Many Thoughts: Stars Go All-In at Deadline
When the DFW Sports Scene needed a hero, Stars decide it is time to seize the day
Opportunity knocks. For the Stars, they have flirted with good times and hockey glory many times since their cup win in 1999. Heck, the year after, they seemed ready to go back-to-back, but Jason Arnott and friends did not allow it.
Eight times since that glorious year, the Dallas Stars racked up 100-point seasons and eight times they have fallen eventually in the playoffs. This year, they will get there again, we believe as they need just 16 points in the next 20 games. But, that only assists them in preparing a path. A path that requires 16 post-season wins to lift the Stanley Cup. 16 or bust. They won 14 playoff games in 2000 and again in 2020. They won 10 playoff games in a spring in 2008, 2023 and 2024, but that only gets you to the Conference Finals.
Make no mistake, winning 10 playoff games in one spring is a rare feat. The Stars have done it in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024. Only two teams have more playoff wins in the last 24 months than Dallas’ 20 (Florida 29, Edmonton 21). Only one team has played more playoff games than Dallas’ 38 (Florida 45). But, Dallas has fallen six wins short each spring.
That is a huge part of their motivation from yesterday when they traded for Mikko Rantanen and locked down Wyatt Johnston through 2030. They did about $140 million in business and traded away a lot of assets that might have contributed to their future success.
But, it is not the only part. I think there are quite a few reasons that motivated the Stars to be big time buyers at the deadline. They were more aggressive than we have ever seen. They risked things to win the thing. They are trying to kick the door down and help us all heal. I love it. And it was enough to get me writing this Saturday Morning – the day that Mikko joins the boys for a huge tilt in Edmonton tonight – about the day the Stars tried to pull you in for this spring journey.
Here are my many thoughts: