History of Dallas Stars in Timeline
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They compete in the NHL's Western Conference Central Division. Originally founded in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars, the team went through several iterations, including a merger with the Cleveland Barons in 1978. In 1993, the franchise moved to Dallas and was renamed the Dallas Stars. The Stars initially played in Reunion Arena downtown before moving to the American Airlines Center, which they share with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, in 2001.
1940: Previous Lowest GAA Record
Before Marty Turco in 2002, the lowest goals-against average recorded in the NHL was in 1940.
1967: Dallas Stars Franchise Begins in Minnesota
1967: The Minnesota North Stars Begin Play
The Minnesota North Stars began playing in the NHL as part of the league's six-team expansion. Home games were played at the newly constructed Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.
1980: Reunion Arena as Home Venue
The Dallas Stars were set to play in Reunion Arena, built in 1980 and shared with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.
1981: First Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
The Minnesota North Stars reached their first Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the New York Islanders.
1983: First Division Title Since 1983-84
The Stars' 1996 division title was their first since the 1983-84 season, when they were still the Minnesota North Stars.
1987: Oettinger Sets Playoff Record
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger recorded the second highest saves in playoff history, behind only Kelly Hrudey's record set in 1987.
1990: Relocation Attempts and New Logo
Following the 1990-91 season, the North Stars faced declining profits and uncertainty caused by relocation attempts. The team also adopted a new logo that omitted "North" from "North Stars," hinting at a potential move south.
1990: Relocation Request Denied
Ownership requested permission to relocate the team to the San Francisco Bay Area due to declining attendance and challenges in securing a new revenue-generating arena. The league rejected the request and awarded an expansion franchise to the Gund brothers instead, leading to the creation of the San Jose Sharks.
1991: Second Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
The Minnesota North Stars made their second appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
1992: Anaheim Relocation Plans Thwarted
Norman Green, the team's owner, explored moving the team to Anaheim, intending to rename them the Los Angeles Stars. However, the NHL awarded an expansion franchise to The Walt Disney Company to play in Anaheim's new arena, eventually becoming the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, thwarting Green's plans.
March 10, 1993: Relocation to Dallas Announced
Norman Green received league approval to move the team to Dallas for the 1993-94 season, a decision influenced by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach.
October 5, 1993: Dallas Stars' First Game
The Dallas Stars played their first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings, winning 6-4. Neal Broten, originally from Minnesota, scored the first goal for the Stars in Dallas.
1993: Modano's Record Broken
Jason Robertson broke Mike Modano's record for total points in a season, which was set during the 1993-94 season.
1993: Relocation to Dallas
The franchise relocated to Dallas for the 1993-94 NHL season and was rebranded as the Dallas Stars.
1994: Dallas Stars' First Season Success
In their first season in Dallas, the Stars achieved franchise records in wins (42) and points (97), securing a playoff berth. They swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round but lost to the eventual Western Conference champions, the Vancouver Canucks, in the second round. This successful season, combined with Mike Modano's exceptional performance, significantly boosted the team's popularity in North Texas.
1994: Shortened Season and Playoffs
The 1994-95 NHL season was shortened due to an owner's lockout. The Stars had a losing record but still qualified for the playoffs. They lost in the first round to the Red Wings.
1994: Surpassing Previous Records
The Stars surpassed their previous franchise record for wins and points, which they had set in 1994, their first season in Dallas.
December 1995: Tom Hicks Acquires Dallas Stars
Due to financial difficulties, Norm Green sold the Dallas Stars to businessman Tom Hicks.
1995: Coaching Change and Missed Playoffs
Under new owner Tom Hicks, the Dallas Stars struggled in the first half of the season. Bob Gainey stepped down as coach to focus on his role as general manager and was replaced by Ken Hitchcock. Despite several trades, the Stars finished sixth in their division and missed the playoffs for the first time since their relocation to Texas.
1996: Division Title and Playoff Upset
Ken Hitchcock's first full season as coach led the Stars to surpass their previous records, achieving 48 wins and reaching 100 points for the first time. They won their first division title since 1983-84. Despite the regular season success, they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers.
