Stargazing: A Big D Puckcast | Defending Big D

Summer means fun, and fun starts with the youngsters. And as Dallas Stars fans, we're all about the kids in the team's development system. Who's ready for the big league? Who's still cooking? Derek Neumeier, assistant director of scouting with McKeen's Hockey and longtime Friend of DBD, is back on the mic with Wes and Mark. With th 2024 NHL Draft over and training camp still on the horizon, they devoted an entire episode to Nothing But Prospects. Here's the kind of thing you'll hear: which Stars prospects are the most fun to watch, where Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven will start their seasons, how many Stars fans might be lining up for Lian Bichsel sweaters in the near future, why that extra year with the Texas Stars may have been exactly what Thomas Harley needed, and much, much more. Is Logan Stankoven still a prospect? Or not? Stargazing asks the important questions, even when nobody knows the answers. And now you can, too, thanks to our friends at BetOnline. Do you like where we're at, development-wise? Let's discuss it in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. (We're only there for you. Don't leave us hanging.) If you can't get enough content on the Stars' goaltending pipeline, don't forget to pick up Taylor Baird's latest article on NHL.com. And please don't forget to rate, review and share. Let's keep the Stars in summer.

The 2024 NHL Draft is over, free agency is in full swing, and the Dallas Stars are right in the thick of it. But are they making the moves that will matter next season? NHL.com contributor and DBD editor-in-chief Taylor Baird joined Wes and Mark on the first day of silly season to sort through the Stars action. On this week's episode of Stargazing, we present a wide-ranging conversation that included topics like these: why a Chris Tanev deal didn't (and couldn't) happen what Dallas can do with three right-handed D-men, how the Matt Duchene deal fits into the plan, what to make of the Casey DeSmith signing, and ever so much more. If you're fretting over fourth-line deployments, you actually may be doing pretty well. Let's go Stargazing. See if you agree. It's brought to you by our buddies at BetOnline. For future reference, is winning the division an amateur move? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. (We're there for you.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. Let's keep the Stars in summer.

The Dallas Stars had a good postseason showing. They took down the past two Stanley Cup champions before injuries, exhaustion, and the risks of playing five defensemen caught up to them. Now it's time to think about what the summer will hold. In our final 2024 episode of Stargazing After Dark, Wes and Mark discuss the issues that may be keeping you awake at night, too. Such as: how to get Miro Heiskanen on his strong side, once and for all, why not playing games you don't have to play is a pretty good way to play fewer games, whether it's better to have superstars or super depth, and many, many more. We're Stargazing, and we're assuming Chris Tanev is getting a new Victory Green contract sometime in the next several weeks. Please, help us speak this into existence. We'll bring it to you with some help from our buddies at BetOnline. What else do you hope the Stars will do during the offseason? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. (We only stay there for you.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. It makes us so sadly happy. Really it does.

The Dallas Stars gave up their traditional Game 1 loss. Does this mean the rest of their Western Conference Final is proceeding according to the script? It's impossible to discount the Edmonton Connors Leons Oilers at this stage, but the Victory Green Gang keeps doing what it does best – which is find ways to win. Wes and Mark are back from their long Memorial Day weekend, and they're here to catch you up on the Death Star vs. The Superstars: surviving the first period, responding to chaos, and never, ever starting to panic. What do Jason Robertson and Jason Voorhees have in common? Think about it. We have. It's Stargazing time! And, as always, it's brought to you by our buddies at BetOnline. Now that we're near the halfway point, how are your predictions holding up? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. (We'll check in, but only for you. Don't blow it.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. It makes us so sadly happy. Really it does.

It's turning into A Very Special Throwback Series for the Dallas Stars. They took Western Conference Finals-style revenge on the Vegas Golden Knights. They struck down a longtime foe and legendary rival in the Colorado Avalanche. And now that the Stars have gone through last year's Stanley Cup champions and their most lethal sibling in the #MurderDeathKill Division, they begin a battle for the West against the Edmonton Oilers. And if you're a Stars fan, you know that history even if you weren't around for it. For a preview worthy of this event, we invited Patrick Phillips, better known on YouTube as The Oilers Fanatic. He sat down with Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman to share memories of series past and to talk about what makes the present so unpredictable. They also got to the usual stuff, like McDavid & Draisaitl Vs. The World, the Jake Oettinger supremacy, how defense has shaped both squads, and how each of our favorite teams will win and lose. What was your first experience of being devastated by sports? Let's talk about it. We're Stargazing in the morning! And, as always, it's brought to you by our buddies at BetOnline. Will this Stars-Oilers series live up to the hype? Share your thoughts at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the Default Font From The '90s app. (We'll check in, but only for you. Don't blow it.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. That high will last us all weekend. Thanks in advance.

