Stargazing is a daily assortment of Dallas Stars news, as well as a look at what's happening around the Pacific division and the rest of the NHL. Stargazing will run on Mondays and Thursdays, becoming a daily feature once the preseason begins.

It was a very busy Wednesday for your Dallas Stars, acquiring goaltender Alex Auld from the Ottawa Senators and re-signing young defenseman Mark Fistric to a three year deal. We recap both moves with quotes and links to get you caught up, Razor weighs in, and Jonas Gustavsson news has one last gasp (we hope).

 Also, the Pacific gets stronger with a big name signed and other news and rumors from around the league.

Stars News and Notes:

The Stars traded a 6th round pick in the 2010 draft for the services of Alex Auld [SI.com]

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound goalie has played in 183 NHL games in his career with Vancouver, Florida, Phoenix, Boston and Ottawa. He has a 74-75-25 career mark with six shutouts, a .905 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average.

 Alex Auld shared his thoughts on being traded to the Stars:

``I know my role, and I'm confident I can help out,'' he said. ``I think it makes it a lot easier when I know who I'll be working with. I don't know Marty (Turco) well, but I know a lot about him, and I think we'll get along well.''

``These least two years, I think I learned a lot about being a backup, about supporting the top guy and pushing the top guy,'' he said. ``It's been a great learning experience, playing with all of these teams. You realize that it's your job to stop the puck, and that's all you can worry about. That's how you help the team the most.''

• Defending Big D yesterday: Stars get stability in goal with Auld 
• NHL.com reports
• Dallas Morning News: Dallas Stars trade for backup goalie
• Andrew's Stars Page called it yesterday morning

Defenseman Mark Fistric signed a three year deal with the Stars on Wednesday for $3 million:

"Mark made some great strides with his game last season, both here in Dallas as well as with the Manitoba Moose," said Nieuwendyk. "He is a big, physical presence with a great deal of potential, and he’ll be counted upon to solidify our blue line for the next three seasons."

Fistric had a poor start to the season and was sent to the AHL, where he got hurt just like the rest of the Stars. After a knee surgery he came back to the Stars in February and finished the season strong, spending much of the time playing along side Nicklas Grossman. If he can maintain that level of play, we expect him to be a more steady presence next season.

• Defending Big D looks at the Stars defensive group
• Dallas Morning News

Never one to miss a chance to opine, Razor gives you the following:

Some seem to be under the impression that the Swedish puck purger’s decision to sign in Toronto is Dallas management’s fault. How you can come to that conclusion is a bit foggy to me at best.
...
The Stars, initially led by Les Jackson, put their best presentation foot forward and impressed the big Swede enough to have it come down to them or Toronto – thirty teams down to two. So tell me, if you had a 50/50 chance of winning the lottery would you corner the market on rabbit feet and wait it out, or would you bow out and take a lesser "sure thing" prize? (If you picked the latter Howie Mandell may have a spot for you on Deal, and you will have to re-attach the twins after the show.)

The whole thing is quote worthy, but I'll let you click on over and check it out.

Meanwhile,  NY Times blogger Jeff Z. Klein has some rather hot sports opinions in his post entitled "Toronto vs. Dallas: For Gustavsson, Never a Hard Choice"

Such a reaction is nothing short of astonishing. Even if they were not aware of the admiring comments Gustavsson had made about Toronto and the Leafs in the weeks leading up to his decision, how much chance did Stars fans think there really was for a Swedish player of Gustavsson’s caliber to choose Dallas over Toronto?

And he goes on...[Begin personal rant] I know he is addressing the Dallas Morning News more directly than the fan base, but we weren't surprised at the decision. We all knew the cards were stacked in Toronto's favor. If I were him and I were looking at proximity to Sweden and hockey atmosphere, I'd have chosen Toronto as well. But this idea that it was absurd to even consider the possibility? I don't get that. Dallas is a class organization, with an extremely strong track record of division championships and playoff appearances over the course of the last decade. A track record Toronto can't match...Not to mention a very strong chance to be the #1 goaltender here next year. Unless the endless delays by Gustavsson were just a game he was playing, he was seriously considering his options. But we still expected him to go to Toronto, and wish him all the luck in the world. [/end rant]

Our friends at Pension Plan Puppets have some thoughts on their blog as well that are worth the read.

• The Stars will release their preseason schedule sometime today, with the regular season schedule to follow next week on the 15th.
  

Around the Pacific:

• L.A. Times: Ducks acquire veteran center Saku Koivu
• Yahoo on Koivu, TSN, OC Register says Duck offense is "enviable"
• Battle of California still on about Smyth
• Claude Lemieux won't be back with Sharks next year

Around the NHL:

• The Red Wings sign someone who basically came off our scrap heap? Doug Janik a Red Wing
• Did Jiri Hudler bolt to Russia?
  
• Pronger signs a 7 year extension with the Flyers [ESPN]
• Joe Sakic is expected to retire today