NEW YORK -- The Stars coaching staff said in training camp that Julius Honka could get better by simply watching and practicing at the NHL level, and they still believe that can be true this season.
Honka, 22, has had an odd season. He was scratched for six of the first 12 games, sent to the minors for 10 games, recalled because of an injury to Marc Methot and played in four of the next nine games, including Monday against the Rangers.
It's been an uneven training ground for the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft, but Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said he has seen progress in Honka, who has been working a great deal with assistant coach Rick Wilson.