The Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings prospects split their two-match Rookie Games series in Frisco over the weekend. Saturday’s match was a 6-2 blowout in Detroit’s favor. Conversely, Sunday’s game was a seesaw affair. Ultimately, Dallas prevailed in a 6-5 final.
Clarkson Unversity product Ayrton Martino, a Dallas third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, scored two goals in the rematch including the game winner late in the third period. Martino turned pro last season after completing his senior collegiate season. He did not record a point in four AHL games with the Texas Stars but had a huge senior campaign for Clarkson (25 goals, 51 points in 39 games. He will play his rookie season in Cedar Park in 2025-26.
Rookie Camp invitee Jaxon Fuder got the Dallas prospects on the board first on Sunday. In the opening minute of the game, he converted a 2-on-1 rush for a quick lead. The Red Deer Rebels (WHL) forward is better known as an agitator and energy player but he had a nice finish on the game’s opening goal. Later, Fuder connected with Artem Shlaine for a 2-0 lead in the opening frame.
Detroit rallies, Stars answer
Detroit rallied for four consecutive tallies and took a 4-2 edge by 11:46 of the second period. The Red Wings took a two-goal edge into the third period. Subsequently, in the first minute of the third period, Angus MacDonell blasted home a power play one-timer to draw Dallas back within 4-3. The 20-year-old MacDonnell, a Stars sixth-round pick in 2023, enjoyed a solid draft-plus-two season in the Ontario Hockey League last season. He’ll aim for a spot with Texas in 2025-26.
The Red Wings reclaimed a two-goal lead a few minutes later on an Ondrej Becher goal. However, the Stars turned the tide and scored two unanswered goals to forge a 5-5 deadlock. Martino tallied in a scramble around the net. Later, Trey Taylor scored high to the blocker side to tie the game. Shlaine earned his second point of the game on the transition play that culminated in Taylor’s tying goal. Finally, Fuder scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 6-5 victory.
German goalie Arno Tiefensee, a 2023 fifth-round pick, dealt with adversity in Sunday’s games. He allowed five goals in going the distance. However, he hung tough and ultimately earn the win in net.
Stars GM Offers Robertson update
Stars general manager Jim Nill spoke with Sean Shapiro during Saturday’s Rookie Game in Frisco. Most notably, Nill provided an update (pay wall) on the contract negotiation status with high-scoring winger Jason Robertson. Per Cap Wages, Robertson is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent in the summer of 2026. He’s in line for a substantial raise over his current $7.75 million AAV contract.
Nill stated that he’s trying to sign Robertson to a proactive extension. An arbitration case next summer would walk the power forward directly to unrestricted free agent status. However, there is no sense of urgency or panic to get a deal done immediately. A new Robertson contract will entail preempting multiple UFA summers. Consequently, the price tag increases substantially.
The maximum term on contract extensions/ new contracts decreases under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement: seven years for a signing a team’s own players and six year for signing an outside free agent. Robertson turns 27 next summer.
