It was a rather unspectacular recall for Fredrik Karlstrom, who failed to get into a single game with the Dallas Stars since being brought up a week ago. Today, he’s been sent back to the Texas Stars, where he’ll have to wait for his next opportunity.
The 24-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season, playing in three games for the Stars during his first year in North America. The 2016 third-round pick signed an entry-level deal in 2020 that expired in the summer, but inked a new two-way contract to keep him in the organization. While he doesn’t have much offensive upside, there is a real consistency to Karlstrom’s defensive efforts, and he could work his way into an NHL lineup down the road.
It won’t be just yet, though, as the Stars won’t change what’s working. The club is in first place in the Central Division and has the best goal differential in the entire Western Conference. After defeating the St. Louis Blues last night, they now have a couple of days off before starting a five-game homestand. There’s no need to carry extra bodies at home, so unless a regular is injured, it’s unlikely that Karlstrom (or Matej Blumel, another recent call-up) gets into the mix.
Through 15 games with Texas, Karlstrom has four goals and five points.