The Dallas Stars earned some much-needed rest this week – but here at Stargazing, we never sleep. It's time to assess what went right (and wrong) in Round 2, and get ready for a really big show in the Western Conference Finals. In this episode, Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman discuss how Chris Tanev countered Nathan MacKinnon, the art of overtime playoffs line-blending, the importance of the team game to the Stars' strategy, and what may be their biggest concern going forward. Plus there's so much more – including a look at what might have happened in a Dallas-Vancouver series that's been, ahhhh, overtaken by events. The Stars aren't facing the Minotaur. They are the Minotaur. Let's discuss it...while we're Stargazing After Dark. It's brought to you by BetOnline. What are you looking for in the Stars' next series? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. And hey, throw us a rate, review or share. We can prove it will bring good luck. Maybe. Someday. Not now, of course.

The Dallas Stars keep finding ways to win over the Colorado Avalanche. How long until the Avs find a countermove? We've all been thinking it, because we're Stars fans, and we can't have nice things. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman actually sat down to talk about it. In this edition, they go in-depth into what the Stars are doing right, the likelihood that the Avalanche will figure them out, the possible impact of injuries, and how the Victory Green Gang can definitively make the story their own. If you've been keeping up with these guys, you may have noticed that their predictions tend to come true. Listen to Stargazing After Dark...and learn the future! It's all part of the service we provide...thanks to BetOnline. Will the Stars close the deal tonight? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D – or DM us your questions and concerns @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. And hey, throw us a rate, review or share and keep those prognostications coming. It won't work unless you do it!

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.

The one period of Game 1 in which the Dallas Stars should have expected more goals than the Colorado Avalanche was overtime – i.e., the period in which they ultimately lost the match. It's just one of the infuriating twists that the postseason will throw at you, if you get that far. Settle down – this isn't a doomcast. But Wes and Mark do have some thoughts about line matchups, the important role of chaos, and whether the Stars should try to make the Avs' top line play every third shift and clean up on all the others. Maybe it's time for Mason Marchment to come back. It's definitely time for Stargazing After Dark. And it's brought to you by BetOnline. What has you most hyped about Round 2 – for better or otherwise? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. Casters are waiting for your call. (We even have a suggestive saxophone riff, so you know we mean it.) And if you throw us a rate, review or share, we'll clap like Nugget the Circus Seal. Thanks in advance.

The Dallas Stars have won their way into Round 2 – and a throwback series with their #MurderDeathKill Division siblings the Colorado Avalanche. (Or, if you prefer, from the 2023 Stanley Cup winners to the 2022 Stanley Cup winners.) This time, we welcomed Evan Liu of our 4Fans sister site Puck Yeti. He sat down with Wes and Mark for the usual roundtable about roster strengths and weaknesses, the pros and cons of a seven-game series versus a week of rest, and how each of our favorite teams will win, and lose. So who you got? Let's talk about it. It's Stargazing time – and it's brought to you by our buddies at BetOnline. What's on your mind concerning the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far? Share it in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the Default Font From The '90s app. (We're there for you. Really!) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. We thank you kindly.

The Dallas Stars have staged a pretty amazing Round 1 comeback – and they have not one, but two opportunities to finish the job in the next few days. It hasn't always been pretty, and pretty hasn't always meant victory...but is this team for real? Really, really real? Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman are Stars fans, so they're always looking over their shoulders. But even they see the green shoots here. In this cast, they discuss: the new team the Stars are becoming before our eyes, Wyatt Johnston as a period-full-stop member of Dallas' core, the one (1) time plus-minus is actually a useful stat, and whether Logan Stankoven is about 40 NHL games away from scoring every time he gets the puck on his stick. When was the last time you heard that Jason Robertson is playoff-soft? We can't remember, either. Join us for Stargazing...After Dark. It's brought to you by BetOnline. What's on your mind, Stars-wise? Let's talk about at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. Casters are waiting for your call. And please throw us a rate, review or share. It's actually pretty sad how much we live for it. (By the way, we do experience the occasional time-shifting anomaly. Let it be known that we recorded before this news broke. Listen to Stargazing, learn the future!)

The Dallas Stars don't need to do something extra, they just need to be who they are. That's how Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman see the state of play after the Victory Green Gang – against all odds, as it were –evened up Round 1 in Vegas on Tuesday night. In this episode, DBD's cast-masters bring the discussion on everything that matters – including Jake Oettinger's return to the best version of himself, the forward lines that just keep coming, the momentum that runs shift to shift but not game to game, and Craig Smith as secret sauce. What is this series doing in Round 1? It's a mystery. And this is Stargazing – brought to you by BetOnline. Does Logan Stankoven need to stop deferring? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. We're here for you. And let us know if you're stuck in traffic on the way to Game 5! It may be a good time to rate, review and share. (Not if you're driving, though. That would be wrong.)

