On last Sunday June 2nd, the 2024 Dallas Stars’ season came to a disappointing close. For not only the team, but also one of the vets on the roster. Today we’re going to take a look back at the highlights from both the regular, and postseason.
#1 seed in the west
2024 saw the second best Stars’ regular season with 52 wins, and 113 points. One point only behind the 1999 Stanley Cup winning team. It was both the Stars’ second central division, and regular season western conference titles since the 2013/2014 realignment (both also came along in 2016).
One of the biggest highlights to the Stars’ season was that eight game winning streak. In franchise history, seven games was the ceiling that Dallas would hit over and over again. And that winning streak came at the best time. Late in the season/early spring when Dallas was seeking home ice positioning leading into the playoffs.
Youth movement continues
Wyatt Johnston had no sophomore slump. Forwards Logan Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque, and defenseman Thomas Harley becoming NHL regulars or getting their feet wet in the major league. Bourque is the new guy who the Stars have high hopes for. And for good reason given recent team history, and what Bourque (and Stankoven) did down in Austin this year.
This may also sound controversial to Stars fans. While it was sad to see Joe Pavelski in all likelihood retiring, it may be best for the Stars heading into 2025. Pavelski will be 40 before the end of the year, and was slowing down this past postseason. It also doesn’t mean Pavelski can’t become a future Stanley Cup champion as a trainer, coach, or a front office position.
In the meantime, Dallas needs to bank more on their youth. Not that vets can’t still contribute. Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Matt Duchene still looked good at times during the 2024 playoffs.
Bittersweet postseason
After the first two round of the playoffs, Stars fans were feeling pretty good about their team. They got payback vs the team that eliminated them last year the Vegas Golden Knights. After that thrilling seven game series dethroning the defending champs, next up, the Stars were up vs the champs from 2022. Drawing the Colorado Avalanche in round two, the Stars beat their long time rivals in six games. Winning in convincing fashion to boot.
Then the western conference finals happened. While the Stars were up 2-1 in the series vs the Edmonton Oilers, they would go on to lose the series in six. Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch made adjustments prior to game four. Stars’ head coach Pete DeBoer had no answer going forward. With Dallas seeing their 2024 Stanley Cup come crashing down.
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