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

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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) /

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.

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.

4. A Weird First Playoff Goal

Antoine Roussel isn’t known for being a regular or high-caliber scorer. His strengths tend to lie solely in playing physical on the forecheck and using his speed to start offensive rushes. And when he does score the puck, it’s usually a “clean up job” in front of the net off of a rebound or deflection.

Goals seem to be even harder to come by in the postseason for most players. And yet, Roussel found a way to break through and score his first career postseason goal in his eighth playoff game. That was game two of the Stars’ first round series against the Minnesota Wild in 2016.

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But the goal wasn’t one of Roussel’s typical goals. On top of that, it wasn’t a clean snipe or backhand shot either. Instead, it just might be the weirdest goal you’ve ever seen scored by a Stars player in a playoff game.

After a scoreless first period, Dallas was once again on the attack and outplaying Minnesota in the second. Just a few minutes into the period, the dominant line of Roussel, Radek Faksa, and Ales Hemsky put together an offensive rush.

The puck ended up behind the net and near the boards, where a Minnesota defender came to retrieve it. But after Hemsky disrupted his attempt at a pass, the puck deflected back towards Roussel, who was standing behind the net at the time. And, well, you can watch the rest for yourself.

The goal was immediately waved off due to the net coming off of its moorings, but the officials decided to take a further look at it due to Roussel’s persistence.

The review took quite an extensive amount of time, but what a goal it turned out to be. The fact that the puck bounced off of Roussel’s skate so perfectly, bounced over the net, and landed on Devan Dubnyk‘s back so he could carry the puck in himself is just otherworldly.

And the fact that it happened to Antoine Roussel for his first playoff goal seems fitting. He’s a unique kind of player, so why not let him score the unique goal in a big game?

3. All Of His Scrums And Other Classic Antics

If you’re a Dallas Stars fan and know Antoine Roussel, you know that we could create a 20-page slideshow showcasing his top fights. But we don’t have the stamina or time to do that, so we thought it better to compile all of his kerfuffles into one slide and pair them up with his other on-ice shenanigans to create an ultimate moment.

There probably aren’t many 5-11, 195 lb. forwards that have fought Jarome Iginla, Shea Weber, Dion Phaneuf, and Brent Burns in their career. And yet, those are just a few of the names on Roussel’s list.

2. The Game That Forever Put A Target On His Back

In the 2017-18 season, the Dallas Stars swept the Chicago Blackhawks with a record of 4-0-0. At the time, it seemed unheard of. But after realizing just how far the Blackhawks had fallen when compared to previous years, it made sense.

But during the 2013-14 season, it was a different story. The Blackhawks had just won their second Stanley Cup in four years, were a consistent playoff contender, and were the favorites to win the newly-formed Central Division. They were, without a doubt, one of the powerhouses in the Western Conference.

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And then you had the Stars. After five straight seasons of missing the playoffs, Dallas had undergone massive changes and no one knew quite what to think of them by the time December rolled around. They were 12-9-4 going as they entered a Dec. 3 matchup with the Blackhawks.

Dallas was already 0-1-1 against Chicago on the season but had yet to play them away from the American Airlines Center. With that being said, things weren’t necessarily looking promising for the Stars to come out with two points.

But those Stars weren’t ones for embracing the odds. Dallas quickly pounced on Chicago, taking a commanding 3-0 lead within the first 25 minutes of the game. All seemed to be going well until Patrick Sharp scored on a power play to get the Blackhawks on the board. The Hawks responded with two more goals to close out the middle period at a 3-3 tie.

Considering the statuses of the two teams, all hope seemed to be lost for the Stars.

A few minutes into the third, however, that hope was restored. Roussel, who had already been in a fight with Shaw and was in the box when Sharp scored the Hawks’ opening goal, made a chip play to get around Niklas Hjalmarsson. As he braced for a breakaway, Hjlamarsson got his stick blade tied up in Roussel’s hands. Roussel couldn’t get the shot away, but a penalty shot was called in the process.

And then, it happened. If you’ve been a Stars fan for more than five years, you know that this could very well be Roussel’s defining moment in a Stars uniform. Yes, he put together an incredibly slick move on the penalty shot and scored on the backhand. But that wasn’t the part of the shot that stood out.

Immediately after scoring, Roussel took a victory lap along the side boards and taunted the Chicago crowd. Gesturing his hand towards his ear in an attempt to ask for more booing and throwing his hands up in the air to egg the Blackhawks faithful on were two of the included moves.

The Stars went on to win the game 4-3 even after being outshot 50-18, with Roussel’s goal holding as the game winner.

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It was an incredibly bold and dangerous move, and was one that put a target on Roussel’s back (especially when playing Chicago) in the years to come. But, as we found out, that’s just how Roussel liked it.

As you scan “Stars Twitter”, it’s highly likely that you will come across the picture posted above at least once or twice. That’s how famous it is. This was the night and the move that officially established Roussel’s status on the Dallas Stars.

DALLAS, TX – FEBRUARY 18: Antoine Roussel #21 of the Dallas Stars poses with the pucks from his first career hat-trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the American Airlines Center on February 18, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Roussel Notches His First Career Hat Trick

There are plenty of Roussel moments that are considered noteworthy and even career-defining. But there really isn’t a better choice for his number one moment with the Dallas Stars than when he scored his first and only NHL hat trick.

The day was Feb. 18, 2017. The Stars had lost seven of their first eight games in February, giving up 4+ goals on all but three occasions. A game at home against Tampa was all that stood between Dallas and a six-day break that would hopefully offer them a chance to regroup in order to finish the season strong.

The Lightning came into the game in just as unfamiliar of territory as the Stars. Both teams had finished the 2015-16 on strong notes and had come out with average performances in 2016-17. Dallas was worse off than Tampa, but neither team looked as great as they had a few months prior.

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The Stars had just wrapped up a three-game road trip through the Central Division and prepared for a five-game homestand. They also received some good news on the broadcasting front as Dave Strader was set to step back into the booth for the first time in the 2016-17 season. After spending the first few months of the season battling cholangiocarcinoma, Strader was medically cleared to call his first game since the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

And Antoine Roussel made sure to put on a show that he would never forget.

The Stars fell behind 2-0 early on and it seemed as though they were in for yet another drubbing. But Roussel was quick to cut the lead in half with a deflection on the doorstep. A few moments later, he scored after whacking in a pass from Tyler Seguin to tie the game at 2-2 going into first intermission.

The Bolts scored in the second period to regain the lead at 3-2, but Roussel wasn’t finished. The Frenchman scored one more goal on a quick release shot from the left circle to complete his first career hat trick. Dallas locked in and carried the game to overtime, where the team had played poorly all year. But Jamie Benn came to the rescue on a beautiful goal to claim the victory and the much-needed two points. Though Benn closed it out, the Stars would not have been able to pick up the win or create a storybook performance without the impressive work by Roussel.

So as the Dallas Stars say goodbye to the leading NHL scorer in terms of French-born players, don’t think about his disappointing 2017-18 season or his departure. Instead, think about the good times that he brought the Stars franchise and fan base over the past six seasons.

Next: A Poker Game For The Ages: Stars Swinging For Karlsson

Memories are made to last, and that’s just what we’ve got here. Merci, Rooster. Good luck in your next journey.

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