Stargazing: A Dallas Stars Puckcast | Defending Big D – Details, episodes & analysis

As of this posting, the Dallas Stars are 3-0 in the 2024-25 preseason. And here we were thinking Victory+ might be the best thing to come out of September.

It's a great environment for Stargazing's annual Brightside Cast, and Wes and Mark are definitely feeling it this year. In this edition, they talk about:

• • the Stars' preseason style and what it means for when the games start counting,

• • the offensive weapons at Pete DeBoer's disposal,

• • the improvement in goaltending depth,

• • the prospect of having three solid left-right pairs on the blueline,

• • oh yeah, Victory+, too!

• • and so very much more.

When you're penciling in Tyler Seguin as your third-line center, you mmmmight have a surfeit of talent. We're Stargazing, and we might just turn you into Mr. Brightside, too. Thank BetOnline for making that possible.

What's your most optimistic prediction for the season to come? Tell us in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. (We’re only there for you. Don’t leave us hanging.)

And don’t hesitate to give us a rate, review and share. We love you all.

It's September, and the Dallas Stars are back on the ice. You can almost smell the "Mr. Brightside" in the air, can't you?

Wes and Mark are firing up the Victory+ and getting ready to watch some hockey. And on the eve of the Stars' preseason opener, they have so, so, so much to share with you. In this episode, they discuss:

• • how the new contracts for Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell stack up,

• • where all the blueliners will slot in now that a Miro Heiskanen-Matt Dumba pair appears to be a thing,

• • whether it's still just fine if Lian Bichsel begins the season in Cedar Park,

• • how Pete DeBoer's line blender can extract some lemonade from Jason Robertson's preseason unavailability,

• • what it means when the Stars' offensive corps is largely settled but its deployment is in new and wide-open territory,

• • who's the best candidate to become the 13th forward,

• • and ever so much more.

Do you have a man crush on Jim Nill? It's OK to talk about it. We're Stargazing, and for us, it comes up a lot. (A lot.) And our friends at BetOnline still sponsor us. It's kind of beautiful.

How many minutes did it take for either of our hosts to drop an "I like where we're at"? Tell us in the comments, or DM us with your weird questions @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. (We’re only there for you. Don’t leave us hanging.)

And while you're here: Please don't hesitate to give us a rate, review and share. We love you all.

The unstoppable road team met the immoveable home team, and we saw who blinked first. The Dallas Stars copped a big win off the Colorado Avalanche over the weekend, and now, it seems, we're getting somewhere.

It's OK, Stars fans, you still have time to panic. But Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman took a long look at a game the Avs were supposed to win, on paper...and they liked what they saw. No, really. In this edition, they look at how the Victory Green Gang righted the ship at home and took away the game Colorado wanted to play in their own barn. And, as always, they have ideas about how to make it continue, because something something Big Hockey Brains.

You already know a big Nate MacKinnon game is coming. The question is, how do you prepare for it? We have answers...because we're Stargazing After Dark. And now you can, too, thanks to BetOnline.

What's surprised you most about this series so far? For better or otherwise? Tell us about at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. Casters are waiting for your call. (Heed the suggestive saxophone riff. Listen to it.)

And please throw us a rate, review or share if you're so inclined. It truly, truly makes our day. Thanks in advance.

We’ve said it over and over again, but the Dallas Stars really are a team for whom anything – whether good or bad – seems possible. With that said, their recent run of play has even the stats gurus liking their chances for the 2022 Stanley Cup race.

Wes and Mark have been watching the Stars’ progress as closely as anyone, and they spent another evening examining the case. In this episode:

• Did the recent road trip give the Stars enough momentum to challenge for one of the Central Division’s postseason spots?
• Will the emergence of Jason Robertson as an all-world superstar turn out to be the X factor they need?
• Does Jake Oettinger have what it takes to backstop a deep playoffs run?
• How much should we worry about what could be an extended stay on injured reserve for Miro Heiskanen?
• And will the search for depth scoring never really end?

Want to be part of the next podcast? Leave all your comments and questions at Defending Big D – or drop in on us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts.

And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.

It’s late February, and the @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. You could be part of the next podcast.

And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.

Expecting the unexpected is a prerequisite of true Dallas Stars fandom. And the trait of consistent inconsistency runs in the hockey family.

Back in 2021 preseason, the Texas Stars were shaping up to be a potential superpower in the AHL’s Central Division. Since then...well, life happened. Stephen Meserve, editor and mastermind of 100 Degree Hockey, joined Mark and Taylor this week to discuss the season so far, and the outlook for the Stars’ prospects.

In this edition:

• Why does the Stars’ blue-chip prospect pipeline keep missing Cedar Park – and how has this affected the team on and off the ice?
• How is goaltending shaping up now that Jake Oettinger has moved to Dallas permanently?
• Which defenders are performing (or underperforming)?
• Why is reigning AHL Rookie of the Year Riley Damiani struggling to put up the kind of numbers he gloried in last season?
• What has former Star and new assistant coach Maxime Fortunus brought to the mix?
• How have ECHL prospects playing for the Idaho Steelheads factored in?
• And will T-Stars head coach Neil Graham be the next big prospect to graduate from Austin Metro?