The Dallas Stars are in the series against the Golden Knights now, in large part because Wyatt Johnston can put the team on his back now that he's (almost) old enough to partake of adult beverages. But what will they need to quiet the house in Vegas again? Well, for starters, Wes and Mark would like a sixth defenseman who can get more than eight minutes a game. But they have a wish list, and they'll gladly share it with you – at the low, low price of about 36 minutes of your time. You can't sacrifice Round 1 while you're planning for Round 2. Play the game in front of you. Let's go Stargazing – brought to you, as always, by BetOnline. Who will you look to for a big game tonight? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. We're there. And hey, let us know if you actually use this as pregame listening! Also, your rate, review and/or share helps keep us alive. (No pressure.)

The Vegas Golden Knights have the opportunity to close out Round 1 on their own ice. The only thing that can stop them is the best team in the Western Conference. And yes, that's still the Dallas Stars. But the Victory Green Gang still needs to find a way to bring its best against a team that has committed to doing what it does best. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman puzzle out what that might mean – whether taking more high-danger shots or reshuffling the forward lines. As a matter of fact, we did record this in the wash room during our lunch break. That's our story. And this...is Stargazing. Who's due to break through? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. We're here for you. And please, if you're inclined, honor our stupid commitment to this bit with a rate, review or share. Let's get through this together.

Whether you think the Dallas Stars have already lost this series, or already won it...you're right. Last night's narrow Game 1 defeat can support almost any preconceived narrative of your choice. So why even bother to watch the rest of them? ...Well, let's not go that far. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman have had a few hours to assimilate everything, and they have thoughts. And takes. Takes, especially – on everything from officiating to special teams and from board battles to point shots (or lack thereof). Does Jake Oettinger need to do a miracle, or just the expected? It's time for Stargazing After Dark, and it's brought to you by BetOnline. Need to vent? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. Impress your friends and get a shout in our next cast! And please don't forget to rate, review and share. You make us feel brand-new.

The Dallas Stars' Stanley Cup quest begins tonight. And Stars fans everywhere are both ecstatic and apprehensive that their team's first meeting is against last year's nemesis, the Vegas Golden Knights. How should one feel about that? ...No, really? For this assignment, Stargazing wanted to go straight to the source – so we sought out 4Fans' resident opposition expert. Tom Urtz Jr. is having a busy postseason, as both interim site manager of Knights On Ice and deputy managing editor of the New York Rangers site Blueshirt Banter. He sat down with Wes and Mark to talk rosters, storylines, and possible surprises for the first round. So who you got? Let's talk about it. It's Stargazing time! What are your hopes and fears for the first round? Share them in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the Default Font From The '90s app. (We're still there, but only for you.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. Hey, it's the playoffs. And we love you all more than ever.

The 2023-24 Dallas Stars really are that good. Is it OK to just enjoy it for a few days, for cryin' out loud? Here at Stargazing, we say...prrrrrrobably? Wes and Mark sat down on Eclipse Day 2024 to bask in the totality of the past week, good and bad. And as always, they have plenty to say about our Stars and what they have revealed to us. In this episode: How are the Stars preparing for the playoffs? What can we say about Mavrik Bourque's debut? How will Pete DeBoer handle load management for Tyler Seguin? What happens when Daddy and Hak come back? And ever so much more. So is it better to take on the Vegas Golden Knights earlier or later in the Stanley Cup playoffs? You know you've asked yourself the same question. Let's go Stargazing...for answers! We all have postseason thoughts. Share yours in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the Default Font From The '90s app. (We're still there! Well, for you we will be.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. We love you all, and we'll love you even better during the playoffs.

The 2023-24 Dallas Stars are sitting on top of the world – or at least the Western Conference. Although you might be forgiven for not knowing it, because it seems hardly anybody wants to talk about a team with three (or four) scoring lines. That leaves a select few, including Wes and Mark, to find the discussion points in this particularly well-balanced version of the Victory Green Gang. And this week, they get a timely assist from Taylor Baird, NHL.com contributor and our own longtime editor-in-chief. In this episode: a big win in British Columbia – and a taste of the Stanley Cup fight on the horizon, the return of Playoffs Jake Oettinger, the long tail of the Bennaissance, and so very much more. The President's Trophy: a gift or a curse? (Bearing in mind that the last time the Stars won it, they also won the Cup.) Tell us in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts over on the Default Font From The '90s app. (We're still there, usually.) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. We love you all, and we'll love you even better during the playoffs.

