The 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing and the Dallas Stars are playing the role of viewers. Instead of dwelling on the poor present, let’s take a look at some of the most exciting playoff games from the recent past.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are always an exciting time of year for hockey fans everywhere. Your favorite team doesn’t even have to be involved for the postseason to be a thrilling and energized part of the year. In some cases, it’s more convenient to not have to worry about your team being eliminated. But then again, it’s not.
Unfortunately for the Dallas Stars, they’re on the outside looking in for the second time in the past four years. Only this past season was not like any in recent memory.
The Stars finished the 2016-17 year with a lousy record of 34-37-11 with 79 points, making it the second worst season in franchise history. They could never seem to get it going. Injuries combined with a young defense, a failing goaltending duo, and a lack of special teams success contributed to their ultimate demise and 30 point drop-off from 2015-16.
This finish gave Dallas quite the grocery list to deal with this coming offseason. The first big point on that list was crossed off on Thursday morning when the Stars announced the hiring of Ken Hitchcock as their next head coach.
Dallas Stars
Other points that could be lingering on that list are a young goaltender capable of being a franchise starter, a top-two defenseman, and maybe a powerful right-winger that could match well with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin on the top line.
But all of those moves cannot realistically be made until the playoffs are over and everyone has ceased playing. That gives all 30 teams a chance to examine their rosters and begin making decisions and calls.
Until that time arrives, the Dallas Stars have some downtime to deal with. Considering the first round of the playoffs are just now getting underway, the Stars still have a little less than two months before a new champion is crowned.
So what are Stars fans supposed to do? Sit around and speculate on all of the moves that the Dallas Stars might make this offseason?
Well, yes. The only problem is that we have all been doing that for months now. It’s getting old and it’s gotten to the point where we’ve resorted to waiting instead of continuous guessing.
Instead of speculating, why not reminisce on some happy memories from the past?
In April 2014, the Dallas Stars broke a five-year playoff drought and punched their ticket to the 2014 postseason. Including that year, they have made two playoff appearances over the past four years. Within the span, they have played 19 total playoff games against three different opponents.
Here is a breakdown of the ten best Dallas Stars’ playoff games over the past four seasons. Enjoy the trip down memory lane.