Sometimes conditioning assignments are so-so; sometimes it's very clear why a player is in the NHL. Nathan Bastian's brief assignment this past week proved he's NHL caliber in case anyone doubted him.
The Texas Stars got two game-winning goals, a shootout winner and an assist from the instantly-first-line Bastian during his four games here in Cedar Park. Now he's headed back to Dallas.
Val Nichushkin had a hat trick in one of his assignments. Stephen Johns scored a cathartic power play goal in his. The conditioning assignment is used less than once a year historically for Texas but, of all people, Nathan Bastian made a really solid case that it should be more common for players like him after Saturday night's game.