The Dallas Stars are out for the last long road trip of the season. It's time to start talking about the Stanley Cup playoffs battles that are, at this point, certain to come. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman are back from spring break, and they have plenty to discuss, mainly about the Stars' state of readiness for the fight ahead. What's going right? Where are the exploitable weaknesses? And how did GM Jim Nill do in preparing his squad for this moment? And finally, what's the secret sauce in the Seguin-Duchene-Marchment line, and why does it go away when any one of them does? We just might have figured it out. Don't tell us you don't want to know. Join us for some Stargazing. What do you want to see as the Stars take on one more West Coast swing? Tell us at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. (Sure we're still there!) And please don't forget to rate, review and share. We love you all, and we'll love you even better during the playoffs.

The Dallas Stars have pulled the trigger on a major trade-deadline move, and soon (no, really, soon) top-four blueliner Chris Tanev will wear Victory Green. So...anything else happen since last week? Oh, mercy. Wes and Mark have watched all of it, and they have...thoughts. And a few scorching-hot takes. Join us for a little Stargazing as they discuss the games just played, the schedule ahead, the incoming Logan Stankoven supremacy, and so very much more. Want to get in your final stretch-run predictions while they haven't been overtaken by events? Tell us here – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. Trust us, we've thought up worse. And please don't forget to rate, review and share. You keep us alive.

The Dallas Stars have gotten used to scoring their way out of their troubles. So what do they do when the goals get fewer? Wes and Mark took a look at a long, long road week and found a few spots that the line blender might solve – and a few that the NHL trade deadline might help. Join us for a little pre-game Stargazing, won't you? Which forward lines would you like to roll? Tell us at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And don't forget to rate, review and share. Thanks for the support.

The 2023-24 Dallas Stars are a team with expectations. But as a Dallas Stars fan, you still have to be this sad to ride – and the prospect of entering the Stanley Cup playoffs with holes in the defense may be the big comedown you've been waiting for. The NHL trade deadline is days away, and clearly, this is the point at which you need more players on the ice. So Wes and Mark took their own advice and called D Magazine contributor and Friend o' DBD Robert Tiffin, whose latest piece for StrongSide is the jumping-off point for their musings. In this episode: Do the Stars have to trade their future to close their Cup window? Is there any real downside to trading a first-round pick? Is Chris Tanev or Noah Hanifin really the answer? And which will kill the team first: cap or term? Hey, every time the Stars have gotten Jamie Oleksiak back, he's been a better player. We're just saying. And that's why we're Stargazing. Who's on your wish list for the Stars' next big swing? Tell us at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And don't forget to rate, review and share. Thanks for the support.

The entire month of February is shaping up to be a Valentine to Dallas Stars fans. Just look at the past week, and the two weeks coming up. What can you say? Well, as it turns out, Wes and Mark have plenty to say. And in this episode of Stargazing, they cut loose on questions like this: Has Jim Nill underserved one of his own golden rules? And what will it do to the Stars' Stanley Cup hopes? When does Wyatt Johnston graduate from "good prospect" to "good NHL player"? Is Playoffs Jake Oettinger back in action? What can the Stars do – really do – if one of their defenders gets taken out by injury? For any length of time? What's the underreported cap issue that could shape the roster well into next season? And much, much more. Who's your dark-horse candidate for the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame? Let's talk about all of them at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And don't forget to rate, review and share. We love you best.

The Dallas Stars have had an interesting February so far, and they haven't even hit the most interesting part of their schedule. We're probably not the first people to point out how much of a test this month will be – but we can belabor the point with the best of them. That's one reason why Wes and Tyler settled in to talk about how it started, how it's going, and what to expect. Can the Victory Green Gang gain momentum, or will they settle for holding serve? We'll talk about this, and so much more. Can we podcast any more this week? (Well, technically, probably not, because it's already Saturday.) Tell us where to get off at Defending Big D, or contact us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And do the Stars fan in your life a favor – share this podcast with them. Give us a rate or review while you're at it. Your love keeps us going.

It's All-Star Week – or is it more of an All-Star Long Weekend? – in the AHL. And the Texas Stars sent a four-member contingent to join the festivities, including their head coach, the league's two biggest scorers, and the presumptive Rookie of the Year, who's also a likely league MVP. It's a lot to take in, especially for a team that started the season with a bang but has started the new year on the struggle bus. It's time to catch up – so Mark sat down with Stephen Meserve, the mind behind 100 Degree Hockey and one half of the writing team behind the definitive Texas Stars history-in-essays, We Win Here. In this edition, they talked about: how injuries have affected the roster, how players and staff have tried to adjust, the surprises (and no-surprises) among the team's hottest prospects, what some standout players need to do to make it to the next level, and much, much more. Ever wondered why the back half of the Texas Stars season is always so loaded? Find out here...on Stargazing. (And while you're at it, follow Stephen and 100 Degree Hockey on the birdy app for the latest on the T-Stars.) Let's think about the future. Talk to us about your favorite up-and-comers at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And share the love by sharing this episode. Give us a rate or review, too. Of all our favorite listeners, you're our most favorite-est.

