Every ten years marks a significant evaluation point for the world. Everyone looks back on the decade as the 9th year winds to a close on New Year’s Eve.
Each new decade is a fresh start compared to the last.
Now it’s 2023, and time to see where the Stars are in the 2020s. Two great years sandwich two okay ones in the 2020s so far.
The ultimate goal for every team is to win the Stanley Cup.
While the Stars have not done that this decade, there is still much to look forward to before the decade concludes.
Almost, But Not Quite
The decade we started with the biggest regular season game in the Stars’ history on the first day. The Stars defeated the Nashville Predators 4-2 in the NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2020. That game now seems like a lifetime ago. The Covid Pandemic hit and changed our world—the rest of the hockey season formed around the pandemic with a drastically altered playoff format.
The Stars reached the top of the Western Conference in this new format, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in September 2020. They ultimately fell two games short in the quest for the Cup. It was a great start to the decade, but then they stumbled.
Stumbling Out of the Gate
60 points in 56 games was not good enough to qualify for the Playoffs in 2021. High expectations going into the season resulted in dashed dreams shy of the big 16-team dance. 2022 rolled around with renewed hopes. Once again, they made it to the playoffs with renewed optimism, fueled by the emergence of a new star player.
Jake Oettinger’s outstanding performances propelled the team to overtime of Game 7 in the First Round. The Flames ended up winning it in a heartbreaking defeat. It was two years of pain that led to the most recent season.
A New Purpose
Many hoped that 2023 be the year for the Stars. Players like Jason Robertson shined in Franchise-historic numbers during the regular season. The Stars defeated the Minnesota Wild and Seattle Kraken during the first two rounds. They ran into the freight train of the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights.
The Stars still held a chance after clawing their way to a Game 6 after falling into an 0-3 hole. Barely any team can win a series after going down 0-3, but the Stars made it entertaining.
The Future
There are still six years remaining in this decade, providing the Stars with a realistic chance of winning the Stanley Cup. They have a greater opportunity than in any other decade since their championship victory in the 1990s. No more championship success has found the team in any decade since.
In a city longing for a championship, it is imperative that the Stars win the Stanley Cup in the 2020s.
Waiting for 24 years is far too long for a team that consistently comes close to reaching the pinnacle. This team is poised for future success, with players like Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Jake Oettinger paving the way.
Before this decade ends, there is a real chance for the Stars to win it all.
This fanbase is starving for a champion, and the Stars are almost at the top.
Photo: Dallas Stars/Twitter
