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Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 311: Built This Way, Part 2

It’s the eye test versus the IQ test as Wes and Mark continue their Stars chat with Stars Stack founder David Castillo.

Defending Big D's Stargazing podcast logo, featuring a Dallas Stars Victory Green cassette tape with tearaway jersey texture and nets over the sprocket holes, designed by Jason Lara
Logo design: Jason Lara | @NHLMaps

The Dallas Stars are winning again, more or less, which means it’s time for more unbridled optimism about the stretch run to come. Right? …Right?

Regression got the Victory Green Gang, at least for the period of their regularly scheduled post-holiday swoon, and Our Gang probably told you so. Wes and Mark may even now be chatting with David Castillo – owner and operator of Stars Stack and its audio companion, the Stars Stackcast – because they do run long when it comes to these deep dives.

In this edition, the stats exam goes into team momentum, the potential benefits of not planning around the Stars’ opponents but making opponents plan around them, the respect Jason Robertson deserves (and doesn’t get, even from some Dallas fans), the real takeaway from the worst Mighty Ducks movie, and ever so much more.

The NHL may be more Guerin-brained than ever, but you’ll have to prove it. With math. We’re Stargazing, and we can do this if we really, really have to.

Why not share your thoughts in the comments below? For that matter, why not make it your New Year’s resolution to give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts? Your feedback means the world to us.

Thanks for everything. We love you.

A fair number of Dallas Stars enjoyers have perceived that fan fave Thomas Harley has been doing more, but with less to show for it, since the 2025-26 NHL season began. Is this a problem with his defensive partners? The lingering effects of his injury in November, and the missed games that resulted? The predictable struggles of a still very young blueliner? Something more concerning? Or less? …If only there were some way of measuring it all. You know, with math and stuff. In this episode of Stargazing, Mark sat down for an incredibly specific Stars conversation with Puck Over The Glass founder (and friend of DBD) Aaron Knodell. With Aaron's recent article on Harley's output as a jumping-off point, they take a deep dive into the Stars' defense — the pairings, the performances, the effects of Glen Gulutzan's new system, and so much more. You don't play like an elite NHL defender for two years and just forget how, do you? We’re Stargazing, and we're beginning to think not. Are you looking for Team Canada Thomas Harley in Milano-Cortina? And while we're talking about it, who you got for the men's and women's Olympic hockey hardware? Let’s talk about it at Defending Big D. (And put your picks up now. You don't get to come in on February 23 and say you went 14-0 in the medal rounds.) And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
  1. Harley Kick
  2. Everything/Nothing
  3. Incremental
  4. Know Your Limits
  5. Built This Way, Part 2

Talking Points