The Dallas Stars announced that they have signed defenseman Aram Minnetian to a three-year entry-level contract, set to begin in the 2026-27 season. Minnetian will first sign an ATO to play for the AHL’s Texas Stars for the rest of the season.
A fourth-round pick of the Stars at the 2023 draft, Minnetian has spent the last three years playing college hockey at Boston College. By signing this contract, he has concluded his collegiate career at the end of his junior year. The 21-year-old New Jersey native developed into an impactful two-way top-four defenseman in college, utilizing his above-average skating and range to provide value on both ends of the ice.
He was the Eagles’ No. 1 defenseman this season, playing a heavy workload including a team-leading amount of ice time on the penalty kill. He entered the season ranked as Dallas’ No. 3 prospect by the team at Elite Prospects, with the outlet projecting him as a future No. 4 or No. 5 defenseman in the NHL. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Minnetian as Dallas’ No. 6 prospect, calling him a “decisive, confident, consistent player in all areas.”
Minnetian will join an AHL stars team that looks to be a safe bet to reach the league’s postseason. Signing there will allow him to get his feet wet in pro hockey in a lower-stakes environment than the NHL, while still allowing him to play in important games for a team looking to chase down a Calder Cup.