Dallas Stars Snubbed By NHL For Chance At Outdoor Game
By Josh Clark
The NHL announced Saturday that there will be three outdoor games played in the 2015-2016 season, including the Winter Classic and two Stadium Series matchups. Here are the three that will take place:
Montreal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins – Gilette Stadium – January 1st, 2016
Chicago Blackhawks @ Minnesota Wild – TCF Bank Stadium – February 21st, 2016
Detroit Red Wings @ Colorado Avalanche – Coors Field – February 27th, 2016
As you may already see, none of these spots are filled by the Dallas Stars. That’s just not right.
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Puck Prose
After stringing together a successful 2013-2014 campaign at the mercy of a young roster with mediocre experience led by 24-year old captain Jamie Benn, the Dallas Stars qualified for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and gave the Anaheim Ducks, the Pacific Division champs, a run for their money. The series ended with the Ducks defeating the Stars in six games, but it proved that this team was a legitimate threat, especially in the years to come.
The Dallas Stars made an even bigger splash in the offseason prior to the 2014-2015 season starting by adding crafty veterans Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky to the mix. Though their season has not come close to how they expected it at the beginning of the year, they are still in the hunt for a second straight playoff appearance.
After the playoff run and offseason signings, the NHL started to murmur about the Stars and how hopeful and exciting their future looked. When talks started to arise about the 2015-2016 outdoor games, the Stars found their way into the mix. As the league was preparing to give the Minnesota Wild their own game, they felt that the Dallas Stars would be a perfect matchup, considering the history. The Stars organization was moved from Minnesota to Dallas in 1993, leaving the “Hockey State” with no hockey until the start of the 2000-2001 season. So, as you can tell, there was a bit of beef between the cities.
The Minnesota Wild have also become one of the Dallas Stars biggest rivals in the Central Division. Whenever the two teams meet up, you can certainly expect to see some fists thrown and some emotions rise to dangerous levels.
The Wild initially wanted to have the Blackhawks as their opponent, but the NHL sided with the Stars. Until just a few days ago, when Gary Bettman announced that the Wild would be granted their wish and take on the Hawks.
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Union and Blue
This is just so wrong on so many different levels. Since the origin of the Winter Classic in 2008 and not counting the Heritage Classics, there have been 11 games played outside between NHL teams, with one more coming later this season to make it 12. Among those 12 games, only 14 different NHL teams have participated. Here is the list:
Pittsburgh Penguins (3), Buffalo Sabres (1), Detroit Red Wings (2), Chicago Blackhawks (3), Philadelphia Flyers (2), Boston Bruins (1), Washington Capitals (2), New York Rangers (3), Toronto Maple Leafs (1), Anaheim Ducks (1), Los Angeles Kings (2), New Jersey Devils (1), New York Islanders (1), San Jose Sharks (1)
Is there any favoritism going around? It is true that the Blackhawks, Penguins, and Red Wings have enormous fan bases and markets that need circulation. But, is it that difficult to let some other teams have their fun and expand their fan bases in the process?
The Dallas Stars have talked over the last few seasons about getting a game in Dallas as part of a Stadium Series, taking place at either AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), the Cotton Bowl Stadium, or Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers). But talks or no talks, it looks like we may be waiting another few seasons while the NHL extracts and crushes the hopes and dreams of these poor 14 other NHL teams. Stars fans can at least dream, can’t we?
Do you think the Dallas Stars will ever get to host or play in an outdoor game? Vote below:
Leave your comments and questions below, and as always, thanks for reading! Go Stars.