Dallas Stars Players Want to Be in Dallas for a Few Reasons

It’s not something every team in the NHL has the fortune to own. It’s not even that common in non-traditional hockey markets. But the Dallas Stars have found a way to create an environment players want to come to and stay in.

Years ago, the Dallas Stars were a team struggling to find a way to attract the right players for success.

But now, the Stars are serious contenders in conversations with some of the most coveted of players in the league. In the past offseason alone, Dallas was in talks to acquire players like Erik Karlsson and John Tavares. On top of that, both players expressed interest in Dallas.

Guys want to play in Big D. They want to win in Texas. And they want to stay for a few different reasons.

The Future is Bright

With training camp underway, nearly everyone has been buzzing about the skills of Miro Heiskanen. His skating ability is something almost unreal, and his spot on the team is nearly secured because of it (and his numerous other talents on the ice).

But he’s not alone. Dallas has been able to draft players with great abilities and truly cultivate a future that is anything but dull. Defensively, the Stars have found a way to get the most out of guys like John Klingberg, Stephen Johns and Esa Lindell, while still managing to incorporate young guns like Julius Honka into the mix.

More from Editorials

• Dallas Stars hockey is about to be the main attraction in Dallas this year
• Age Before Beauty: The impact of Benn’s new role on his Dallas legacy
• Dallas Stars hockey is the light at the end of the tunnel
• Dallas Stars coverage is lacking and it’s very concerning to be honest
• Sit back, relax and watch Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars draft scouts cook

The ability to combine the old with the new is paving the way for years of success and great hockey in Dallas, and it’s something any player would want to be a part of.

Winning on the Brain

Of course, the biggest news around the Stars of late has been re-signing forward Tyler Seguin. The center is the focal point of Dallas’ offensive core, alongside Jamie Benn, and his choice to stick around in Dallas for nine more seasons speaks volumes to what has been done here.

It’s not just that players feel at home in Texas, though. They want to win. They have found a home here with a support system in and around the team that makes Dallas the place they’re fighting for each and every day they hit the ice or train.

It’s been nearly two decades since the Stanley Cup was in Dallas and the banner was risen. Players like Seguin want to change that so the new generation of hockey fans in Texas can experience victory.

A Fresh Perspective

Last, but certainly not least, players like that the Dallas Stars are willing to make changes when necessary. It’s hard to retain great players during times of less-than-impressive seasons (looking at you 2016-17 and 2017-18). Those are typically the seasons players opt out of if they can. They don’t want to be on a team that’s “rebuilding.”

But Dallas has magically found a way to avoid that. Despite the numerous changes they’ve made from coaching staff to player personnel, the Stars are able to get and attract some high tier talent in the league. And if that doesn’t speak volumes to what’s happening in this “non-traditional” hockey market, what else does?