Table of Contents

Dallas Stars

WHA Foundations and Expansion

The franchise was originally established in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars, one of the “Original Six” expansion teams added during the NHL's first major growth spurt 1)

The Cleveland Barons Merger

In a unique 1978 move, the struggling North Stars merged with the Cleveland Barons, absorbing their roster in the only merger of two NHL teams in the modern era 2)

The 1993 Relocation

After 26 seasons in Minnesota, the franchise moved to Texas in 1993, dropping “North” from their name to become the Dallas Stars 3)

The "No Goal" Championship

The Stars won their first Stanley Cup in 1999 on a controversial triple-overtime goal by Brett Hull, whose foot was famously in the crease during the play 4)

Derian Hatcher’s Historic Captaincy

In 1999, Derian Hatcher became the first American-born captain in the history of the NHL to lead his team to a Stanley Cup victory 5)

Mike Modano’s Points Record

Mike Modano is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, finishing his legendary career with 1,359 points and 557 goals 6)

Jason Robertson’s 100-Point Milestone

In 2023, Jason Robertson became the first player in the franchise's Dallas history to record a 100-point season, reaching 109 points 7)

Jamie Benn’s Art Ross Victory

In 2015, Jamie Benn won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, clinching the title with a primary assist in the final seconds of the season 8)

Marty Turco’s Shutout Record

Marty Turco holds the franchise record for most career shutouts by a goaltender, having blanked opponents 40 times during his Dallas tenure 9)

Tyler Seguin Blockbuster Trade

In 2013, the Stars acquired Tyler Seguin from the Boston Bruins in a massive seven-player deal that redefined the team’s offensive core 10)

2020 Winter Classic Attendance

The Stars hosted the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl, drawing 85,630 fans for the second-largest attendance in NHL history 11)

Reunion Arena Era

The Stars played their home games at Reunion Arena from 1993 until 2001, a venue known for its deafening acoustics and early championship success 12)

Victory Green Rebrand

In 2013, the franchise introduced “Victory Green” as their primary color, replacing the darker forest green used since the relocation 13)

Jere Lehtinen’s Selke Dominance

Jere Lehtinen is the only player in Stars history to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy, earning the award three times as the league's top defensive forward 14)

Sergei Zubov’s Number 56

The Stars retired Sergei Zubov’s number 56 in 2022 to honor the defenseman who led the team in scoring during their 1999 championship run 15)

American Airlines Center Construction

Since its opening in 2001, the American Airlines Center has served as the Stars' home, featuring a unique “brick-and-arch” architectural style 16)

Wyatt Johnston’s Playoff Record

Wyatt Johnston holds the record for being the youngest player in NHL history to score the series-clinching goal in two different series in one postseason 17)

Tom Gaglardi’s Ownership

Canadian businessman Tom Gaglardi purchased the Stars in 2011, providing financial stability that led to three conference final appearances 18)

2007 All-Star Game Host

Dallas hosted the 55th NHL All-Star Game in 2007, the first and only time the city has held the league’s mid-season showcase 19)

Victor E. Green’s Origin

The team’s mascot, Victor E. Green, is a fuzzy green alien whose name is a pun on the team's official color, Victory Green 20)

Neal Broten’s First Dallas Goal

Neal Broten scored the very first goal for the Dallas Stars after their relocation on October 5, 1993, in a win over the Red Wings 21)

1998 Presidents’ Trophy

The Stars finished with the NHL's best record in the 1997-98 season, winning their first of two consecutive Presidents' Trophies 22)

2020 Stanley Cup Final

During the COVID-19 “bubble” playoffs in Edmonton, the Stars reached their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years before falling to Tampa Bay 23)

Jim Nill’s GM Honors

General Manager Jim Nill made history by winning the NHL General Manager of the Year Award in consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024) 24)

Pantera’s Fight Song

The heavy metal band Pantera, based in Arlington, wrote the team's official fight song, “Puck Off,” which has been played at games since 1999 25)

2026 Season Scoring Race

As of February 2026, the Stars feature a high-powered offense with three players on pace for over 70 points this season 26)

Joe Nieuwendyk’s 1999 MVP

Joe Nieuwendyk won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player in 1999, scoring six game-winning goals in that run 27)

Ed Belfour’s Mask Design

Ed Belfour, the goaltender for the 1999 Cup win, was famous for his “Eagle” mask design, which he maintained throughout his tenure in Dallas 28)

Ken Hitchcock’s Coaching Wins

Ken Hitchcock remains the winningest coach in franchise history with 277 total victories across two different stints behind the bench 29)

Brenden Morrow Hall of Fame

Longtime captain Brenden Morrow was inducted into the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame in 2024 to honor his 13 seasons of physical leadership 30)

2014 Texas Stars Calder Cup

The Stars' AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, won the Calder Cup in 2014, signaling a new era of prospect development for the main club 31)

Miro Heiskanen’s Rookie Impact

Miro Heiskanen set a franchise record for rookie defensemen by recording 33 points in his debut 2018-19 season 32)

Joe Pavelski’s 1000 Games

While playing for the Stars in 2023, veteran Joe Pavelski became the 370th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game milestone 33)

2026 Central Division Standing

As of February 2026, the Stars are currently sitting in 3rd place in the Central Division, holding a strong 31-14-9 record 34)

Bill Masterton’s Tragedy

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is named after the Minnesota North Star who is the only player to die as a direct result of an on-ice injury in the NHL 35)

Gump Worsley’s Final Season

Hall of Fame goaltender Gump Worsley finished his illustrious career with the North Stars, playing his final professional game in 1974 36)

The silver outline on the Dallas Stars' primary logo is a direct tribute to the “Silver Star” synonymous with the state of Texas 37)

Forbes Franchise Valuation

As of 2025, the Dallas Stars are valued at approximately $1.1 billion, reflecting the immense growth of hockey in the North Texas market 38)

1981 Stanley Cup Final

Before moving to Dallas, the North Stars reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 1981, ultimately losing to the New York Islanders 39)

1991 Finals Appearance

The franchise’s final championship appearance in Minnesota was in 1991, where they famously upset the Blackhawks before losing to the Penguins 40)

Mike Modano’s 500th Goal

On November 7, 2007, Mike Modano scored his 500th career goal, becoming only the second American-born player to reach that milestone 41)

Brad Richards’ 2008 Acquisition

The Stars acquired playoff specialist Brad Richards in a blockbuster 2008 trade that led to a deep run into the Western Conference Finals 42)

Kari Lehtonen’s Win Total

Kari Lehtonen ranks second in franchise history for wins by a goaltender, recording 216 victories during his nine seasons in Dallas 43)

Roger Staubach’s Relocation Role

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was instrumental in convincing owner Norm Green that Dallas would be a successful hockey market 44)

2026 Season Opener Success

The Dallas Stars kicked off their current 2025-26 season with a high-scoring 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on October 9, 2025 45)