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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Written In The Stars?

Is the Victory Green Gang a Team of Destiny? Mike Heika examines the case. Plus, a star is born (in the broadcast booth), breaking down the Staal-Johansson trade, and more.

The Dallas Stars are going to the Stanley Cup Final, and even the fans are still trying to figure out what to think of it. Between the hot sports takes and the ones that are just half-baked, you might think that the world turned upside down.

Savor the chaos, if that’s your jam, but it’s entirely possible that this is simply a moment for a team that’s uniquely ready for it. Mike Heika wonders aloud if the 2020 Stars really are That Team we’ve been waiting for in his latest post:

The Dallas Stars are not slow or small. In fact, they’re pretty darn talented by NHL standards. But they are not the favorites, and they are not the analytical darlings, and they’re not even a loveable underdog. They are simply a team that finds a way to win.

And maybe that is destiny.

Think about it, Heika suggests: In a year of almost unprecedented upheaval, in walks a team that’s lived and breathed upheaval almost every day since the 2019-20 season began. If it’s not their time, then whose?

I’ve said dozens of times on radio or the podcast that I hope the Stars realize what a great chance they have this season. [Anton] Khudobin can become a free agent in the summer, same with [Corey] Perry and Andrej Sekera and Mattias Janmark. [Rick] Bowness may or may not want to be the head coach going forward. Who knows what damage the NHL’s shut down has done to the team’s budget going forward and what limitations they might have?

So if you’re in that room, you had to have an idea that this weird year might be the one. And that’s kinda strange in itself.

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

Stars Stuff

From the pregame video messages to Anton Khudobin’s final battle cry, here’s that hype video you’ve been looking for.

File under Evidence of Over-training: The power-play teaming of John Klingberg and Denis Gurianov created a right-left combo that destroyed the Vegas Golden Knights’ scouting.

You already know Miro Heiskanen is special. The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks has put it into handy tweet form.

Around The League(s)

Have you read this article? Did you all of a sudden realize that Dobby hasn’t actually been any good?

Or, like CW33 producer Tim Roberts, did you come to the conclusion that the writer doesn’t actually know anything about hockey and tweet-storm about it?

Joel Kiviranta isn’t the only guy who’s found his light during the 2020 playoffs. Is Kevin Bieksa the Tony Romo of hockey?

Outside the bubble, actual trades are actually happening, and the Eric Staal - Marcus Johansson swap is a pretty big one. Matt Larkin brings the breakdown.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Coyotes have hired away the St. Louis Blues’ Bill Armstrong as their new front-office boss.

This is a subscribers-only story, but the tweet thread provides the high points. Junior hockey takes another shot across the bow of its practices, and now the bigs are involved.

If you don’t follow the teams, follow the chirps. Playoff hockey is full of great quotes, and Alexander Radulov has a featured cameo in this compilation.

Finally

You can’t win them all. Especially if you’ve already won four. Enjoy.

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