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Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 317: Push Play

How much did the Winter Olympics change how the Stars will approach the NHL trade deadline? Wes and Mark talk it out.

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 brought quite a bit of hardware home from the 2026 Winter Olympics. They also brought a couple of concerning injuries and at least one troubling illness. And now that Tyler Seguin is officially out for the season, does the front office have to make a move before the March 6 NHL trade deadline?

Wes and Mark have been pondering this question for quite some time. In this edition of Stargazing, they talk about the Stars’ identity, the roles Cedar Park can’t fill, the possibility of the team flexing its physical side during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Jim Nill’s prospective legacy, the pressure to win it all, and ever so much more.*

Question for the group: Would you rather we bring in a guest expert to talk about potential moves before the deadline, or to discuss the fallout after GMJN has done (or not done) what he will? Let us know in the comments. Your input matters!

And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you.

*NOTE: All 4 Nations-Winter Olympics conflations (and others) intentionally left intact. (What? Now I have to sit in front of you and fix someone else’s gaffes? It’s not my responsibility.)

The Dallas Stars always knew they had a lot of work to get done in the 2026 NHL offseason. We fans always knew GM Jim Nill had a plan, and it surely involved re-signing both Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque. So do we panic now that Plan A is dusted? Or is a Jim Nill Plan B good enough to keep the Stars rolling? In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark discuss the battle to keep Robo (and who has a legitimate chance of taking him away), Jamie Benn's new deal, a show-me season for Thomas Harley, what the team needs from Mikko Rantanen, separating fact from fiction in the Stars' salary cap situation…and ever so much more. So is Joel Kiviranta the good-luck charm we all need to ensure everything will be OK? We're Stargazing, and we're not dismissing the prospect out of hand. Bonus question: Who are you watching among the Stars' new NHL Draft picks? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. 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. Plan A and Plan B
  2. Golfing Season
  3. Round 1, Game 4 Reactions
  4. Round 1, Game 3 Reactions
  5. Round 1, Game 2 Reactions

Talking Points