1997: Dallas Stars Begin New Year's Eve Games Tradition
The Dallas Stars begin hosting a home game on New Year's Eve, a tradition that continues with a few exceptions.
1999: Joe Nieuwendyk Wins Conn Smythe Trophy
Joe Nieuwendyk wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
1999: Dallas Stars Adopt "Puck Off" by Pantera
The Dallas Stars begin using "Puck Off" by Pantera as their goal song following their Stanley Cup victory and friendship with the band.
1999: Stanley Cup Victory
The Dallas Stars won their first Stanley Cup championship, with Joe Nieuwendyk winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
2000: Jason Arnott Scores Cup-Winning Goal
Jason Arnott scored the winning goal for the New Jersey Devils against the Dallas Stars in the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals.
2000: Neal Broten's Hall of Fame Induction
Neal Broten was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
2000: Dallas Stars' 2000-2001 Season
The Dallas Stars aimed to reclaim the Stanley Cup in the 2000-2001 season. They secured the Pacific Division title with a 48–24–8–2 record. In the playoffs, they engaged in a close series with the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, winning in six games. However, their journey ended in the second round with a sweep by the St. Louis Blues. Notably, Game 2 of this series marked the last NHL game played at Reunion Arena.
2000: First Stanley Cup Final Since 2000
The Dallas Stars reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2000.
2000: Third Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
The Dallas Stars reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in franchise history but lost to the New Jersey Devils.
2000: Dallas Stars Reach Conference Finals
The Dallas Stars reached their first Western Conference Finals since 2000.
2001: Dallas Stars Relocate to American Airlines Center
The Dallas Stars moved to the American Airlines Center for the 2001-2002 season. They struggled initially, leading to the firing of coach Ken Hitchcock, who was replaced by Rick Wilson. Despite the change, the Stars continued to falter. To improve their playoff chances, they traded key players Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner to the New Jersey Devils for Randy McKay and Jason Arnott. Despite finishing with a respectable record, the Stars missed the playoffs. Following the season, Rick Wilson returned to an assistant coaching role, and Dave Tippett was appointed as the new head coach.
2001: Move to American Airlines Center
The Stars moved from Reunion Arena to the American Airlines Center, which they share with the Dallas Mavericks.
2002: Marty Turco's Record-Setting Season
Ed Belfour departed for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2002 offseason, prompting the Dallas Stars to make Marty Turco their starting goaltender for the 2002-2003 season. Turco responded with an exceptional season, recording a league-best 1.76 goals-against average, the lowest since 1940. Despite missing several games late in the season, Turco's performance helped the Stars achieve the best record in the Western Conference. Additionally, Jere Lehtinen earned his third Frank J. Selke Trophy for his exceptional two-way play.
2002: Dallas Stars' Last Missed Playoffs
This year marked the last time the Dallas Stars missed the playoffs before their disappointing 2008-09 season.
2003: Mike Modano Becomes Captain
Mike Modano became captain of the Dallas Stars.
2003: Dallas Stars' Inconsistent Season
The Dallas Stars started the 2003-2004 season inconsistently, performing below average for the first three months.
2003: Dallas Stars End Playoff Series Drought
The Dallas Stars won their first playoff series since 2003.
2004: Dallas Stars Skip New Year's Eve Game Due to Lockout
The Dallas Stars do not host a New Year's Eve game due to an NHL lockout.
2004: Dallas Stars Improve in 2004
The Dallas Stars' performance improved as the calendar turned to 2004, posting a strong record in January and steadily climbing the playoff standings. They finished the season with a respectable record, securing second place in the Pacific Division. Marty Turco continued his excellent form, recording a 1.98 goals-against average. However, their regular season success did not translate to the playoffs, as they were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
2004: NHL Lockout Cancels 2004-2005 Season
The entire 2004-2005 NHL season was canceled due to a lockout stemming from a labor dispute between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association.
