Dallas Stars: Antoine Roussel’s Five Best Moments As A Star
By Josh Clark
July 1 was a time to set up new beginnings for the Dallas Stars. But it also served as a time to close certain chapters. With Antoine Roussel moving on to a new team, let’s take a look back at some of his best moments as a Star.
The Dallas Stars spent July 1 welcoming in a new free agency class. Players like Blake Comeau, Roman Polak, and Anton Khudobin signed contracts with Dallas and officially became parts of the newest group in Big D.
But while most of the focus was on who they brought aboard and the “questionable” moves that GM Jim Nill did and didn’t make, there was another important focal point on day one.
It had to do not with beginnings, but with endings. While the Stars were off making moves and bringing in new pieces, a few of their own pieces exited the stage and thus took on the title of “former Star.”
The Stars entered the offseason with six unrestricted free agents in their organization. Antoine Roussel, Curtis McKenzie, Greg Pateryn, Dan Hamhuis, Kari Lehtonen, and Mike McKenna were all in need of new contracts going into the 2018 summer.
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And on the first day, each player went in a different direction. Some players like McKenzie, McKenna, and Pateryn found new teams and contracts. Others like Lehtonen and Hamhuis are still free agents in search of a new opportunity.
The bottom line is that the Dallas Stars let all six of their UFAs walk without bringing any back. And while each ending hits Stars fans in a different way, the loss of Antoine Roussel might put off the biggest effect.
In the days leading up to the opening of the free agency market, the rumors began swirling that Roussel had agreed to a deal with the Vancouver Canucks. And on Sunday morning, those rumors were confirmed.
Roussel signed a four-year deal worth $12 million ($3 million AAV) with Vancouver, officially closing his chapter in Dallas and setting up the second chapter of his NHL career.
It comes with a bit of a harsh reality. On the one hand, Roussel had the worst season of his six-year NHL career in 2017-18. Though he’s known more as an enforcer and speedy winger that is always ready to get physical, he’s also typically worth 12-14 goals and 25-29 points each season, which is decent for a third-line winger. But in 2017-18, he put up a measly five goals and 17 points. That wasn’t a good enough performance to bring back the 28-year-old when there were younger prospects in the pipeline that could bring similar traits in addition scoring.
But on the other hand, it brings a gut check with it. After all, Roussel’s energy, endless hustle, and immense passion helped quickly turn him into a fan favorite. While he was hated around the league for his gritty style, Stars fans had a deep love for him. He began his NHL career with the Stars after no other team would take on the French-born forward and he was discovered by the Dallas scouting staff.
He made his NHL debut on Feb. 1, 2013 during the lockout-shortened season. Six years later, he’s skated in 413 games for Dallas, scoring 64 goals and tallying 141 points along with an unreal 804 penalty minutes. But that’s just the kind of player he is.
Roussel ended up being one of the longest-tenured Dallas Stars on the 2017-18 roster, as crazy as that may seem. He saw a lot of change throughout the organization in his six years and was one of the few cornerstones that wasn’t replaced throughout the years.
Roussel will forever leave his mark on the Dallas Stars franchise through his on-ice actions and antics as well as his off-ice generosity with the fans and community.
But before we officially close the chapter on Roussel’s impact in Dallas in his first NHL stop, let’s take a look back at some of his best moments.
Let’s head down memory lane.