you do with your January? Wes and Mark decided to do some cookin'...and now they're ready to talk recipes. Stargazing is back with a vengeance, and in this episode, we discuss: Jake Oettinger, All-Star, and whether he's set to play like one, how to make sure Miro Heiskanen is ready to be a tank in the playoffs the defensive developments that could decide the Stars' postseason fate, the Logan Stankoven / Mavrik Bourque conundrum that hangs over everything, what to do at the trade deadline, the lazy takes, and the crazy takes, and so much more. Is there really nothing left to talk about until March? And how are we going to pad out this little puppet show until then? Let us know at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. (Hey, it's February in Dallas. You're gonna want to warm up over these hot takes later.) And share the love by sharing this episode. Give us a rate or review, too. Of all our favorite listeners, you're our most favorite-est.

Barely beat a bad team. Blow the doors off a bad team. Barely lose to a bad team. Then blow a lead and lose to a really good team in overtime. The Dallas Stars have had a pretty remarkable New Year's week. Wes and Mark are ready to start 2024 with a bang, so they're unloading some of their best analysis and barely-digestible hot takes in this week's Stargazing. In this edition, they discuss: when Scott Wedgewood, Starting Goaltender, reaches the moment of unsustainability, why the Stars should play three forwards in overtime, why the Stars should practice with three forwards in overtime first, the real cost of Miro Heiskanen's absence, however short it may be, what the last rollercoaster week can tell us about the team and its roster, and much, much more. Roope Hintz may be the Stars' best player, but is Jake Oettinger their most better? Let Wes and Mark explain this, then let us know what you think at Defending Big D. Or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Hot takes for cold weather! And show your friends you love them by sharing this episode around. Give us a rate or review, too. It's the preferred New Year's resolution.

Happy New Year...'s Eve weekend! Our Dallas Stars will end 2023 with a home-and-home against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the holiday mood is pervasive. (All that red and green! Festive, right?) Wes and Mark feel like celebrating, but they always have an eye out for anything that could spoil the party. In this episode, they discuss: what these Stars are capable of, the perils of relying on "clutch" to carry the day, things to watch for this weekend, New Year's resolutions for our favorite GM, and much, much more. How much can a team can get done in 13 seconds? We're liable to find out. Welcome to Stargazing! What's your Stars-related resolution for 2024? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We need more hot takes to get us through a cold January. And show your friends you love them, man – share this episode around. Give us a rate or review, if the holiday mood hits you. See you next year!

The Dallas Stars pulled off a Festivus miracle last night, so of course Stargazing needs to complain about something. Of course. Kidding, sort of – but Wes and Mark always have an eye on where the puck will be next, and they've already moved on to the next worry. In this episode, they discuss: the netminding situation, and why Jim Nill should leave it alone, the defense, and why Nill should leave that alone, too, Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque, and why they probably need to be left alone, a radical plan for Radek Faksa, and much, much more. What's your least popular Stars-related opinion? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We love you and your hot takes. And please, show your friends you care by sharing this episode. Give us a rate or review while you're at it. Scamper 'round the aluminum pole with us!

The Dallas Stars have a few December problems. Do they need to figure them out before March? For a team with the Victory Green Gang's ambitions – and limitations – it's a pretty important question. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman got together this morning to talk about everything from the state of the Central Division to the fun going on out West, and from the not-so-fun stats dogging Jake Oettinger to a possible plan for the NHL trade deadline. Now you can enjoy their conversation while you're pregaming tonight's bout with the Ottawa Senators. This is Stargazing, and yes, we love you that much. What do you want to see more of from this year's Stars? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We read all your comments, and we'll even name-check you in a future cast, if your hot takes are spicy enough. And don't forget to share with your friends. Give us a rate or review while you're at it. It's the holiday thing to do.

It's been an interesting December so far for the Dallas Stars. They've blown out, and they've been blown out. They've won and lost in close games. The schedule has given us mirror images of the same team. How do they find their way back to consistency? Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman sat down to talk about the current state of play, and we have a hunch you'll want to listen. And in case you want to play along with our TV On The Radio segment, you can watch, too. Mark chose a clip in which Jani Hakanpää picked a bad time to make a routine stick adjustment. And Wes selected the moment in which we see Mason Marchment go from zero to hero within the same questionable display. What do you want to see more of from this year's Stars? Let us know here, or DM us  @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We read all your comments, and we'll even name-check you in a future cast, if your hot takes are spicy enough. And in the holiday spirit, don't forget to share with your friends. Give us a rate or review while you're at it. We're Stargazing, and we love you.

