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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars May Be Facing the Biggest Offseason of Their Lives

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

Could summer 2017 be the single most important offseason in Dallas Stars franchise history? As fans speculate feverishly over two (two!) drafts and two (two!) first-round picks, it certainly seems that way.

Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News spent much of his regular Monday chat on the Stars’ postseason moves, and he answered this particular question point-blank:

As for most important ever, it might be. They signed Pat Verbeek and Dave Reid as free agents and added Sergei Zubov in trade in the summer of 1996. But [coach Ken] Hitchcock had already been named coach the season before and they added [D]arryl Sydor and [Joe] Nieuwendyk in trades about the same time.

So, yes, when you consider the coach, the goalie and the potential for more moves, this could be the biggest ever.

He also offered his take on the assistant coaching positions:

I think they are very much focused on Rick Wilson running the defense and they will probably bring Curt Fraser back in a more limited role with the forwards. I believe they are still seeking a veteran forward coach who will take a big role, and that discussions in Buffalo and Florida have complicated the coach search for all teams.

Nothing is official yet on anything, but I think they are getting closer.

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

First things first: The NHL Entry Draft Watching Party is back, baby.

For reference, the league has posted the final first-round draft order here.

And Mark Stepneski looks at Portland Winterhawks center Cody Glass in his latest prospect profile.

Jason Spezza celebrated his birthday yesterday, and the social media team was ready.

The Dallas Morning News got in on the act, too.

Five Stars have made NHL.com’s top 250 fantasy rankings for 2017-18. Find out where Speznasty, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg and Ben Bishop landed. [NHL]

In Cedar Park: The Texas Stars have honored their founding president (and former Dallas Stars executive) Rick McLaughlin upon his retirement from sports by naming the H-E-B Center’s main entrance atrium in his honor.

And Victor E. Green has wonderful news from the Dallas Stars Foundation.

The Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad is representing the NHL in an ad for Nike’s BETRUE collection celebrating the LGBTQ community.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup victory parade is set for today. [NHL]

Meanwhile, there was this.

Also at TSN: Frank Seravalli includes former Stars Trevor Daley, Kris Russell and Patrick Eaves and current Star Patrick Sharp among his top 30 UFAs. [TSN]

Dales also makes Puck Daddy’s list of best and worst playoffs beards (Finals edition). [Puck Daddy]

By the way, he says the Pens’ defense “doesn’t get enough credit” for the team’s success. [Sportsnet]

Meanwhile, Matt Larkin says the Nashville Predators aren’t on the cusp of being serious contenders, because they already are.

P.K. Subban says the team learned a lot in its first-ever Stanley Cup Final.

As key expansion-draft deadlines approach, Bob McKenzie is here to keep you on track.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie Liddell is keeping up with which players have agreed (Marc-André Fleury) or refused (Dion Phaneuf) to waive their no-move clauses.

The hockey season ended last night as the Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings) won Game 6 against the Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning) to take the 2017 Calder Cup.

Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored a point per game during the playoffs, won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as postseason MVP.

From history: Brett Hull and Ed Belfour were key to the Stars’ Stanley Cup run, and now they’re the team’s latest Defining Moment.

Finally: On June 13, 1978, the league approved the merger of the Minnesota North Stars and the Cleveland Barons – and that’s a story all by itself. Enjoy. [Third String Goalie]

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