This player profile will get you pumped for the season to start

When a team parts ways with multiple veterans in one summer, it usually means big changes are coming.

For the Dallas Stars, the departures of Cody Ceci, Mathew Dumba, and Brendan Smith have left a gap on the blue line, and 21-year-old Lian Bichsel seems ready to fill it.

The 6-foot-7 Swiss defenseman made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 38 regular-season games and scoring four goals with five assists.

His physical game stood out immediately, as he led the Stars with 155 hits, an incredible 16.4 per 60 minutes.

Bichsel's playoff performance was equally eye-catching. In 18 postseason games, he added another 75 hits while defending against some of the league's best forwards.
«It taught me a lot about the pace, the pressure, and the little details you need to survive at this level,» he told NHL.com.

Bichsel's NHL journey began after three seasons in the Swedish Hockey League, followed by time in the AHL with the Texas Stars.

His development curve has been steep, but it's clear he belongs.

This year, he's expected to anchor the third pairing, potentially alongside Alexander Petrovic, Nils Lundkvist, or Ilya Lyubushkin. I think his ability to adapt to different partners will be one of his biggest tests.

As Daily Faceoff noted, his physical presence could become even more important as Dallas looks to add grit to its lineup.

I believe this season could be the one where Bichsel moves from promising rookie to established NHL regular.