Dallas Stars: Former Players Make It To NHL’s Biggest Stage

The Dallas Stars won’t be competing in the Stanley Cup Final this season, but they will have a few former players in the running for the Cup.

This season, the Dallas Stars proved why they will be contenders for years to come. Through a series of trades and free agency signings, the Stars built an elite core and a group of talented youth ready to compete for Cups.

However, improving a team usually comes at a cost. You’ll often see front offices make tough decisions, leading to a trade involving either a long-tenured player or a fan favorite. That’s been the case for the Stars in the past two seasons.

On Nov. 21, 2014 the team traded away a rising defenseman in Brenden Dillon. In three seasons with the team, Dillon had registered nine goals and 17 assists. He was often seen getting physical with the opposition–whether it be a routine hit or a fight–and the crowd fed off of his actions.

In return for Dillon, the Stars received defenseman Jason Demers, who has logged 12 goals and 33 assists in his two seasons with the team. He has become one of the most solid players on the blue line, but will be hitting the free agent market this summer.

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On July 11, 2015 an even harder decision had to be made, but the Stars ended up parting with veteran defenseman Trevor Daley in a trade that included Ryan Garbutt. Daley had 67 goals and 164 assists in his 11 years in Dallas. He was one of the most reliable and consistent players the Stars had, always serving as a leader on and off the ice.

In return for the Daley package, the Stars received Patrick Sharp (24 goals, 37 assists) and Stephen Johns (1 goal, 2 assists), two players that had big roles on the team in the 2015-16 season.

While it was certainly hard for the Stars to deal away such important pieces, they got even better players in return, which has ultimately led to their rise. However, even though Dillon and Daley aren’t in Dallas anymore, they’re still finding success at the highest levels.

Dillon had 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in the regular season with the San Jose Sharks. Though he hasn’t scored a point in the playoffs so far, he has played in all 18 games for the Sharks and will be playing in his first Stanley Cup Final.

Daley was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in December and went on to score six goals, adding in 16 assists. He had already registered a goal and five helpers in the playoffs before breaking his ankle in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, ending his run in the playoffs.

You could see Daley’s excitement after the Penguins won Game 7 to advance to the Final. He had made his way to the ice with a big smile on his face, congratulating teammates and enjoying the moment despite the fact that he was on crutches.

Though Dillon will be the only one out on the ice, there’s no doubt Daley’s experience will be huge for the Penguins and some of their younger players.

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The Dallas Stars may have moved on from a couple of fan favorites in their quest for a second Cup, but there’s no doubt that it will be a special moment to see either Brenden Dillon or Trevor Daley win their first Cup this June.