Looking back at Mavrik Bourque's four-goal night

And asking some questions.

For a second, it seemed like Mavrik Bourque might have slowed down. What else would you call zero points in three games? If you’ve been reading this place, then you know that was a bunch of BS. That’s what makes a night like Tuesday evening, in which Bourque scored all the goals to beat Grand Rapids in overtime 4-3, all the more impressive. He never slowed down. A night like this may not have been inevitable, but this is a player with 10 multi-point games. In six games, he scored three or more. Inevitable? Maybe, actually.

We’ll go through the goals in a second. For now let’s talk about The Question. It’s an annoying question, and admittedly counterproductive: there are cap rules, and relationships that have to be navigated before a GM ever decides to roll the dice with an “unproven” prospect. But you’re thinking it and so am I: is Mavrik Bourque one of Dallas’ best 12 forwards?

Again, we all get it: cap, veterans, question marks, bla bla bla. This is not a campaign to #FreeMavrik, nor a criticism of Stars management. For once we’ll all in agreement about the drafting and development of a Stars prospect — although it probably helps that casual fans usually don’t give a shit about the draft passed Potential Prospect #12. This is really a philosophical question about the inner dialogue of Dallas’ management: would we be a better team with Bourque on the roster, right now?

This is not like the 2020 run when Jason Robertson was an option as a black ace. Sure, you never know, but we also know how he would have been utilized; which is to say, skeptically. Robertson was a genuine x-factor. Bourque is playing in a pro league and dominating. It’s the thing that always stands out to me about Julius Honka; say whatever you want about him, but Dallas’ first mistake was letting him play that third season in the AHL. The thing about development is that pressure needs to be part of it. Players have to be challenged or else mistakes can linger.

None of this is to say that something bad will happen if Bourque has to play the remainder of the season. Rather, if you’re in Win Now mode, why wouldn’t you ask yourself — not in front of the cameras, or even in front of the war room — if a player without NHL experience might genuinely increase your odds of winning NHL games?

He certainly did his part last night.