Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars Celebrate “Hockey Is For Everyone” On Feb. 16, 2018

It’s official: The Dallas Stars will hold their 2018 “Hockey Is For Everyone” night on Friday, Feb. 16. The game against the St. Louis Blues – one of the Stars’ most bitter Central Division rivals – promises to be a big one, and thus a great platform to celebrate diversity in the hockey family.

Tyler Seguin, who works with organizations ranging from the Southwest Wheelchair Athletic Association to After-School All-Stars, has been chosen as the team’s ambassador. He’s looking forward to the opportunity, writes The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Heika:

“First and foremost, it’s an honor to get the privilege to be the face of it,” Seguin said. “Since touching down in Dallas, I’ve tried to get the community into loving hockey, it’s been a passion for me. I think hockey is for everyone, so I’m excited to get the call.”

The Stars are going to try to celebrate several groups of people, so there will be a lot of moving parts. You Can Play is an NHL program dedicated to “ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity.” The Stars will tape their warm-up sticks with rainbow Pride tape to honor the LGBTQ community and will then auction off the sticks with proceeds benefiting the You Can Play Project.

The organization received some fan criticism last year when it stumbled over its HIFE promotion and scheduled its annual PEVS Protects Night on the same weekend. With the 2018 NHL Draft on the way to Dallas, despite national concern about Texas bathroom-bill politics, the team seems determined to make up for it:

The Stars are encouraging different groups to attend the game, make signs and make the night a celebration. While it’s difficult to squeeze all of the interests that fall into the “Hockey is For Everyone” category into one night, fans can take this opportunity to weave the arena into a giant Tapestry.

”I’m a big believer in that any way we can enhance the way other people live their lives, we should,” Hitchcock said. “We’re the lucky ones, we get to play a game for a living. Any time we can include people or help people along, I think that’s good for us.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [SportsDayDFW]

For your bookmarks: The NHL is keeping a Hockey Is For Everyone daily digest throughout the month of February. [NHL | Hockey Is For Everyone]

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Injury update: Ben Bishop will sit out tonight’s game after taking a puck to the face on the bench. Kari Lehtonen will start at home, and Antoine Roussel is a game-day decision.

It’s Retro Night in the AAC as the Stars meet their fractious cousins on the Minnesota Wild. Mark Stepneski has the official preview. [Stars Inside Edge]

It appears that Julius Honka will be rewarded for his +2 in Thursday’s win against the Arizona Coyotes:

Craig Ludwig is all in on the ’90s-night action: He’s doing a @DallasStars Twitter takeover after morning skate.

And longtime PA announcer Bill Oellermann will be back on the mic as the Stars’ in-arena voice.

It’s been a heck of a ride for John Klingberg – and that goes for just about any season. Scott Burnside retells the story, because it’s always a good read.

With Klinger’s Norris Trophy case gaining traction, it follows that fantasy-league analysts are noticing blueline partner Esa Lindell, too. Easy E gets some love in Pete Jensen’s latest Fantasy Mailbag.

And in case you missed last night’s All-Star Access show, here are some of the highlights from the Ghost of Gothenburg’s All-Star debut.

Around the League(s)

Eric Staal scored twice and the Minnesota Wild kept the Vegas Golden Knights pinned in their own zone to take a 5-2 victory in last night’s only Central Division action. [Hockey Wilderness]

That just means the #MDK will be everywhere tonight. Here are the non-Stars games on tap:

• Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche, 6 p.m. CT
• Blues at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m. CT
• Nashville Predators vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m. CT
• Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m. CT

Mike Fisher is returning to the NHL for one more run at the Stanley Cup. Steven Psihogios names five others who should consider doing the same, from Martin Brodeur to – wait for it! – Jaromir Jagr.

The Golden Knights set a new record for inaugural-season wins by an expansion team after defeating the fearsome Jets on Thursday. Now they’re coming to terms with the Stanley Cup buzz.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Ottawa Senators’ lost season continues as Bobby Ryan loses at least two games to his fourth hand injury of 2017-18.

The rich do get richer, but is there really a chance that Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman can swing a trade-deadline deal for the Sens’ captain, Erik Karlsson? Matt Larkin looks at this and other trade talk in his latest mailbag.

The Montreal Canadiens may finally have some hope on the horizon: No. 1 defenseman Shea Weber is out of his walking boot, although he’s still not scheduled to return.

Weber’s injury has had knock-on effects for frequent top-pair partner Jordie Benn, who has found himself “thrust into an ill-suited role” in Weber’s absence, writes Marc Dumont. [Montreal Gazette]

Sad news: Edmonton Oilers defender Adam Larsson has lost his father, SHL icon Robert Larsson, who died suddenly while visiting his son in Canada.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

With Big Ben taking a night off, the Texas Stars have sent goalie Landon Bow to Dallas.

The T-Stars joined the San Antonio Rampage for their Pink In the Rink event last night. Unfortunately, they blew a two-goal lead to take a 4-2 loss.

Finally

The @RoamingGnome is back, and Razor’s got him. Travelocity’s ceramic celebrity followed the Stars to Arizona, and you can find more photos on his Twitter feed. Enjoy.