Stargazing: A Dallas Stars Puckcast | Defending Big D

The Dallas Stars are coming home to a best-of-three series after another overtime in Minnesota – this one ending in a loss. What's next? In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark discuss everything from the Nils Lundkvist's injury to Thomas Harley's impact, and from the performance of the top line to Michael Bunting's possible fit into the lineup. Who needs to go off if the Stars want to close the deal? We're Stargazing, and we have our ideas. What did you see in Game 4? Let us know at Defending Big D. And please don’t forget to rate, review and share wherever you listen. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars did what the Dallas Stars do on Wednesday night. And it worked out just fine – this time – as Dallas Stars things are liable to do, especially during series with the Minnesota Wild. (What did that one guy say?... Sixty percent of the time, it works all the time.) In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark take a dive into the double-overtime victory in St. Paul. They discuss the revival of Dallas' special teams, who's really winning at 5-on-5, where puck luck and regression can make a difference (and for whom), why stupid fouls could still decide the series, predictions for Game 4, and so very, very much more. If you can win the high-danger areas, you can probably win the series. We're Stargazing, and danger is our business. What did you see in Game 3? Let us know at Defending Big D. And please don’t forget to rate, review and share wherever you listen. You're the real stars. By the way, welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars won on Monday night, and all of a sudden the Minnesota Wild look like the team that needs to adjust. The Stars' depth is beginning to come through. Will the Wild respond by shortening their bench to about five guys? In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark go back to the blanket analogy: Whenever you cover one thing, you risk leaving something else exposed. They discuss how and why an early lead played to Dallas' strengths and Minnesota's weaknesses, what happens when every player succeeds in his role, and what we might see as the series travels to St. Paul. It's still a long series, so the long game matters. We're Stargazing, and we're deliberately making these casts shorter, just so we can make more. What's your take on Game 2? Let us know at Defending Big D. And please don’t forget to rate, review and share wherever you listen. It's the daily affirmation that we love most of all. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There is nothing wrong with the Dallas Stars. Their systems work, and so does their lineup. And this Minnesota Wild team is still exactly what we thought it was. So how do we square these things with the...effort we saw in Game 1? To make sense of Saturday's loss, we needed to bring in the big guns. So Wes and Mark tackled the topic with NHL.com's Taylor Baird – whom you also know as DBD's editor-in-chief. They went over the lines that worked (and didn't), the injuries that still dog the team, and what the Stars will do to rally after getting punched in the face. The Stars have a history of losing the first game in a Stanley Cup Playoffs round, then going on to win the series. We're Stargazing, and we're taking the long view for as long as we can. What's your take on Game 1? Let us know at Defending Big D. And please don’t forget to rate, review and share wherever you listen. It's the daily affirmation that we love most of all. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

And here we are again. The Dallas Stars will face the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — which probably says more about the NHL's desperate need to revise their postseason format than anything, but that's a question for another time, and at any rate it's beyond the scope of this recording. Rather, Wes and Mark would like to talk about how the Stars will approach the challenge at hand. In this episode of Stargazing, they discuss which players have the most to prove, how matchups will shape up given the crucial home-ice advantage, who stands to make the most of the playoffs, and so much more. The two best players entering this series...? Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson have entered the chat. We're Stargazing, and the stats will back us up on this. (We've got more, if you want it.) Which Stars will shine in Round 1? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. It's really all we think about these days. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With around 300 man-games lost to injury this season, the 2025-26 Dallas Stars have been fortunate to get quality reinforcement from their AHL squad. Which, predictably, left their AHL squad struggling as players fought to adapt to the depletion of their own team. So it's especially satisfying that the Texas Stars have not just survived, but thrived as they prepare for a postseason run of their own. It's always the right time to catch up with Cedar Park, and Wes and Mark called in a top player for the task. Stephen Meserve, founder of the go-to T-Stars news site 100 Degree Hockey and co-author of We Win Here: The Definitive Essays You Need About The Texas Stars, joined the cast for a long and substantial discussion. They discuss how the organization prepares players to succeed in the big league, how college free agents have bolstered a team with a sparse draft-pick cupboard, how goaltending kept the T-Stars going during the turbulent first months of the 2025-26 season, and so much more. Are Justin and Dylan Hryckowian the Stars' next great brother act? We're Stargazing, and we're asking you to put your money up. Let's talk more at Defending Big D. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. It's all we think about these days. And if you want to know more about Stephen's recent work on the AHL's evolving usage of Professional Tryout contracts, hop over to 100 Degree Hockey for a good read (and some really interesting interactive charts). Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

First of all, no: The Dallas Stars don't need to sit Jake Oettinger, and fans need to let go of that talking point. And no: It's not just because he tallied two shutouts in about a week. In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark talk about why the Stars have placed so much of their trust in Otter — and it has almost nothing to do with his future Vezina Trophy prospects. They also discuss what the Lian Bichsel-Tyler Myers pair can bring to a Stanley Cup Playoffs series, how to evaluate goalie performance as part of team defense, and which forwards should play on which lines during the postseason. They also expand their Expected Rawr (xRawr) chart to include even more current and historical Stars players. Sometimes the solution that works is not the solution you had in mind. We’re Stargazing, and we're a tree. We can bend. Which Stars are in which xRawr quadrant? So far, Wes and Mark have calculated rankings for the following players, current and historic: Let's talk more at Defending Big D. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. It really makes our day. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars have visibly struggled with late-season injuries in the past couple of weeks. And nowhere has this been more apparent than in the depleted forward corps. How do you rotate lines when the second line is missing? In this episode, Wes and Mark talk about this in depth. They discuss whether Michael Bunting needs to play on the first line, the possibility that Tyler Myers has a Jordie Benn problem, the state of the defense, how the Stars' run-up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is panning out, and – of course – who falls where on the Expected Rawr (xRawr) chart, now enhanced with up to 37 percent more made-up stats. You take two of your best players off the roster, and all of a sudden forward depth is an issue. We’re Stargazing, and we get it. We really do. Which Stars are in which xRawr quadrant? So far, Wes and Mark have calculated rankings for the following players, current and historic: (Yes, we are this committed to the bit. Get on board now, or risk an injury when you try to jump this train during the playoffs.) Let's talk more at Defending Big D. And don't forget to give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. That's, like, our whole thing right now. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What's the most important thing about These Dallas Stars? Maybe it's the two most important things – the players who are Him, and the players who have that Dawg in them. OK, make that the three most important things, because of the players who are both Him and Dawg. If you're a regular Stargazing listener, you may know that Wes and Mark like to talk about this, as well as the associated stat they created pretty much out of thin air. For branding and hashtagging purposes, we'll call it Expected Rawr (xRawr). In this edition, they discuss how Matt Duchene makes Sam Steel better (and vice versa), the balance in net between Jake Oettinger (Him) and Casey DeSmith (Dawg), those all-important players in the upper right quadrant, and ever so much more. The best statistics are the ones you make up. (Sixty percent of the time, this is true all the time.) We’re Stargazing, and we can make stuff up as well as any podcast out there. Which Stars would you assign to each xRawr quadrant? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And don't forget to give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. That's, like, our whole thing right now. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars got a big defender and a left wing before the NHL shut down for the final run toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs. How does this help, exactly? Wes and Mark have their ideas. In this edition of Stargazing, they talk about how the Central Division will play during bonus weeks, what the Stars' lines and pairs could look like, and why the most interesting signing may not be the one you think it is. Everyone needs more dog in their lineup. We're Stargazing, and we're brought to you by our favorite law firm, Miro Esa and Thomas. Are the Stars better now than they were before the trade deadline? Let us know what you think. And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars brought quite a bit of hardware home from the 2026 Winter Olympics. They also brought a couple of concerning injuries and at least one troubling illness. And now that Tyler Seguin is officially out for the season, does the front office have to make a move before the March 6 NHL trade deadline? Wes and Mark have been pondering this question for quite some time. In this edition of Stargazing, they talk about the Stars' identity, the roles Cedar Park can't fill, the possibility of the team flexing its physical side during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Jim Nill's prospective legacy, the pressure to win it all, and ever so much more.