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Dallas Stars Daily Links: A Big Turnaround, A Bright Future

Mike Heika contemplates an overnight success seven years in the making. Plus, Conference Finals updates, news of the Worlds, and more.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how far the Dallas Stars have come over the past decade. From bankruptcy and reorganization to a sold-out 2020 Winter Classic, the team’s fortunes have turned dramatically – and they haven’t done it by themselves.

Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika talks to team executives about how far the Stars have come, and where they want to go next:

The past few months have been a chance to reflect the successes, but team president Brad Alberts said he believes the foundation for these victories has been building every season. The team had to work hard to convince the NHL that Dallas would be a good place to hold the 2018 Entry Draft, and then once that was accomplished, it could go to work selling the concept of an outdoor game at Cotton Bowl Stadium.

”We have a very prepared group and a very organized group. This work has been going on for five or six years, and it’s been happening behind the scenes,” said Alberts. “Now, the Winter Classic has brought some attention and the playoffs have brought some attention, and everybody in New York knows that the Stars are very buttoned up and very prepared to do what needs to be done. It’s what we do.”

With all the hoopla over the marquee events, the Stars also took charge of improving the week-in, week-out gameday experience during times when it was hard to find something to cheer for:

“I told Matt [Bowman, head of sales and marketing], ‘You will not get credit for the genius of what you and your group have done,’ but what they were able to do manifests itself in what we are experiencing now,” Alberts said. “You have to have that foundation, and that’s not easy to build. That takes a lot of hard work, and they put that hard work in.

”The crowds are great now, the crowd at the Winter Classic is going to be great, but the genius of that group was making the crowds in the regular season great and keeping the energy going when it wasn’t always there for us.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

How can the Stars improve over the summer? The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks has some questions.

Mark your calendars – neutral-site hockey is back on the schedule as the Stars plan for a showdown in Tulsa with the Florida Panthers.

Sean Shapiro went looking through his collection of Miro Heiskanen baby things.

Around The League(s): Conference Finals Edition

Despite two goals in two minutes from Logan Couture, the St. Louis Blues evened up the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

How many more chances will the Boston Bruins have to win a Stanley Cup with its current roster, or a version of it? Ryan Kennedy examines the case.

Is the Carolina Hurricanes’ Cinderella season losing its magic? Tim Wharnsby wants to see how the Canes respond as they begin the home series.

In Anaheim Ducks news, Ryan Kesler will probably miss next season after hip-resurfacing surgery.

Reinforcements are arriving for Team USA at the IIHF World Championships. Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski is on the way.

And 2019 super-prospect Jack Hughes is finally old enough to get drafted.

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