9 Feb
They say that patience is a virtue, but does it count in the NHL and in a sport where speed and power count for a lot?
In the case of the Dallas Stars, the perception of them being the most patient team in the NHL League has changed, much to surprise of fans and experts alike. And this is because they have recently called up Tomas Vincour, the 20-year forward who has been struggling in the minor league for some time now.
The reason for this surprise is because the Dallas Stars have been known to be the most patient team in the NHL when it comes to players who they consider to be prospects. Since the average time it takes for a player to make their debut in the NHL is about 3.3 years after being drafted, Tomas Vincour has made it in record time, it seems, as he is due to make his debut in roughly about 1.5 years.
Interestingly, the league average for prospects to make their debut is about 2.6 years, and which only gets one think as to whether the second-year manager Joe Nieuwendyk is playing by completely rules.
And since the connection between how patient a team is in developing these prospects and how often they make the playoffs is pretty good, there’s no doubt that patience is indeed a virtue in this case. Yet in regards to Tomas Vincour, statistics reveal that most Stars draftees are able to contribute early.