After a dismal 2008-09 season, The Dallas Stars fired co-GM’s Les Jackson and Brett Hull and hired Joe Nieuwenkyk. As his first act, Nieuwenkyk fired head coach Dave Tippett and signed Marc Crawford on to lead the team this season. In the NHL Entry Draft, the Stars selected Right Wing Scott Glennie with the 8th overall pick in the draft and picked up free agents Karlis Skrastins, Warren Peters and Jeff Woywitka. The team also resigned a number of players, most notably was the 6-year $25.5 million contract for Loui Eriksson and the 4-year $13.2 million contract for Stephane Robidas. The Stars are currently sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 26-21-12 record.

While the Dallas Stars have a short history in Texas, the team has already given their fans two Stanley Cup appearances and a National Hockey League Championship in 1999. Head coach Dave Tippett hopes to make the 2005-2006 season equally as memorable for fans with a return to the championship. Center Mike Modano remains the team’s captain and star and goalie Marty Turco makes the defense one of the most powerful in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Their record of success makes Dallas Stars hockey tickets one the best bargains in sports. Before the team moved from Minnesota, the franchise saw very limited success with only two Stanley Cup appearances. Because of numerous losing seasons, attendance and ticket sales were terrible, and very few fans wanted to buy and attend Stars hockey tickets. 

However, after the team’s move to Texas, the Stars have yet to suffer through a losing season or low fan appearance. Fans in Dallas are proud of a team which has only missed the postseason twice since their arrival in Texas due to the ever long hockey strike. The team won the Presidents’ Trophy twice at the end of the 1990s after finishing with the best record in the NHL. All-Star head coach Ken Hitchcock guided the team to its championship in 1999 and the team’s appearance in the finals in the following year. However, Hitchcock was replaced in the middle of a poor 2001-2002 season. Under Coach Tippett’s leadership, the team has regained its fine form of the past, making the playoffs during the last two seasons. 

Much of the team’s success is due to Modano’s performance during his 15 seasons in the league. Modano has played with the Stars in Dallas and in Minnesota, and his offensive prowess has earned him five selections to the NHL All-Star Game. He holds eight franchise records including most games played, most points, and most goals. Modano shows no signs of slowing his pace of excellence as he leads the 2005-2006 team in points to one of its best starts in history. While the Stars have no former members in the NHL’s Hall of Fame, Modano’s career nearly guarantees fans in Dallas that the franchise will be recognized for its star center. A long time fans have waited for a hockey team in Texas to bring their state recognition in this fine sport.

After a loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the conference quarterfinals during the 2004 playoffs, the Stars hope to make a serious impact on the first postseason since the cancellation of the 2005 season. Modano will not be alone in the offensive attack as left wing Brendan Morrow and center Jason Arnott are both enjoying productive seasons for the team. With the Stars’ continued success, Dallas Stars hockey tickets will remain among the hottest in the league, and fans at American Airlines Center will continue to cheer for one of the NHL’s most dominant teams.