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Dallas Stars: Antoine Roussel’s Five Best Moments As A Star

By Josh Clark

ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 27: Dallas Stars left wing Antoine Roussel (21) looks on during the Central Division game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on December 27, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 4-2. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 27: Dallas Stars left wing Antoine Roussel (21) looks on during the Central Division game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on December 27, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 4-2. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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5. First NHL Game, First NHL Goal

How is this for a blast from the past?

On February 1, 2013, Antoine Roussel did something that he had spent his entire life dreaming of. He played in an NHL game.

Roussel made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars in a game against the Arizona Coyotes. After going undrafted and playing with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) in 2011-12, Dallas signed him in the 2012 offseason. Seven months later, he donned a Dallas Stars jersey for the first time.

And that turned out to be quite a unique experience for the Frenchman.

With 10:07 to go in the first period, Roussel took the first big step in any NHL player’s career by scoring his first goal. While breaking out of the defensive zone, Roussel caught a pass from Ryan Garbutt near the blue line and took it in by himself. With defenders closing in, he tucked a neat backhand shot past the awaiting Mike Smith in net for the Coyotes.

That’s one way to make a solid first impression on the coaching staff. It’s even more impressive when you realize that Roussel only skated 7:18 throughout the entire game.

His energy and intensity were immediately recognized through his play, and that was enough for the Dallas Stars. He played in all but two of the Stars’ remaining games to finish the season with 39 under his belt, along with seven goals and 14 points.

For an undrafted rookie averaging 9:24 on the ice per game, those numbers were solid and gave Roussel a platform to jump off of when the 2013-14 season rolled around.

There really couldn’t have been a better way for a depth forward like Roussel to begin his NHL career. The Stars ended the night with a shootout win over Phoenix, and they had no. 60 (this was before he changed numbers) to thank for opening the scoring.

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