* Question for the group: Would you rather we bring in a guest expert to talk about potential moves before the deadline, or to discuss the fallout after GMJN has done (or not done) what he will? Let us know at Defending Big D. Your input matters! And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. *NOTE: All 4 Nations-Winter Olympics conflations (and others) intentionally left intact. (What? Now I have to sit in front of you and fix someone else’s gaffes? It’s not my responsibility.) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's very little like three straight victories over the St. Louis Blues to get Dallas Stars fans buzzing. So how do we talk about this team now that the mood of the Victory Green faithful has swung back from "Will they ever win again?" to "Let's start the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now!"? Fortunately, there's very little like a Winter Olympics break to facilitate some midseason gab – and here at Stargazing, "gab" is our middle name. (It's in there. The B is silent.) In this episode, Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman discuss the factors contributing to the Stars' blown leads, the turtling tendencies that change but never seem to go away, the worst thing about a great power play, the one player who might have been worth going for at the trade deadline, and so much more. Are you task-oriented or think-oriented? We're Stargazing, and we need the answer right now. Or not. At any rate, share your answer at Defending Big D. Let's talk about it. And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A fair number of Dallas Stars enjoyers have perceived that fan fave Thomas Harley has been doing more, but with less to show for it, since the 2025-26 NHL season began. Is this a problem with his defensive partners? The lingering effects of his injury in November, and the missed games that resulted? The predictable struggles of a still very young blueliner? Something more concerning? Or less? ...If only there were some way of measuring it all. You know, with math and stuff. In this episode of Stargazing, Mark sat down for an incredibly specific Stars conversation with Puck Over The Glass founder (and friend of DBD) Aaron Knodell. With Aaron's recent article on Harley's output as a jumping-off point, they take a deep dive into the Stars' defense — the pairings, the performances, the effects of Glen Gulutzan's new system, and so much more. You don't play like an elite NHL defender for two years and just forget how, do you? We’re Stargazing, and we're beginning to think not. Are you looking for Team Canada Thomas Harley in Milano-Cortina? And while we're talking about it, who you got for the men's and women's Olympic hockey hardware? Let’s talk about it at Defending Big D. (And put your picks up now. You don't get to come in on February 23 and say you went 14-0 in the medal rounds.) And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A blowout, followed by a shutout...the Dallas Stars are still all over the map. Did the momentary absence of Mikko Rantanen really doom the Victory Green Gang against the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference? Wes and Mark think it's not that simple...or is it? In this episode of Stargazing, they talk about the impact of beast mode, the cold comfort of outplaying an opponent and missing by that much, the value of swagger, the upcoming schedule and what they want to see from it, and ever so much more. You're in the other team's head until you're not. We’re Stargazing, and we got that dog in us. What do you want to see from the Stars during the Central-heavy stretch ahead? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do you remember what a power play goal looks like? The Dallas Stars have had a hard time getting out of their own way for the past...little while, and it seems as if their opponents have figured them out. Or is it the typical winter doldrums conjoined with an Olympics-compressed schedule? Wes and Mark understand complexity, especially when it comes to the Victory Green Gang's problems. In this episode, they talk about why the Stars can't score anymore, the surprisingly affordable tweak that could help them at the NHL trade deadline, whether or not this is the year the team goes all in on a Stanley Cup run, Jim Nill's legacy, and ever so much more. Sometimes you have to win two Western Conference Finals just to get to the Western Conference Final. We’re Stargazing, and we say, "Welcome to the Central Division." What are your thoughts as we approach the big February break? Share them with us at Defending Big D. And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback is practically all we think about. Thanks for everything. