How Derrick Pouliot could factor into Stars’ defensive lineup vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The Stars called up two Texas Stars players Saturday morning in an effort to add some depth ahead of their first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights starting Monday.

Defenseman Derrick Pouliot and goalie Matt Murray were the first two players from Cedar Park to join Dallas. The Stars are able to call up as many players as they wish, as there is no salary cap or roster limit in the NHL postseason. However, the Texas Stars are competing in the Calder Cup Playoffs, so there is an incentive to leave players like Mavrik Bourque down to give them a chance to play on a nightly basis.

Murray has played in just one game for the Stars this season, posting a shutout against Minnesota on Jan. 8. It would take some extenuating circumstances for him to see the ice this postseason, as Jake Oettinger is expected to play each game and Scott Wedgewood would fill in if he were injured.

Pouliot, on the other hand, could be an option the Stars turn to in the first round against Vegas. He appeared in five games for Dallas this season and averaged 12:08 of ice time.

The 30-year-old defenseman has 10 years of NHL experience but has spent most of the last few years in the AHL. DeBoer said that he will offer some insurance because Jani Hakanpää will likely not be available for Game 1.

“He’s our seventh D for Game 1,” DeBoer said. “We’ll look at [Hakanpää] going forward after that.”

There’s been speculation that Pouliot could earn some time in the lineup, especially as Dallas has limited Nils Lundkvist’s minutes. While the Stars plan to play Lundkvist in Game 1, that spot on the third defensive pairing will be one to watch throughout the first round.

“He can play at the NHL level,” DeBoer said of Pouliot. “He’s an NHL-sized body. He can move pucks. He’s got 200-plus games in the league, so he’s not going to be overwhelmed by the moment. He’s got good composure. I’ve got no problems sticking him in a game.”

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