The Stars have dipped their toes into the undrafted free agent waters to add to their prospect pool as they announced the signing of forward Chase Wheatcroft to a three-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the contract will begin in the 2023-24 season.
The 20-year-old has had a breakout campaign in the WHL this season, to put it lightly. Over his first three seasons at the major junior level, Wheatcroft had 82 points in 137 games, numbers that weren’t bad but not really at the level to attract NHL attention which played a role in him getting passed over at the draft.
However, in 2022-23, following an offseason trade to Prince George, Wheatcroft has dominated to the tune of 47 goals and 57 assists in 65 games. His 104 points put him second in the league, only behind a certain player who’s projected to go first overall in June. Wheatcroft was named the WHL’s top player in February when he recorded 28 points in just a dozen games.
Dallas has drafted fewer than seven players (every team’s original allotment of selections) in three of the last four seasons which has resulted in a prospect pool that isn’t the deepest. Accordingly, Wheatcroft’s addition makes plenty of sense for Dallas who will now get to see if his breakout is a sign of things to come.
EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro was the first to report Wheatcroft had signed with Dallas.
I bet this is Gaglardi taking a shot on a guy who plays against the Blazers a lot. Stars drafted Blazers players Stankoven and Seminoff recently. Loewen and Ferguson a few years before that.