Dallas Stars: Remembering Alex Goligoski’s Time In Big D

As one of the Dallas Stars’ longest-tenured players, Alex Goligoski performed with class and consistency. Let’s take a look at his career in Big D.

The date was Feb. 21, 2011. The Dallas Stars pulled the trigger on a trade that sent defenseman Matt Niskanen and left wing James Neal to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Alex Goligoski.

At the time, Goligoski had accumulated nine goals and 22 assists in the 2010-11 season and he was playing through just his fourth season in the NHL. The Stars were looking for a legitimate defensive presence as they were in the midst of a short playoff drought.

He finished up the season by adding in five goals and 10 assists as the team went on to miss the playoffs for the third season in a row.

From 2011-2013, Goligoski recorded a total of 12 goals and 45 assists, ensuring that he was a solid addition to the blue line and that he would come in handy for the Stars in the future.

Then, from 2013-2015, he turned his game up a notch. He was able to stay healthy and ended up playing 81 games each season. Paired with Trevor Daley, Goligoski had found a legitimate linemate that he was comfortable with and someone that would go on to help his game flourish.

His 2013-14 season saw him put up a career-high in points with 42 (6 goals, 36 assists) as the Stars broke their playoff drought and lost a six-game series to the Anaheim Ducks. In the process, Goligoski was able to perform a dazzling hip check on Corey Perry, one that has been remembered and replayed a countless amount of times since it happened.

Goligoski’s 2014-15 season got ugly at times. He was known for turning the puck over or simply making sloppy plays that led to opposing goals. Despite putting up 36 points, the third-highest total of his career, he (and the rest of the blue line for that matter) were a major reason why the Stars ended up missing the playoffs.

2015-16 turned out to be a great year for Goligoski, even though some might tell you otherwise.

Shortly before the season began, he was named an alternate captain for the team. The emergence of John Klingberg and the departure of Trevor Daley–via trade–had given Goligoski a new linemate. One that was quicker, flashier and more importantly…younger.

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Goligoski went on to play every game last season, the first time he had done so in his career, and his average time on ice was about 23 minutes in both the regular season and the playoffs, good for second on the team in both categories.

He still had some of the same issues, like turning the puck over, but his veteran presence on the ice was one that could not be denied, especially in critical moments.

At 30 years of age, Goligoski had the best offensive postseason of his career, tallying four goals, which was tied for second on the team. His most memorable moment came in Game 6 against he Minnesota Wild when he scored the game-winning goal en route to a 5-4 Stars win and a series victory.

After the team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, it became apparent that Goliogski’s future with the team was not certain.

He was one of four unrestricted free agents set to hit the market in July and the Stars seemed set on incorporating younger talent into the blue line for the 2016-17 season.

In the end, Goliogski never even made it to free agency with the team. On June 16, they traded his negotiating rights to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Stars GM Jim Nill talked shortly after the trade and stated that the two sides had tried to negotiate a deal but simply couldn’t come to an agreement, which led to the trade.

In the end, Goliogski left Dallas after six seasons. He was the longest-tenured member of the team, besides Kari Lehtonen, who had arrived a year earlier.

Though he was criticized at time, Goliogski was always one of the better defensemen for the Stars and definitely a worthy member of the top pairing. He grew with the team and played his best statistical seasons to date in Dallas, while bringing along a veteran mindset that served as a guiding light for younger defensemen on the team.

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Now, as he looks to find a new home this summer, Alex Goliogski will relinquish his position as one of the toughest Stars players. Though they may find a piece that turns out to be better than he was, they’ll always miss having a guy like him around.