The past month has been a wild ride against some strong teams, and the real questions keep getting...realer. What's a Dallas Stars fan to focus on? Wes and Mark are listening, and they're talking, too. They'll help you catch up – or at least give you something to argue with. What are you thinking these days? Let us know here – or DM us  @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Get a mention in the next cast! It's fun. And please, tell your friends about us. Give us a rate or review wherever you listen, too. We're still Stargazing, and you're still awesome.

It's a good thing the Dallas Stars keep winning games, or you might be worried about them. Here at Stargazing, we're happy to do the worrying for you, which is where Wes and Mark come in. Our MP3 heroes met up before a game in Vancouver that could be the scoring bonanza of the season to date. Get their all their hot takes, considered observations, and game-time predictions before the 9 PM start! (Or after. Timeshifting is cool, too.) And just to show how committed to the bit we are, there are three TV On The Radio clips to nerd out over this time around – all from the Stars' seat-of-the-pants victory over the Calgary Flames. Wes singles out Jamie Benn's defensive chops here. And here are Mark's picks – first, extra footage on the Captain's coverage, and then another highlighting the decision-making of Ryan Suter and Jani Hakanpää. What else do you wanna know? Let us know at Defending Big D – or DM us on Txxitter @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Get a mention in the next cast! It's fun. And please, tell your friends about us. Give us a rate or review wherever you listen, too. We are Stargazing, and you are awesome.

The 2023-23 Texas Stars may boast more genuine blue-chip prospects than they've ever had. They also have a diminished veteran presence and may struggle to reach the AHL playoffs. What shall we make of this conundrum? No reporter knows the Cedar Park system better than 100 Degree Hockey founder Stephen Meserve. And in this sit-down with Mark, he once again shares his expertise with Stargazing. In this episode, learn more about: the peaks and valleys of a rookie's journey through his first season, what Lian Bichsel has learned about North American ice (and rules), whether Logan Stankoven or Mavrik Bourque is poised to grab the first forward call-up, how veterans factor into the team's plans for its prospects, the Stars' investments in net, Neil Graham's future with the organization, and what the Idaho Steelheads are doing that makes "getting sent down" to the ECHL a bonus rather than a demotion. Heads up: Stephen has written a feature for TheAHL.com that you won't want to miss. Follow him on the former bird app to make sure you're among the first to see it. Who's the prospect you can't wait to see in Dallas? Let us know at Defending Big D – or DM us on Txxitter @HitZIceSTAT or @KETibbetts. We'll probably mention you in the next cast, but we probably have to hear from you first. (No pressure.) And don't forget to tell your friends about us. Give us a rate or review wherever you listen, too. This is Stargazing, and you are awesome.

The Dallas Stars endured their first regulation loss of the season last week. So yeah, it feels like a lot right now, because they're supposed to win all the time. You might like to think that the guys who gleefully post a regular Doomcast would be ready to pounce. But Wes and Mark have taken a much more measured approach – and we think you will, too, after you listen. In this edition of Stargazing: What's really the problem with the power play? How close is Nils Lundkvist to becoming a top-four defender? Has Dallas found...wait for it!...a fourth line that can also score? Why must you be this tall to play on a line with Evgenii Dadonov? And what we will do with TV On The Radio this week? This week's highlight videos are brought to you by Matt Duchene – and by a regular DBD'er, who provided the feedback that prompted these choices. Schluck, please claim your gift basket! Here is Mark's pick – the Mason Marchment goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. And Wes brings in another big-brain play from the same game. You know the pass is coming. You just have to know what to do with it. Here at Stargazing, that's what we're all about. Join us, won't you? What do you love (or hate) to see from these Stars? Let's discuss it at Defending Big D – or DM us on the forever bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Real listeners get shoutouts – why not you? And we love it when you tell your friends about us, and also when you give us a rate or review wherever you listen. This is Stargazing, and you are awesome.

The Dallas Stars haven't lost a single game in regulation in the 2023-24 season to date. They've gotten seven of eight available points. But don't worry – there's still plenty to keep a True Fan awake at night. Wes and Mark hear your cries, and that's only one reason why they're introducing a new gimmick feature for our humble puckcast. In this edition of Stargazing, you'll hear each of them choose a play from a recent game that tells them everything they need to know about the current state of the Stars (unless it doesn't). Then they'll talk about why – and at no additional cost to you, the listener. Mark provides a handy YouTube link for his choice – a Ty Dellandrea play during the shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. And here's Wes' key moment – that first goal the Stars gave up to the Anaheim Ducks. Would you rather chase your fears or air your hopes? Let's discuss it at Defending Big D – or DM us on the '90s-era default font app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. If your take is spicy enough, we might just quote you in a future episode. And please don't forget to share. Tell your friends about us, and give us a rate or review wherever you listen. We love you!