2005: Dallas Stars Return to Play Strong
The Dallas Stars maintained their strength in the Western Conference as play resumed in the 2005-2006 season. They enjoyed a successful start, winning four of their first five games, and continued their strong form throughout the season, ultimately securing first place in the Pacific Division with an impressive record. Their success was partly due to outstanding performances in shootouts, where Jussi Jokinen and Sergei Zubov excelled. Despite being favored to win the Western Conference and even considered Stanley Cup contenders, the Stars faced an early playoff exit. They were upset by the seventh-seeded Colorado Avalanche in the first round, losing the series in five games.
2005: Last Pacific Division Title
The last time the Dallas Stars won the Pacific Division title before the 2011-12 season was during the 2005-06 season.
September 29, 2006: Brenden Morrow Named Captain
Brenden Morrow was named the new captain of the Dallas Stars, taking over from Mike Modano, who had been captain since 2003.
2006: Dallas Stars Off-Season Changes
The Dallas Stars underwent significant changes during the 2006 off-season following a disappointing first-round playoff loss. These changes included promoting Andy Moog to assistant general manager, hiring Ulf Dahlen as assistant coach, and letting go of players like Jason Arnott, Willie Mitchell, and Johan Hedberg. They also traded Niko Kapanen, bought out Bill Guerin's contract, and acquired Patrik Stefan and Jaroslav Modry in a trade with Atlanta. The team signed Eric Lindros, Jeff Halpern, Matthew Barnaby, and Darryl Sydor as free agents and promoted Mike Smith to serve as Marty Turco's backup. During the season, they added Mike Ribeiro and Mattias Norstrom through trades. Young players like Joel Lundqvist, Krys Barch, Nicklas Grossmann, and Chris Conner gained valuable ice time due to injuries among the roster.
March 13, 2007: Mike Modano Scores 500th NHL Goal
Mike Modano scored his 500th career NHL goal, becoming the 39th player and second American to achieve this milestone.
November 8, 2007: Mike Modano Becomes Top American-Born Point Scorer
Mike Modano became the all-time leading American-born scorer in NHL history after scoring a shorthanded breakaway goal against the San Jose Sharks.
February 26, 2008: Stars Acquire Brad Richards
The Dallas Stars traded for All-Star center Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for backup goaltender Mike Smith and forwards Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern.
2008: Sean Avery Controversy and Stars' Struggles
The Dallas Stars faced challenges during the 2008-09 season, including captain Brenden Morrow's season-ending ACL tear and controversy surrounding Sean Avery's comments about an ex-girlfriend. The team suspended Avery, who was later waived. Injuries to key players like Brad Richards and Sergei Zubov contributed to a disappointing 12th-place finish, marking their first missed playoffs since 2002.
2008: Last Three-Game Winning Streak
The last time the Dallas Stars had a three-game winning streak before the 2010-11 season was during the 2008-09 season.
June 10, 2009: Joe Nieuwendyk Becomes General Manager
Joe Nieuwendyk was hired as the new general manager of the Dallas Stars. He fired head coach Dave Tippett and replaced him with Marc Crawford the next day. Nieuwendyk also made other changes, including adding Charlie Huddy as assistant coach for defense and promoting Stu Barnes and Andy Moog to assistant coach positions.
2009: Sergei Zubov's Impact
Sergei Zubov served as the Stars' top defenseman and powerplay quarterback from his acquisition in 1996 until his departure from the league in 2009.
2009: Dallas Stars' Difficult Season
The Dallas Stars struggled throughout the 2009-10 season with inconsistent play and defensive issues, failing to adapt to Marc Crawford's new offensive system. Owner Tom Hicks' financial troubles restricted the team's payroll, resulting in a last-place finish in the Pacific Division and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Long-time goaltender Marty Turco was released, paving the way for Kari Lehtonen. In the final game of the season, Mike Modano received a standing ovation while wearing his North Stars uniform, marking a significant moment for the franchise.
December 2010: Dallas Stars Off-Season Changes
The Dallas Stars made significant roster changes during the 2010 off-season. They released franchise icons Marty Turco and Mike Modano, who subsequently signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, respectively. Jere Lehtinen, another long-time Star, announced his retirement. The team acquired key players such as Adam Burish, a member of the 2010 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, and goaltender Andrew Raycroft. They also gave Jonathan Cheechoo a tryout, but he was released and later joined the San Jose Sharks.
