Understanding why Stars top defensive prospect Lian Bichsel is returning to Sweden

On European assignment clauses and how it impacts Bichsel and the Stars

Photo courtesy of Texas Stars.

There was a bit of a buzz in the Dallas Stars twitter-sphere on Tuesday evening.

Lian Bichsel, the Stars top defensive prospect, is leaving the AHL-affiliated Texas Stars and returning to play in Sweden for Rögle BK.

Bichsel has been playing well for Texas, in 13 games he’s third on the team in time-on-ice, an average of 21:21 per game according to InStat. He’s winning his puck battles 65 percent of the time, again according to InStat, he’s averaging more than a minute per game on both the power play and the penalty kill.

The 19-year-old is playing and getting big opportunities in Texas, the Stars have been thrilled with his development in October and November.

So why is he returning to Sweden?

Bichsel’s entry-level contract for this season has a European assignment clause with a player option. As of Dec. 1, the player takes control of their own fate, and if they want to return to Europe they are free to do so.

This is Bichsel’s decision, not the Stars, and according to sources this was something the team new was always going to be a possibility.

It’s also important to remember where Bichsel is in his life. He’s 19-years-old and living in a foreign country, and if his NHL career goes as planned, this could be his last chance to play in a league closer to his native Switzerland.

It was a personal decision he wanted the right to make, by nature of getting the clause in his contract, and one he’s free to exercise.

It’s also not uncommon for the Stars.

Miro Heiskanen had a similar clause in his contract for the 2017-18 season. And while Heiskanen playing with HIFK that season in Finland was more of a mutual decision, it didn’t change his long-term trajectory.

Bichsel will also be a Stars prospect for a long time. His entry-level contract will slide this season, he’ll be under NHL deal with Dallas until at least 2025-26, and based off the schedule of the SHL and AHL, he could return to the Texas Stars for the playoffs.

Bichsel is also going to play a huge role with Rögle, so his ice time will be similar in Sweden. Rögle are also coached and managed by Canadian twin brothers Chris and Cam Abbot, who run a more North American-style team and have had success developing Red Wings top defender Moritz Seider.

While it’s not the Stars’ AHL affiliate, Bichsel is going to a team with history of creating individual NHL success.

Bichsel could also still play in the NHL next season, this decision doesn’t change that, and if anything Nils Lunkdvist’s recent struggles in the mind of Dallas coaches (more on that later) makes it even more possible.

So this isn’t a bad thing or even surprising to those in Bichsel’s circle. Bichsel always had this option, even if it wasn’t public, and the Stars were always going to let him use his contractual right if he so pleased.

He’ll likely play for Texas tonight, close out the week in the AHL and head back to Europe. Bichsel will still be the Stars top defensive prospect, and if anything, the organization’s willingness to allow the player to freely use the clause could win more favor in the long run.