Some of us just like to enjoy a beverage and watch a Dallas Stars game – and that's just fine. But others want to understand how players affect the game and the team around them...and that's where math comes in. For this edition of Stargazing, D Magazine's David Castillo – who's also a longtime DBD contributor – sat down with Wes Lawrence to take the fear out of #fancystats. In this episode, they discuss: how stats like Corsi and Wins Above Replacement affect a team's makeup, what coaches may see in that player you hate (or love), why analysis and intuition can, and should, work hand in hand, and what's on the horizon for the quant crowd. Ready to revisit the Honka Wars? Oh yes...we went there. Leave your thoughts here, or DM us on the '90s-era default font app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Let's talk about it! And please don't forget to share. Tell your friends about us, and give us a rate or review wherever you listen. We appreciate it more than we can say.

The 2023-24 NHL season is officially underway, and the Dallas Stars have emerged as heavy betting favorites for a strong run in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Therefore, every Stars fan should reflexively flinch and prepare for incoming fire. Here at Stargazing, we believe in embracing the fear as a way to reduce its demonic power over us. That's why Wes and Mark spent last night rummaging through the hurt locker for the second half of our season preview. (Also because they think it's fun. Go figure.) In this episode: why the defense really is the tire fire you think it is, how the regression monster can still destroy your hopes if (when?) it catches the forward corps, what happens if Jake Oettinger can't get enough rest during the back half, the front-office decisions that could come back to bite the Stars' postseason hopes, and why the Texas Stars can't bail out the big squad if shifts get real. We're not saying doom is the answer, but it usually asks the best questions. That's a fact...and this is Stargazing. What are your biggest Big D worries? Speak them out loud at Defending Big D, or DM us on that other tire fire @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'd love to bring them up in a future podcast. And never forget: Sharing is caring! Please tell your friends about us. Rate or review while you're at it. We love you all differently, but we love you all as much. Thanks.

It's that time of year when every team is undefeated and everything still seems possible. And here at Stargazing, we like where we're at. That's why Wes and Mark sat down late last week for their annual Mssrs. Brightside buddy act. And they found a lot to be positive about. In this episode, they discuss: the reasons why the defense may be better than you think it is, the new (and continuing) power of the forward corps, the case for worrying much less about whether Jake Oettinger is getting enough time off in net, and why a deep Stanley Cup run is the floor for '24. We're not saying someone is coming home with postseason hardware, but Miro Heiskanen...the floor is yours. This is Stargazing. Who's the ray of sunshine in your Stars firmament? Post your thoughts at Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Let's talk about it in the next podcast. Sharing is caring! Please tell your friends about us. Rate or review while you're at it. We love you all

Victory Green is back on the ice, and the Dallas Stars prospects are already putting up W's. Surely, this means this team is a juggernaut that's going straight to the Stanley Cup Final. Unless it doesn't. Wes and Mark are trying to find that balance between unreasonable optimism and ice-cold reality. You decide if it's working. In this episode: How does Lian Bichsel look on North American ice? Will Oskar Bäck's possible injury hold the squad back for the rest of the tournament? What can Antonio Stranges learn from Logan Stankoven? Is Rémi Poirier becoming the French buccaneer the Stars need? Who else should you be watching? And what are the emerging storylines for training camp? There's a reason why you cannot make Wyatt Johnston go away. Let's talk about it...in Stargazing. Who's featuring in your future headlines? Post your thoughts at Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Let's talk about it in the next podcast. And don't forget that sharing is caring. Tell all your friends about us. Rate or review while you're at it. We appreciate it more than we can say.

Hockey season is days away, and we really mean it this time. As we count the hours toward the 2023 Traverse City Prospects Tournament – the officially unofficial kickoff to the Dallas Stars' season – which dates should we watch? And what are we missing? Never fear – Wes Lawrence and Tyler Mair have devoted an entire podcast to these burning questions. In this episode: what to expect from the Traverse City Prospect Tournament, storylines to follow during Cedar Park training camp, players to watch in the preseason, and why all these games that don't matter actually do matter. We've got beer, throwing stuff, and the occasional fist fight. We've got a new Stargazing! Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. What would you do for a party at Joe Pavelski's house? Post your thoughts here, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll name-check you in the next podcast.

