The Dallas Stars have 40 prospects listed in their system. Of those, no one is
 more ready for their shot at the NHL than the team's second-round selection
(49th overall) in the 2015 draft. Roope Hintz - pronounced ROH-pay - has
matured well, like a vintage ';89 cabernet sauvignon or a 10-year barrel-aged
whiskey. The young Finn may turn out to be the next young star in Dallas as
soon as next season.A Rising Finnish Star

To get the full scope of Hintz';s hockey career, we need to go back to the
2010-11 season. At the ripe age of 14, Hintz was playing for Ilves in his
hometown of Tampere, Finland, an organization he would play for up until the
2015-16 campaign. During the 2010-11 season, Hintz split time with the Ilves
U16 squad in the SM-Sarja and SM-Sarja Q league, both junior tiers of Liiga,
Finland';s highest level of professional hockey. In 23 games split between the
two leagues, Hintz potted 11 goals and 13 points, finishing sixth on the team
in the Q league with a healthy seven goals in 13 contests.Roope Hintz recorded
67 points (32 goals, 35 assists) in 126 games in Finland';s highest level of
pro hockey. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

At the start of the 2011-12 campaign, Hintz again split time between Sarja and
Sarja-Q, this time with more success. With the lower-level Sarja Q squad, the
Finnish forward tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in four games
before being promoted to Sarja where he notched seven goals and 14 helpers for
21 points in 12 games, good for the sixth on the roster.

By the end of the season, Hintz earned himself a call-up to the Ilves U18 team
at just 15 years of age. He again proved his worth, this time to the tune of
three goals and six helpers in 18 games. He also skated with Team Finland';s
U16 team and notched a very nice 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 13
contests, earning a plus-11 during that span.

Hintz got his first taste of North American hockey at the start of the 2012-13
season. The Finnish transfer skated for the Tampa Bay Juniors of the
now-defunct Empire Junior Hockey League (now the USPHL), a USA
Hockey-sanctioned tier three junior league. On the stats sheet, the EmJHL was
little competition for the 16-year-old Finn. Hintz finished with the team lead
in goals (20) and points (35) despite playing in only 20 games, at least a
dozen fewer than most of his teammates.

Hintz stayed in North America until December of 2012 while also appearing in
two games with the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League,
another USA Hockey-sanctioned league, this time tier two, one step above the
EmJHL. He then returned home to Ilves U18 club to finish the season where he
tallied four goals and nine helpers in nine games, still finishing in the top
half of the team despite playing only a quarter of the season.

The 2013-14 season is where Hintz really broke out. He again began the campaign
 with the Ilves U18 team but only needed one game, in which he recorded two
goals, to be promoted to the U20 team. Hintz';s 29-game stint with the club was
 successful, recording 38 points and finishing third on the team in goals (18),
 fifth in helpers (20) and fourth in total points. His success earned him his
first ever call-up to Liiga, playing for the top Ilves program, cracking the
roster as a 17-year-old on a team whose average age was 25.A Liiga Superstar

Now at the top of his game, the young Hintz began the 2014-15 campaign with
Ilves in Liiga and remained there for the season. The winger tallied 17 points
(five goals, 12 assists) in 42 games, finishing eighth in points as the
youngest player on the squad. He earned a spot on Finland's World Junior team
in 2015, notching two helpers in five games, good enough for third on the
Finnish roster, tied with fellow Stars prospect Julius Honka.

The #Stars select LW Roope Hintz with the 49th pick in the second round of the
#NHLDraft. #StarsDraft. pic.twitter.com/nyDcxcRw5Y

- Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 27, 2015

In the offseason, Hintz was selected by the Stars in the second round and
immediately returned to Finland for more development with a new team. The
newly-drafted left winger signed a two-year contract with HIFK of Liiga. The
change of scenery appeared to do some good, as the 19-year-old improved,
putting up 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in a back-injury shortened
season of 33 games.

For those keeping score, that';s three more points in nine fewer games than
when he was with Ilves the season before. Hintz helped HIFK finish with the
league';s best regular season record and then recorded six points (two goals,
four assists) in 18 playoff games to help the club advance to the championship
series before losing in six games.

Although he and his team fell in the Liiga championship, Hintz again suited up
for Team Finland in the U20 World Junior Championship, this time serving as an
assistant captain and helped his team capture the gold medal. Hintz notched
three goals and a helper in the seven-game run.

Now a more tenured member of HIFK, Hintz proved his worth throughout the
2016-17 season, by far his best to date. He churned out 30 points in 44 games,
leading the team in goals (19-tied) and finishing second in points. His plus-10
 was good ranked fourth on the team. During the playoffs, Hintz led the team in
 assists (11) and points (14).

His steady success in Finland's top league earned him an NHL contract, signing
his entry-level deal with the Dallas Stars on May 4, 2017.Related: Dallas
Stars Top 4 Prospects 2017Turning Pro in Texas

Just two seasons after being selected by the Stars, the 20-year-old Finn was
ready for North American hockey, joining the Texas Stars for the 2017-18
season. In his first campaign with the club, Hintz showed no signs of slowing
down, finishing fifth on the Texas Stars roster with 35 points (20 goals, 15
assists) in 70 games and ranked second in goals. Not bad, kid.

Hintz helped Texas to a first-place finish in the AHL';s Pacific Division,
earning a spot in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs. After dispatching Ontario and
Tucson in the first two rounds, the Stars drew Rockford in the Western
Conference Final and in Game 6, Hintz earned his star. With 8.5 seconds left in
 overtime, the rookie winger scored one of the biggest goals of his career to
propel Texas to the Calder Cup Final.

There's nothing like a series-clinching OT-winner. The @TexasStars are off to
the Calder Cup Final thanks to @RoopeHintz, who earns @TheAHL  Play of the
Week. pic.twitter.com/yGdDXgSXyh

- NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2018

And although a hard-fought seven-game series against the Toronto Marlies would
not favor the Stars, the effort was most certainly there. Hintz finished fifth
on the team in playoff points (12) and his eight assists during the playoff run
 earned him the "AHL Playoffs Most Assists by a Rookie" distinction.
All-in-all, not a bad first pro season for the young Finn.

The now-21-year-old prospect is very close to reaching the big club in Dallas.
He will likely see time in the NHL this season, if not all 82 (plus) games.
After all, Hintz might not have spent any time with the Texas Stars this
season. He was one of the last cuts out of training camp in 2017, earning high
praise from the NHL';s third-winningest coach, Ken Hitchcock.

"Hintz has stepped up here," Hitchcock said of the young Finn during training
camp. "His game has gone up another level. He';s now challenging, where you
weren';t sure before."

Hintz finished the 2017 preseason with one goal, two assists, and a plus-three
in six games. And despite not making the team, he earned a call-up in March.
Although he didn';t actually suit up for a game, being called up shows the
confidence the front office has in the Finnish winger. Expect to see him secure
 a spot in some capacity this season.

"Hintz has been dynamite. To me, he';s NHL ready."

-Texas Stars GM Scott White during Calder Cup Final run

When the puck drops on opening night, there';s a very good chance we';ll see
Hintz out there. Roope is ready to star in Dallas.

The post Roope Hintz Is Ready for the Dallas Stars appeared first on The Hockey
 Writers.

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