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars vs. the Minnesota Wild is a practically guaranteed first-round matchup at this point. So why play all this hockey in the meantime...? No, Wes and Mark aren't serious about that. But they do have quite a few ideas about how the Stars can become the best version of themselves before April. In this edition of Stargazing, they discuss the tradeoffs the Stars make for an elite power play, the ways this team can still improve before the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the elephants in the room that are the Stars' future NHL Draft options, the Winter Olympics snub you're not talking about (yet),and ever so much more. Never make a deal from a point of weakness. We’re Stargazing, and we make all our deals over coffee. What sort of short-term rental could make the Stars unstopabble? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And if you will, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback is practically all we think about. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars are winning again, more or less, which means it's time for more unbridled optimism about the stretch run to come. Right? ...Right? Regression got the Victory Green Gang, at least for the period of their regularly scheduled post-holiday swoon, and Our Gang probably told you so. Wes and Mark may even now be chatting with David Castillo – owner and operator of Stars Stack and its audio companion, the Stars Stackcast – because they do run long when its comes to these deep dives. In this edition, the stats exam goes into team momentum, the potential benefits of not planning around the Stars' opponents but making opponents plan around them, the respect Jason Robertson deserves (and doesn't get, even from some Dallas fans), the real takeaway from the worst Mighty Ducks movie, and ever so much more. The NHL may be more Guerin-brained than ever, but you'll have to prove it. With math. We’re Stargazing, and we can do this if we really, really have to. Why not share your thoughts at Defending Big D? For that matter, why not make it your New Year's resolution to give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts? Your feedback means the world to us. Thanks for everything. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's a new year bringing the same old worries for Dallas Stars fans. Every mistake is a harbinger, every loss is a world-ender. Have we gotten too used to the good times? In this episode, Wes and Mark invited David Castillo to talk about the Victory Green Gang's underlying stats – and, candidly, to talk them down from the rickety ledge of Stars positivity. And they had so much to talk about that we're splitting this cast into two parts, so you can slam it down fast. In this edition, the crew ponders what Mikko Rantanen does that makes him unique among NHL forwards, what Thomas Harley can do to make the Stars a true playoffs force, what will happen if (when) regression gets to them, and ever so much more. It's not unsustainable if you can do it. We're Stargazing, that's our story, and we're sticking to it. While you're here, why not throw in an opinion at Defending Big D on where you expect the Stars to be at the Olympics break? We think about your feedback all the time, and that's why we'd also love a rate, review, or share from you, wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for everything. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The rise of advanced stats in hockey has taught us that much of what we know about the Dallas Stars is bad. Just look at them: 31st in the NHL in shot share, 24th in expected goals...so how in the world do they just - keep - winning? Wes and Mark have decided that this year's Stars were built this way on purpose. And in this edition of Stargazing, they make the case. They discuss the type of shots the team makes, the type they give up, and how the type of game they play means they perhaps don't get as much credit as they deserve for their own success. Loading a whole other power-play unit...cats and dogs playing together...mass hysteria! We're Stargazing, and we endorse it. What about you? Tell us what you'd like to see at Defending Big D. And if you're listening, please gift us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. We love you. Especially at holiday time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Dallas Stars are having themselves a season, injuries and roster holes and recent losses notwithstanding. But this year, that success has come at an organizational cost — and their brethren in Cedar Park have often been the ones paying it. Mark Zimmerman loves discussing the Texas Stars, and even more so when he can enlist Stephen Meserve to talk with. Late last week, the founder of the go-to T-Stars news site 100 Degree Hockey and co-author of We Win Here: The Definitive Essays You Need About The Texas Stars joined him for a fireside chat. In this episode, they talk about the slump in special teams, the boost the offense needs, the long-term effects of trading away draft picks, the surprisingly happy news about the defense and goaltending, and why Texas is still in striking distance of the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs in spite of all their challenges. As a bonus, they also ponder how the Idaho Steelheads just. keep. winning. Somehow. Who would you like to see step and be That Guy in Metro Austin? Tell us at Defending Big D. We may even discuss your thoughts in a future cast. (No, really!) And, as always, please rate, review, or share wherever you get your ’casts. We're Stargazing, and we love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.