full

full
Published on:

18th Jul 2026

Spring Cleaning – Dallas Stars

Spring Cleaning – Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars entered the 2025-26 season with Stanley Cup expectations after three consecutive trips to the Western Conference Final and four straight 100-point seasons. Instead, Dallas suffered another painful postseason disappointment, falling to the Minnesota Wild in six games during the opening round. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the Stars’ dramatic swings in performance, the devastating injuries that depleted their lineup, and the difficult decisions awaiting General Manager Jim Nill as he attempts to extend the championship window of one of the NHL’s most talented—but increasingly veteran—teams.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00:00] The Dallas Stars finish second in the Central Division before losing to Minnesota in six games during the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Neil and Vic discuss the consistently high expectations surrounding a team that has averaged more than 107 points over the last five full seasons.

[00:01:00] The conversation turns to Dallas’ repeated playoff disappointments after three consecutive trips to the Western Conference Final. Glen Gulutzan returned for his second stint behind the Stars’ bench, following a long line of respected coaches who were also unable to lead the organization back to the Stanley Cup Final.

[00:01:45] Neil explains how the strength of the Central Division and the NHL’s current playoff format creates an extremely difficult opening-round matchup for any team finishing second or third. Dallas knew for months that Minnesota would likely be its opponent, but still could not find a way through one of the league’s deepest teams.

[00:02:00] Vic reviews the Stars’ wildly inconsistent regular season. Dallas followed a 14-1-2 stretch with a 2-6-4 slide, then produced a 14-0-1 run that included 10 consecutive victories before struggling again late in the year. The panel discusses why the Stars can look unbeatable at their best and completely vulnerable when their game disappears.

[00:03:00] Dallas’ recent playoff history is placed under the microscope. The Stars surrendered a 2-1 series lead against Edmonton in 2024, struggled offensively against the Oilers again in 2025, and then lost another 2-1 series advantage against Minnesota after allowing a late lead to slip away in Game 4.

[00:04:00] Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each score 45 goals, but the offense drops sharply after the two young stars. Mikko Rantanen is revealed to have suffered a torn MCL during the Olympics, limiting his effectiveness after returning for the final 10 games of the regular season.

[00:05:00] The Stars’ extensive injury list is examined. Tyler Seguin suffers a season-ending torn ACL, Roope Hintz tears his hamstring shortly after returning from the Olympics, while Miro Heiskanen, Radek Faksa, Michael Bunting, and Nils Lundkvist also deal with significant injuries during the playoff push.

[00:06:00] Neil and Vic debate how much the injuries contributed to the first-round exit. While every playoff team deals with health issues, Dallas lost several high-impact players whose absence significantly reduced the club’s offensive depth and ability to compete with Minnesota.

[00:07:00] Attention shifts to the offseason facing three-time General Manager of the Year Jim Nill. Dallas owns only five selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, with no picks in the first or third rounds after aggressively trading future assets to acquire veteran help.

[00:07:45] The Stars enter the offseason above the projected salary cap before the July reset. Their unrestricted free agents include captain Jamie Benn, Michael Bunting, Adam Erne, Nathan Bastian, Alex Petrovic, and Kyle Capobianco.

[00:08:00] Jason Robertson headlines Dallas’ restricted free agent class after another elite goal-scoring season. Neil describes Robertson as one of the NHL’s premier natural finishers and expects his next contract to become one of the largest and most important negotiations of Jim Nill’s tenure.

[00:09:00] The discussion turns to the aging portion of the Stars’ core. While Robertson and Johnston remain young franchise pillars, longtime veterans Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are approaching the final stages of their careers, forcing Dallas to consider when and how to begin retooling the roster.

[00:10:00] The episode concludes with a difficult question surrounding Jamie Benn’s future. Neil praises Benn’s leadership, toughness, and lasting impact as captain, but acknowledges that Jim Nill must eventually decide whether to continue with the veteran core or transition the team toward a new generation of leadership.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for NHL Wraparound Podcast

About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.