The Dallas Stars added Samu Tuomaala on Oct. 30 and sent him to Cedar Park to inject speed, inside-lane pressure, and a right-flank shot into the Texas Stars. He debuted Nov. 2 at the Manitoba Moose, opened the scoring early in the second, and Texas grabbed its first win of the season in overtime.
Early Returns in Cedar Park
The debut goal matched the scouting file: straight-line pace to the left wall, a quick center feed, and a fast finish off traffic. Texas’ recap notes the play as a left-wing center that deflected in.
“Samu’s got some good vision, and some good offensive instincts,” “You can see the way his mind sees the offensive angles and opportunities.”
Source — ‘Lucky Number Seven: Texas Snaps Skid with Artem Shlaine’s OT Winner,’ – Texas Stars Head Coach Toby Petersen – 100 Degree Hockey – 11/02/2025
Texas then stacked a 3–0 road win on Nov. 3 and a 4–1 home win on Nov. 7, giving Tuomaala three straight positive game states to settle into routes and touches.
What the Tape Says
Tuomaala wins footraces and attacks the middle. He builds speed with quick crossovers, then leans on his inside edge to cut under a defender’s shoulder. On entries, he shows two repeatable looks: go wide then cut inside near the circles, or slow up at the dots and hit the middle lane.
Away from the puck, he sneaks in on the weak side and arrives early in the slot for one-touch finishes. On retrievals, he gets inside body position, bumps the puck before pressure fully arrives, and goes to open ice. Defensively, he tracks through the middle, lifts sticks, and kills exits instead of chasing to the boards. He is less effective when the play gets stuck along the sideboards; he is better attacking in stride than trying to run set plays from that spot.
Related: Stars Add Speed to AHL Lineup by Acquiring Samu Tuomaala From the Flyers
I attended the Nov. 7 game in Cedar Park. Live, he looked a step ahead. Every time he was on the ice, players were moving towards him, making sure he did not break away. That gravity is what stood out, not a one-for-one comp, but the way coverage leaned toward him reminded me of Mikko Rantanen’s pull on shifts.
Samu Tuomaala, Texas Stars (Photo credit: Texas Stars)
You could see it on regroups and exits: heads turned his way, and the weak side opened. When he moved it once and sprinted into space, he felt like a constant threat who forced the other bench to adjust mid-game.
How He Fits the Stars
Dallas needs more five-on-five chances. Tuomaala fits by carrying the puck in, moving it once to support, then getting it back in space for a shot. In Texas, keep him on his forehand in transition, pair him with a pass-first center who talks early, and use him as the easy outlet on regroups. On the power play, park him in the right circle as a catch-and-shoot option.
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If the shot lane is closed, he can skate downhill toward the net or slip a quick touch to the bumper (the middle player). Defensively, keep the simple rule: be the high forward when needed, stay above the puck on turnovers, and end shifts inside the dots.
What to Watch Going Forward
Entries with possession that lead to a shot or a slot touch on the same shift.
Retrieval wins that become a completed pass to the middle within two seconds.
Right-circle power-play touches that end in a primary shot or a bumper tip.
Shifts ending with him on the defensive side of the puck, especially after failed entries.
So Far, So Good
Dallas does not need Tuomaala to be a savior; they need the next honest shift. If he keeps turning clean exits into controlled entries, moves the puck early, and gives the second unit a right-circle shot, he will be someone who will add to the Dallas Stars in the future. They have a healthy prospect pool going forward, and with all the Finns in the pipeline, we may start to see the Finnish Mafia grow.
