Team sends veteran defenseman tough message with first healthy scratch since rookie season.

It was a shocking announcement when the Dallas Stars made the decision to make veteran defenseman Dan Hamhuis a healthy scratch for the very first time since his rookie season, a rookie season that was all the way back in 2003-2004 as a member of the Nashville Predators.

In a recent interview with Stars insider Mike Heika, head coach Lindy Ruff admitted that the intention was to send a strong message.

"I went and talked to him, and those aren't easy conversations. Understandably, you've got an upset player," Ruff said as per the Dallas Morning News. "But it's a strong message, and it's a message that needs to be carried -- it's not good enough. I know it's tough when you come from another team, but right now we've got to find less excuses and more reasons to win a game."

Admittedly it was a bitter pill for Hamhuis to swallow, and he admitted as much, highlighting that this was the first such scratch in 14 years.

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"It's tough. You never want to be there," Hamhuis said Tuesday morning as he prepared to re-enter the lineup in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. "The last time that happened to me was 14 years ago. It wasn't the easiest day."

The message appears to have been received, and with eight health defenseman it will force a battle on a night in and night out basis for those limited roster spots, now only time will tell if Hamhuis can maintain his spot on the Stars blue line.