Nov 2: While he waits for the season to start in North America, Honka will now return to play in Finland. The Stars have loaned Honka to the Lahti Pelicans, where he will spend the next few months preparing for NHL training camp.
Oct 30: After a season-long hiatus, defenseman Julius Honka is back with the Dallas Stars. The team has announced a new one-year, two-way contract for Honka, who they were unable to sign last off-season. CapFriendly reports that Honka will make the minimum $700K in the NHL and $90K in the AHL.
Honka, 24, returns to Dallas after spending the 2019-20 season with JYP of Finland’s Liiga, his hometown team. The Stars and Honka could not agree to terms on a new contract last off-season, but by extending the restricted free agent a qualifying offer, the club retained his exclusive negotiating rights. The two sides returned to talks this off-season in hopes of a reunion.
Unlike fellow Finn Jesse Puljujarvi of the Edmonton Oilers, who also spent this past season in the Liiga instead of with his NHL team, Honka did little to help boost his bargaining power with his play this year. The streaky, one-dimensional defenseman put up just modest numbers with JYP, recording 15 points in 46 games. This was good enough for only fourth among club defensemen in scoring. In fact, his younger brother, Carolina Hurricanes prospect Anttoni Honka, was JYP’s best offensive defenseman at just 20 year old.
It is still unclear whether Honka truly has the talent to stick at the NHL level. Although he was a first-round pick in 2014 and has put up big offensive totals in juniors and in the AHL, he has struggled to find consistency in Dallas. He again showed with JYP that playing against mature, physical opponents at top pro levels may be too much for an undersized and defensively deficient player. Dallas seems willing to gamble on his offensive ability with a low-risk one-year, two-way deal, but that doesn’t mean Honka will be handed a regular role with the club right away. He will have to earn that with his performance or he could find himself separated from the Stars once again.
Bust!
Jim Nill needs better Ray-Bans – the sun was in his eyes big-time on this one. Orange Julius doesn’t bring much to the table, there…
The Finnish Dash – as in minus.
I could fall out of bed,at 51,and score more points that he did.
What’s it like to peak at 22? Ask him. He’ll tell ya,as it’s fresh for him.
No question total bust. 4 guys at least above him on the depth chart.Might help Texas. Trade him for a thanksgiving turkey.
All good. On a two way contract, what’s the risk?
What hits me is Landon Bow and Honka will make the same $ if recalled and at the AHL level. Bow deserved better
Honka if you lika this deal
They have pelicans in Finland?
bust