All this, plus Stephen’s explanation of the AHL’s new playoffs rules, are waiting for you in this week’s Stargazing. You might be able to find better gameday listening, but you’d have to look really, really hard.

We love comments, no matter what kind. Leave one at Defending Big D, or seek us out @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. You could be part of the next podcast.

And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.

How long can the Dallas Stars try to be who they say they are before they give up and become what their best players are capable of being? It’s an open question, and one Wes and Mark decided to explore during this week of contrasts.

We didn’t want this to be a miserycast. Fortunately, there was plenty to compare and contrast between Sunday’s big win and Tuesday’s insanely frustrating loss. In this episode:

• What, specifically, did the Stars do right against the Boston Bruins?
• Has Tyler Seguin returned to form? (And if he has, will that count as a trade deadline acquisition?)
• Is Alexander Radulov finally recovering his scoring mojo?
• Is Denis Gurianov on another upswing?
• Is Radek Faksa hitting his aging curve early?
• How exactly did the team fall apart in the late third period against the Calgary Flames?
• How much of the Stars’ identity as a defense-first team is a straight-up lie? (Careful – Mark has receipts.)
• How much of player usage (and misusage) should we blame on systems and how much on hockey culture writ large?
• And if you can’t find a way to let a player do what he’s good at, should you even have him on the roster? (Asking for a friend?)

All this, plus a guest contribution by Wes’ dog...in this episode of Stargazing. Enjoy as Mark finally gets credit for predicting the Bruins blowout.

We love comments, even from the haters. Leave one at Defending Big D or seek us out @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. You could be part of the next podcast.

And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.

Believe it or not, the Dallas Stars...actually had a pretty good January. So does this mean we start planning the parade, or what, or...?

Wes and Mark sifted through the facts and found some Victory Green shoots, as well as the usual omens. In this episode:

• Eight points in five games...are the Stars really and truly on the upswing?
• Has Alexander Radulov shaken off the last of the post-surgery rust and activated? And if so, could this mean that a second (third?) scoring line has finally arrived?
• Are the now-predictable Denis Gurianov benchings somewhat more tolerable now that there’s legitimate offensive competition in Riley Damiani?
• Did John Klingberg’s injury (hear us out) actually come at an opportune time?
• And now that the Pavelski & Sons line is scoring on the road, dare we hope for a Stanley Cup playoffs spot?

Who else is rooting for a second wildcard berth and a romp through the Pacific Division? Sit next to Mark. You’re at Stargazing.

Your comments keep us alive, so leave us one! Or seek us out @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. You could be part of the next podcast.

And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.

The Dallas Stars won a game! In Buffalo! Why does that somehow still feel dull and uncomfortable?

The thing with Dallas is, it’s never just one game. Wes, Taylor, Trent and Mark got together after the previous disaster at home to discuss the Stars’ organizational identity crisis. In this episode:

• What’s the alternative to just giving up and wallowing in a bad stretch of hockey? Pulling out the popcorn and hoping for maximum chaos?
• How far into the Stars organization has the malaise settled?
• How long can the mismatch between system and personnel continue?
• Does the postgame coach-speak make it worse?
• Why does this team react to adversity by turtling, even when it’s counterproductive?
• What are the moves the organization needs to make, rather than the one they’re talking themselves into making...?
• And is there still time to turn it around? (No, really?)

Do you like where they’re at? Let us know. This is Stargazing.

We actually discuss a potential Joe Pavelski re-signing in this episode, so we do get inspiration from your comments. Leave us one, won’t you? Or seek us out @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. You, too, could be part of the next podcast!

And we always love it when you rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.

The Dallas Stars have a way of making you want to swear even after a victory. And when you think about the John Klingberg situation, it’s pretty easy to want to swear all day, every day. (What even...? What the hockey sticks...?)

Wes, David, Tyler and Mark have a salty word or two about the team, and this time, they feel like sharing. In this episode:

• Can the Stars just play all their games at home from now on?
• Alternatively, can they just clone Joe Pavelski and Sons?
• Can they, once and for all, get a second line going again (maybe after Denis Gurianov returns from COVID jail)?
• Why should coaching decisions that didn’t fly when Marc Crawford was bench boss get a second chance now?
• Has the team moved back to the John Klingberg - Esa Lindell pair on the QT?
• Can Dallas commit to a vision of success in which they recognize how much they need Klinger?
• If not, then what the heck have they been trying to do in the draft for the past few years?

The system cannot fail. It can only be failed. This is Stargazing.

What’s on your mind? Let us know in the comments at Defending Big D, or seek us out @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. You could be part of the next podcast.

And we love it when you rate, review and share. Tell us how we’re doing wherever you subscribe.