The Dallas Stars are starting their quest for the Stanley Cup with a first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights at the American Airlines Center on Monday night.
The Stars, who clinched the Western Conference regular-season title, will be the top seed and will be facing the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. Vegas, the defending Stanley Cup Champion, is the opponent as Dallas aims for its second Stanley Cup in franchise history, a goal they have been working towards since the offseason.
Forward Jason Robertson shared, "Since September, that's been the focus." The Dallas Expressquoted Robertson as saying, "Every time you get closer to the playoffs, you start to realize how important those words we said in September are, and we’re excited."
Here are the players and coaches aiming to secure the Cup for Dallas for the first time since 1999:
Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (#2)
Hakanpaa has been with Dallas for three years. Although he missed some games due to injury this season, he has consistently contributed when healthy and in the lineup. missed some games due to injury this season, he has remained a consistent contributor when healthy and in the lineup.
Defenseman Chris Tanev (#3)
The Stars traded Tanev was acquired at the trade deadline and has helped strengthen the defense pairings, teaming up with Esa Lindell on the second defense pair. He has participated in 41 career playoff games, which should benefit a team with multiple young defensemen in the lineup. teaming up with Esa Lindell on the second defense pair. He’s played in 41 career playoff games, which should help a team with multiple young defensemen in the lineup.
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen (#4)
Heiskanen is one of the most talented defensemen in the NHL and stands out in the Dallas blueline. He is the only Dallas defenseman with over 50 points this season, achieving them in 71 games. logging them in 71 games.
Defenseman Nils Lundkvist (#5)
Lundkvist has played for the Stars over the last two years and plays on the third defense pairing with veteran Ryan Suter. He has never appeared in a playoff game.
Center Ty Dellandrea (#10)
The Stars’ 2018 first-round draft pick has been in and out of the lineup all season due to overall increased depth. He had the best year of his early career last season but will likely continue to see matchups dictate his playing time.
Center Logan Stankoven (#11)
Stankoven was brought up from the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League in March and has brought an offensive spark to the third line. He was recently honored with a spot on the First AHL All-Star Team and had 14 points in 24 games with the NHL club.
Center Radek Faksa (#12)
The fourth-line center has been with Dallas his entire career and excels as a defensive-minded forward, often earning consideration for the Selke Trophy.
Forward Jamie Benn (#14)
The captain of the Stars is also the longest-serving member of the team. He has achieved numerous accolades and milestones in recent seasons but is still pursuing a Stanley Cup.
Center Craig Smith (#15)
Smith was one of the acquisitions in the offseason, contributing to the third and fourth lines.
Center Joe Pavelski (#16)
Pavelski is a veteran with significant playoff experience and accolades in his career. His only remaining goal is a Stanley Cup.
Center Sam Steel (#18)
Steel joined the team in the offseason and amassed 24 points as part of the fourth line.
Defenseman Ryan Suter (#20)
Suter, the most experienced defenseman on the team, has played 19 NHL seasons. Most of his career has been as a top-pair defenseman, but since joining Dallas, he has assumed more of a leadership role on the third pair.
Forward Jason Robertson (#21)
Robertson has the most points on the team with 80, and he has quickly become an offensive star. Although he struggled early in the playoffs last season, he will be looking for opportunities to quickly dispel that this time around.
Defenseman Esa Lindell (#23)
The nine-year veteran plays with Tanev on the second defense pair. He has always been known as an excellent defender and just finished one of his best offensive seasons in terms of point totals. put up one of his best offensive seasons in terms of point totals.
Center Roope Hintz (#24)
Hintz is one of Dallas’ catalysts on offense, scoring at least 30 goals in each of the last three seasons. As the first-line center between Robertson and Pavelski, he will continue to get plenty of opportunities throughout the postseason.
Forward Mason Marchment (#27)
Marchment had a career year with 53 points and only missed one game. His emergence has increased Dallas’s lineup’s depth and helped solidify the Stars as a contender. depth and helped solidify the Stars as a contender.
Goalie Jake Oettinger (#29)
Oettinger has been one of the top goalies in the league over the past few seasons despite a bit of a slow start this year. He is coming off one of his best performances of the year against the St. Louis Blues and will look to help carry the Stars through the playoffs.
Goalie Scott Wedgewood (#41)
Wedgewood has played well in relief of Oettinger, including a long stretch in December and January where the starter was injured.
Forward Wyatt Johnston (#53)
Johnston followed a sensational rookie campaign with an impressive sophomore season. Head coach Pete DeBoer mentioned the importance of Johnston avoiding the proverbial “sophomore slump,” and he aced the test with 65 points, a team-leading 32 goals. including a team-leading 32 goals.
Defenseman Thomas Harley (#55)
The 22-year-old completes the first defense pair next to Heiskanane and had 47 points in his first full NHL season.
Forward Evgenii Dadonov (#63)
Dadonov missed a chunk of the season with a lower-body fracture but is expected to be a crucial part of the Stars’ playoff run. Both he and DeBoer have said he plays better in the postseason. claimed he plays better in the postseason.
Center Tyler Seguin (#91)
Seguin is in his 11th season with the Stars and was one of six players on the team with at least 25 goals this season.
Center Matt Duchene (#95)
Duchene was the most significant off-season addition to the team. He is tied for third on the team with 65 points, has scored 25 goals, and, most importantly, brings a veteran leadership component that includes 32 playoff games. includes 32 playoff games.
Head Coach — Pete DeBoer
DeBoer is in his second season as head coach in Dallas after previous stops in Vegas, San Jose, New Jersey, and Florida. He took the Stars to the Western Conference Final in his first season — the fourth trip to the conference final of his career — and has been to the Stanley Cup Final twice but never won a title. coach Assistant Coach — Steve Spott
Spott is in his second season in Dallas and has spent much of his career on DeBoer’s staff in Vegas, San Jose, and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was also briefly the head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
Assistant Coach — Alain Nasreddine
Nasreddine used to play and has previously coached in the AHL and with the New Jersey Devils. He's also in his second season in Dallas.
Assistant Coach — Misha Donskov
Donskov started working with Dallas this season after spending time with the Vegas Golden Knights. He first served as the director of hockey operations before becoming a coach.
Goaltending Coach — Jeff Reese
Reese has been part of the Stars since 2015. He formerly coached for the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning and earned a Stanley Cup with Tampa in 2004.
Skills Coach — Stan Tugolukov
Tugolukov has been responsible for developing players and helping with post-injury conditioning for the Stars for the past 10 years.
Head Video Coach — Patrick Dolan
Dolan was promoted from assistant video coach before the season and had several previous stops throughout the AHL and USHL.
Assistant Video Coach — Chris Demczuk
Demczuk was the video coach for the Texas Stars last season and has had previous roles in the AHL and college hockey.
Skating Coach — Luke Chilcott
Chilcoot is in his second year in Dallas and focuses on skating techniques to improve player performance.
The Dallas Stars start their pursuit of the Stanley Cup and their first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night at the American Airlines Center. The Stars clinched the Western Conference regular-season title and will be the No.1 seed as they face the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. […]
