Happy 4th of July, Dallas Stars fans. Amidst all of your patriotic celebrations and festivities, make sure to not forget why this day is so special to the Dallas Stars community.
It’s a lovely day to light some fireworks and celebrate freedom.
That being said, we here at Blackout Dallas would like to wish each and every one of you Dallas Stars fans a Happy Fourth of July. We hope that the holiday finds you well and that you get to spend the day exactly as you’d like to. Whether that means swimming in the pool or lake, grilling out, driving around with the top down, or just hanging out with family, we hope it’s an excellent day for you.
And we also hope that you do not forget what this day means. On this day 241 years ago, a couple of rebellious citizens in this place called America had decided that they had had enough and officially declared their independence from the tyrannical Great Britain.
Since then, that independence and freedom has been tested plenty of times, and is still challenged today. That being said, make sure to take a moment today and reflect not only on all that this great nation has gone through to get where it is today, but also the people who give everything they have to protect it each day.
Dallas Stars
We will be taking the day off to celebrate with our own families and loved ones and will be back with more offseason content tomorrow morning. But we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to remind you of why this day is so significant to the Stars.
For Dallas Stars fans, we also thought it would be fun to point out that this Fourth of July is the official marker of a special anniversary for the Stars organization. On this day four years ago, newly appointed general manager Jim Nill pulled off what could be considered one of the most advantageous trades in Stars’ history: trading for Tyler Seguin.
It was four years ago that Nill sent Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser, and Joe Morrow to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, and Ryan Button. Things would never be the same for either franchise.
Fast forward to four years later, and Seguin is without a doubt a top-10 forward in the league, can put up 70+ points a season when healthy, and is a cornerstone piece of the Stars franchise.
And for the Bruins? Well, just a few days ago it became official that they had nothing to show for the trade. Over the last four years, each of the four pieces dealt to Boston have slowly dispersed off to different corners of the NHL.
Blackhawk Up
Fraser was claimed by Edmonton off of waivers a few months after the deal, Smith was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jimmy Hayes (who the Bruins bought out last week), Eriksson went to Vancouver as a free agent in last year’s offseason, and Morrow did not receive a qualifying offer from Boston this offseason.
And what do they have to show for it? Two playoff appearances in the last four seasons since the deal, same as Dallas. So neither team has gotten much further than the other, but one team still has a pretty valuable piece on their roster.
This valuable piece has put up more than a point per game (306 points) in 305 games with the Stars, plays on the top line and top power play unit, has a cannon of a shot, can pick a corner like nobody’s business, and has some insane speed on skates. He’s a versatile player that any team would be lucky to have, including Dallas.
And that’s what makes this trade and day so special. Four years ago, a brand new GM in the hockey world pulled off one of the biggest steals of the past decade. This move has not only greatly aided the Stars in the past four years, but will hopefully continue to do so for the next decade. After all, he’s only 25.
Next: Stars Bring In Radulov, Solidify Offensive Group
So on this Independence Day, don’t forget to be thankful for your freedom and all of those who have protected it over the past two and a half centuries. But also don’t forget just how lucky the Dallas Stars are to have gotten a player such as Tyler Seguin. It just makes the Fourth that much sweeter.