Jan 21: Honka has cleared waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Sometimes, in cases like this, clearing actually increases the trade value of an asset since it can now be assigned directly to the minor leagues. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with Honka.
Jan 20: The Dallas Stars have placed Julius Honka on waivers today, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The move comes just as the Stars prepare for their first game of the season later this week and after the team started making their final cuts. The Stars have also sent Joseph Cecconi, Riley Damiani, Tye Felhaber, Ben Gleason, Adam Mascherin, Jerad Rosburg, Ryan Shea and Riley Tufte to the minor leagues.
The focus here will be placed on Honka though, given his status as a first-round pick that never panned out. The 25-year-old defenseman spent last season overseas playing in Finland but agreed to return to the Stars organization and signed a one-year, two-way deal in October. Selected 14th overall in 2014, he has played just 87 games in the NHL and none since January of 2019.
What likely frustrated Honka and led to his previous trade requests and departure to Finland, was that he hasn’t received much minor league play either. Instead, the young defenseman found himself in the press box on most nights, scratched for months at a time. His development has stagnated, though there still may be some upside left in the former Swift Current Broncos star.
For Honka, a claim would likely be the best thing for his career, given that even after this season ends he still won’t be an unrestricted free agent unless the Stars let him go. Getting out of Dallas may be the only chance he has to really play at the NHL level; if he clears tomorrow, he’ll likely head to the taxi squad or the AHL.
The Red Wings should be all over this.
For the love of everything I hope Yzerman nabs him.
Pens could use another RD project
Be careful what you wish for. Orange Julius could have used Miro Heiskanen as a model of how to learn the game, even though the talent level is nowhere near Miro’s.
This kid was a victim of Ken Hitchcock collateral damage, and Nill refusing to do what’s right and let him move on. He was doomed the day Hitch came in. Rookies had no value to Hitch, see Valeri Nichushkin. They were simply too mistake prone in his defense first system. Honka will do very well somewhere else, he simply needs a change of venue. A team with veteran elite goal scorers would do wonders for his confidence too. Whom ever gets him, will get a great talent, just a few years delayed in his development. There’s a reason he was a 1st rd pick.
Thats a pretty weak analysis, Seeing as Hitch hasnt been there or at the helm in years
I just don’t get why these organizations are willing to stagnate some kids career, whatever the reason honka hasn’t worked out in Dallas they gotta let the kid go somewhere and play, if he sucks then Dallas doesn’t lose but never giving him a chance is bush league, same thing with ho-sang, kids an idiot but let him move on and try to work it out elsewhere instead of qualifying him to sit him in a press box
Hitch was there his rookie season.
Someone will take the kid, DET seams like a good bet, CHI, LA, and maybe the Sens aswell. Im not sure of all there D situations but they all seem to be somewhere in the rebuilding phase
I am a die hard Stars fan and I have watched this kid plenty. He is not that good and I hope the Stars officially let him go. You guys are mistaken with your praise of him. Just because he went first round doesn’t mean he should have
This young man Honka like many kids before him and many yet to come along, have No Confidence in their games. Some organizations (NYR, DAL & others) have not provided the best situations for their prospects to develop. No NHLERS play to their capability without a high level of Confidence. Hitchcock was hated by many players in his tenure and he is famous for low regard for Rookies. He was in DAL when Honka was brought in. Track records are very well documented. Central Scouting did not make that big of a mistake with Honka…he was not a 7th rounder drafted in the 1st. I have seen him play and he has plenty of skill and talent! Some team should take a flyer on him!
shocker no one wants a clear bust