LOS ANGELES – While the Stars push to have more skill in their NHL game, they believe that task could be accomplished more easily in the future because they have given their prospects a head start.

An organizational change that led to drafting more skilled players and encouraging those players to develop that skill is paying off with some increased numbers among Stars prospects. On the Stars minor league team in Iowa, Janos Vas has seven points (two goals, five assists) in eight games, Marty Sertich has six points (four goals, two assists) and Chris Conner has six points (three goals, three assists).

In Major Junior Hockey, the Stars have forwards Jamie Benn (seven points in seven games with Kelowna) and Ondrej Roman (eight points in nine games with Spokane), as well as the player who continues to show the most offensive upside – defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy.

Vishnevskiy has six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 11 games with Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and is a plus-8.

"He's playing for a very good team, but he's also playing a major role in helping them be good," said Andy Moog, the Stars' player development coach. "He has a ton of talent, and for him to play with those kinds of expectations, it really helps him with his maturity."

The Stars have pushed for more skill in Iowa. Moog said the fact that Iowa typically is competing for a playoff spot is one of the things that helps the organization develop players who can handle pressure. And as for the junior kids, he's happy to see players ringing up bigger numbers.

"It's a great sign, and one that encourages us to keep up what we've been doing," said Stars GM Doug Armstrong. "What we have to do is remain patient and be happy with the results we're seeing. You can't rush maturity. You have to let it develop at its own pace."

Khomitski to leave Iowa: Vadim Khomitski, who the Stars thought might earn a spot on the NHL roster this season, has informed the Iowa Stars he is returning to Russia. Khomitski, 24, came over last season and played in nine games with Iowa before going back to Russia to be with his pregnant wife. This season, he was hoping he would be better suited to make the NHL, but he was leap-frogged by rookies Matt Niskanen and Niklas Grossman and was pushed down the Iowa depth chart.

Khomitski had one goal and was a minus-1 in seven games with Iowa.

"We brought him back because we wanted to see if he could make it here, but I think it was easier for him to go back to Russia," Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he didn't want to close any doors with Khomitski, but that he was not sure what this means to any future attempts at have the defenseman try to make the NHL.

Briefly: Stars captain Brenden Morrow played in his 500th career game Thursday. ... Goalie David McKee, who grew up in Irving, finished his tryout contract with the Iowa Stars and has been released. McKee was 0-2-0 with a 5.22 GAA and an .839 save percentage in his week with Iowa. ... Marty Turco is two games shy of Gilles Meloche for second place on the Stars' all-time goaltender games played list. Turco has 326 appearances.