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Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 322: Texas Stars Spring Update 2026

Stephen Meserve joins Wes and Mark to talk about how Big D’s roster-depleted AHL team became The Little Engine That Killed.

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts
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

With around 300 man-games lost to injury this season, the 2025-26 Dallas Stars have been fortunate to get quality reinforcement from their AHL squad. Which, predictably, left their AHL squad struggling as players fought to adapt to the depletion of their own team.

So it’s especially satisfying that the Texas Stars have not just survived, but thrived as they prepare for a postseason run of their own.

It’s always the right time to catch up with Cedar Park, and Wes and Mark called in a top player for the task. Stephen Meserve, founder of the go-to T-Stars news site 100 Degree Hockey and co-author of We Win Here: The Definitive Essays You Need About The Texas Stars, joined the cast for a long and substantial discussion. They discuss how the organization prepares players to succeed in the big league, how college free agents have bolstered a team with a sparse draft-pick cupboard, how goaltending kept the T-Stars going during the turbulent first months of the 2025-26 season, and so much more.

Are Justin and Dylan Hryckowian the Stars’ next great brother act? We’re Stargazing, and we’re asking you to put your money up.

Let’s talk more in the comments. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. It really makes our day.

And if you want to know more about Stephen’s recent work on the AHL’s evolving usage of Professional Tryout contracts, hop over to 100 Degree Hockey for a good read (and some really interesting interactive charts).

Welcome to Stargazing. We love you.

On Defense – Stargazing: A Dallas Stars Puckcast | Defending Big D

The Dallas Stars' struggles in filling out their defense have defined much of their recent past. But will it define them in 2026-27? In Stargazing's annual Positional Puckcast, Wes and Mark examine the blueline and find…a solid, functional unit. They discuss the ever-steady top pairing of Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, the advent of Nils Lundvist, what to expect from Thomas Harley, a future for Lian Bichsel, the Wall of Humanity Pairing Featuring Tyler Myers, who will win the seventh-defender spot, and ever so much more. Will Heiskanen ever get back on his strong side? Is that even a goal at this point? We're Stargazing, and we think Miro is better on his right-hand side than many actual right-handers. But 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. On Defense
  2. Goals (In Net)
  3. Catching Up
  4. Plan A and Plan B
  5. Golfing Season
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