Ondrej Vala looks to have a permanent spot in Cedar Park now with the departure of Emil Djuse via trade. Vala has been a consistent presence in Idaho, netting a plus-20 in 49 games with the Steelheads. He made it into nine games last year with Texas, earning an assist and a minus-2.
Among the starting six, Ben Gleason will be called upon nightly now to provide the offense that has now departed the lineup. Scott White said by phone yesterday that they need to players in the lineup to put the puck in the net and specifically mentioned Gleason as needing to step up in that regard.