Sign in Subscribe
Front Page

Dallas Stars Daily Links: Expectations for Dallas

Fresh off of a nice free agency haul, what should we expect from the Stars this season? Plus, some Central Division RFA signings, potential breakout stars for 2019-20, and more.

After CEO Jim Lites’ infamous rant last December, many fans were left wondering if the Dallas Stars would have a hard time attracting free agents the following summer. But after landing Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry, and Andrej Sekera, it seems as if the fallout wasn’t as dire as feared:

The Stars had three things working in their favor: 1. They are perceived as a Stanley Cup contender. 2. They had cap space. 3. People like living in Dallas, especially during the winter. In the end, those three things that directly impact a free agent’s life matter more than Lites’ comments.

Going forward, the new additions might be enough to push the Stars up into the upper echelons of the NHL. But before you start dreaming of a Stanley Cup parade, remember the lessons of the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning — anything can happen:

With this roster (one that’s at the salary cap and with seven one-time All-Stars), they should make the playoffs, even in a competitive Central Division. After that, who knows what happens? The NHL playoffs can be so unpredictable. It’s why people love them, but it makes winning the Stanley Cup so hard.

You can read more from Matthew DeFranks’ recent Q&A here.

In a similar vein, here’s a nice segment from the NHL Network on the Stars’ expectations this season:

Around the League

I still can’t believe the Edmonton Oilers actually managed to trade Milan Lucic...

The world doesn’t revolve around Mitch Marner and Brayden Point — here are some other RFAs to keep an eye on:

Speaking of RFAs, the St. Louis Blues have extended Oskar Sundqvist for four years:

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets extended Neal Pionk to a new deal:

Finally, the New York Rangers need cap space, so will we see Chris Kreider on the move?

Read next