2010: Hatcher Brothers' Hall of Fame Induction
Brothers Derian and Kevin Hatcher were inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
2010: Dallas Stars' Strong Start
The Dallas Stars started the 2010-11 season with a three-game winning streak, their first since the 2008-09 season. They defeated the New Jersey Devils in overtime in their season opener, the New York Islanders in a shootout, and the Detroit Red Wings in their home opener. Mike Modano, playing for the Red Wings, received an emotional standing ovation from the Stars crowd during the home opener.
April 12, 2011: Marc Crawford Fired
The Dallas Stars fired coach Marc Crawford after missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
September 13, 2011: Dallas Stars File for Bankruptcy
The Dallas Stars filed for bankruptcy after lenders voted to approve the move. The team was put up for auction.
September 21, 2011: Mike Modano Retires
Mike Modano announced his retirement from the NHL, marking the end of an era for the Dallas Stars.
October 22, 2011: Deadline for Bids to Buy Dallas Stars
The deadline for submitting bids to purchase the Dallas Stars was set for October 22, 2011.
November 18, 2011: Tom Gaglardi Purchases Dallas Stars
Tom Gaglardi's bid to buy the Dallas Stars was approved by the NHL Board of Governors, making him the new owner of the franchise.
2011: Belfour and Nieuwendyk's Hall of Fame Induction
Ed Belfour and Joe Nieuwendyk were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
2011: Tom Gaglardi Brings Back Jim Lites
Tom Gaglardi, the new owner of the Dallas Stars, brought back Jim Lites to serve as the team's president and CEO.
March 26, 2012: Dallas Stars Embark on Crucial Road Trip
The Dallas Stars went on a crucial Western road trip, facing the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks. They needed four points on the trip to secure their first Pacific Division title since the 2005-06 season. Despite an initial win against the Oilers, they suffered losses to the Canucks and Sharks, losing the division crown.
2012: Dallas Stars Skip New Year's Eve Game Due to Lockout
The Dallas Stars do not host a New Year's Eve game due to an NHL lockout.
2014: Mike Modano's Hall of Fame Induction
Mike Modano, the highest-scoring player in franchise history, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
2017: Jamie Benn's Resurgent Season
Captain Jamie Benn had his first 75+ point season since the 2017-18 season.
May 2018: Jim Montgomery Hired
Jim Montgomery was hired as the Dallas Stars' head coach.
2018: First Missed Playoffs Since 2018
An injury plagued season caused the Stars to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
December 10, 2019: Jim Montgomery Fired
Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery was fired due to unprofessional conduct. Rick Bowness was named interim coach.
2019: Dallas Stars Skip New Year's Eve Game for Winter Classic
The Dallas Stars do not host a New Year's Eve game due to their participation in the 2020 NHL Winter Classic.
January 1, 2020: Stars Win Winter Classic
The Dallas Stars won the 2020 NHL Winter Classic, beating the Nashville Predators 4-2. The game had the second highest attendance in NHL history.
March 2020: Season Suspended Due to COVID-19
The 2019-20 NHL Season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2020: NHL Returns from Pause
The NHL returned from the COVID-19 pandemic pause and the Dallas Stars advanced to the playoffs.
October 29, 2020: Bowness Named Full-Time Coach
Following the Stars' run to the Stanley Cup Final, interim coach Rick Bowness was named full-time head coach.
2020: Dallas Stars Skip New Year's Eve Game Due to Pandemic
The Dallas Stars do not host a New Year's Eve game due to the delayed off-season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Fifth Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
The Dallas Stars reached their fifth Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2021: Dallas Stars Postpone New Year's Eve Game Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
The Dallas Stars postpone their New Year's Eve game to February 13 due to a team-wide COVID-19 outbreak.
June 21, 2022: Peter DeBoer Hired as Head Coach
Peter DeBoer became the 10th head coach in Dallas Stars history.
March 31, 2023: Jason Robertson Sets Franchise Record
Jason Robertson set a new Dallas Stars record for total points in a single season with 109.
April 15, 2024: Information Updated
The information about the Dallas Stars is updated on this date.
