found his footing in his first season in North America, potting 14 goals (including two game-winners) and 21 assists for 35 points in 59 games with the Tri-City Americans. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound skater led all Americans rookies in scoring and ranked sixth in points-per-game among all WHL first-year blueliners. Vanecek was part of Czechia’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, though he only appeared in pre-tournament games; he left his mark at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship with five points (3G-2A) in seven matches to claim bronze. Dallas snapped him up with the 59th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft, making him the Stars’ first selection in 2026.