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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Rating The Stars’ Greatest Impact Players

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The NHL Entry Draft is still a week away, so it seems like a good moment to reflect on the players who have made Dallas Stars history, and what made them so special. So as part of a summer series at The Athletic, Sean Shapiro, Bob Sturm and Saad Yousuf have chosen the 19 biggest impact players in Stars history – from Jamie Langenbrunner to Jamie Benn.

Bob takes on the task of summing up Mike Modano’s contribution not just to the organization, but to professional sports in Dallas:

Modano is the clear face of the entire franchise in a number of ways, from his willingness to be the ambassador for hockey in North Texas upon the franchise’s arrival to holding all manner of records in both the organization as well as for any and all American-born hockey players. He has more goals and more points than any player this country has ever produced and expanded his game when it was clear being an offense-only force was not enough to become a champion. A true superstar in every regard, his speed and skill brought the arena to its feet as he picked up the puck in his own end, only to gallop through center ice with his jersey blowing behind him. A spectacular player who was gifted enough to earn the popular vote of the female and male fanbases alike, he carried this franchise on his shoulders for two decades and is worthy of the following statement that might feel hyperbolic for anyone else: Hockey doesn’t exist in this city in any healthy form without Mike Modano’s contribution.

Meanwhile, Sean has come to praise another all-timer:

Sergei Zubov is both the most important and under-rated player in franchise history. While Mike Modano is unequivocally the face of the Stars, the championship era was born when Dallas traded Kevin Hatcher to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a lopsided one-for-one deal. Zubov played a dozen years for the Stars, and his 549 points remain a franchise record for a defenseman. He averaged 26 minutes, 14 seconds of ice time per game during his career with the Stars and during the 1999 championship run he averaged a gargantuan 30 minutes, 16 seconds per game in the playoffs — all while smoking like a chimney, sometimes even taking a smoke break during the intermission. It’s a farce that he’s not in the Hockey Hall of Fame and a true disservice that the Stars have yet to retire No. 56.

And Saad sings the praises of the team’s other greatest goalie:

Ed Belfour was fantastic, so it says something about Marty Turco that the Stars were willing to let the aging goaltender go because they had a young Turco waiting in the wings. The rewards were immediate, as Turco finished second in Vezina Trophy voting in 2002-2003 and provided stability in net for nearly a decade. He still stands as the franchise leader in games played by a goaltender (509), wins (262) and shutouts (40). He also remains active with the team. For the past year, Turco has served as president of the Dallas Stars Foundation.

There’s more behind the paywall. [The Athletic DFW]

Stars Stuff

Prospect Development Camp begins June 24 and will give you a good look at players like Jason Robertson, Ty Dellandrea, Albin Eriksson, Jake Oettinger and Emil Djuse.

The 2019 preseason schedule is out, and it starts with the St. Louis Blues on September 16.

Meanwhile, the Stars don’t get much respect in the odds-making department.

Around The League(s)

Jay Bouwmeester finally got a Stanley Cup. Which long-timer will be next to break through?

So how much is Jordan Binnington worth at this point? Discuss.

Here’s a little more on Scott Berry, that St. Louis Blues fan who’s $100,000 richer for betting on the biggest win of all when the team was in the basement in January.

And now that the season is over, Rory Boylen has one big question for every team. [Sportsnet]

Also at Sportsnet: Can Loui Eriksson do anything for the Edmonton Oilers that can’t be undone by mismanagement?

Finally

How about a “Happy Birthday” for Jason Spezza?

Talking Points