The days grow short when you reach September, as the poet wrote. And as hockey season bears down on us like an out-of-control semi, life is going to come at you pretty fast, as another poet suggested.  With that in mind, Wes and Mark are wasting no time in testing out their takes for the coming Dallas Stars season. In this episode: Is this the deepest Stars squad in recent memory? How are player roles evolving under Pete DeBoer's coaching regime? What can the team do now that they have more than one-and-a-half offensive lines? Has Mason Marchment become the Ryan Suter of Adam Burishes – or can he bounce back to his original Stars form? Speaking of Suter, can DeBoer set him up to be as effective as he can be? How concerned should we still be about the defense as a whole? And what about the team's cap flexibility, or lack thereof? It's time to plan around hockey again. It's time…for a new episode of Stargazing. Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. What are you looking forward to this month? DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll name-check you in the next podcast. That high could last for days! And please tell your friends about us with a rate, review, or share. Enjoy.

The Dallas Stars have made some notable moves on this summer's free-agent market, but so far the biggest headlines have surrounded GM Jim Nill. With a brand-new Jack Adams Award under his belt and two more years helming the ship in his future, that seems appropriate. Wes and Mark certainly thought so, and now they want to talk about why. In this edition: Why did GM Jim focus on the forward corps? What will have to happen if the Stars still want another top-four blueliner? How can Nils Lundqvist still have an impact? Where do the Stars' best prospects fit into Nill's three-dimensional chess game? What will Dallas do about its cap situation? And how will Pete DeBoer deploy the retooled roster? We don't know the question…but is the answer Matt Duchene? Let's talk about it…in the new episode of Stargazing. Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. Is hundred-degree heat actually the best time for hockey? Objectively? Post your thoughts at Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app (or whatever '90s system-default font that is) @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll mention you by name in the next podcast, and that high will last you for the rest of the week. We practically guarantee it. And please tell your friends about us with a rate, review, or share. Enjoy.

When you don't have a first-round draft pick, you have to get creative. Arguably, getting creative is what the Dallas Stars have done best for the past several years. Where has that left the team's player pipeline? Friend of DBD Derek Neumeier, assistant director of scouting with McKeen's Hockey, sat down with Taylor Baird and Mark Zimmerman to discuss the Stars' 2023 NHL Draft and how it builds on previous years. In this episode: each 2023 draft pick, profiled, notes from the Stars' most recent Prospect Development Camp, what scouts are saying, how the Stars stack up against their competition, and much, much more. Does Rich Peverley get all the credit he deserves? The answer is no, and our team can tell you why...in this edition of Stargazing. Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. What do you want to know about the Stars' prospects? Post your questions in the comments at Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll name-check you in the next podcast. And please tell your friends about us with a rate, review, or share. We love all of you differently, but every one of you just as much. Enjoy.

The Dallas Stars' season has ended, as all seasons do, and now it's time to start looking to what comes next. Tyler Mair, who's been assessing individual performances in his DBD Player Grades series, joined Mark Zimmerman to examine the Stars' present (and future?) roster. In this episode: How will the team bolster the forward corps? What are the most pressing issues regarding the defense? And can you really ever have enough goaltending? Let's think big. Let's go Stargazing. Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. What are your biggest question about the offseason? Post them at Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll name-check you in the next podcast. And you can never go wrong with a rate, review or share. Tell your friends about the Stars love, and it'll come back to you. Probably. Maybe.

At some point in Western Conference Final Game 3, the Dallas Stars quit playing like a team and started playing like individuals. It would have been easy to give up on them when adversity struck early in Game 4...and yet here we are, with Game 5 on the horizon. Wes and Mark took a moment to disassemble the Voltron of disaster that culminated in Tuesday night's breakdown, and what the Victory Green Gang must to do to avoid a gentleman's sweep as the series returns to Las Vegas. In this episode: why the Stars have caught more pipes than nets against the Golden Knights, why we need to talk about Jake Oettinger, why Jamie Benn's shocking lapse in judgment may have felt inevitable, the importance of trust, or the lack of it, the reappearance of Regular-Season Robo, and the prospect of Dallas' best scorer beginning to score in bunches again, what this postseason will mean for Roope Hintz, no matter the final result, the long, long odds against a meaningful comeback, and the signs of hope – however small – that we might at least get a Game 6. It's time to ask yourself what you believe. It's time...for Stargazing. Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. How does all this make you feel? Tell us about it at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We may talk about it in the next podcast. Spread the Stars love around – rate, review and share. We appreciate it more than we can say.

The Dallas Stars have made it halfway to the big show. Not bad for a team that was widely expected to miss the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs altogether. Now comes their biggest test yet: Can they take down the regular-season Western Conference champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, on Sin City's home ice? Wes and Mark have been thinking about this matchup for a long time. A long time. In this edition, they talk about: what stood out in the Stars' seven-game series with the Seattle Kraken, why this series marks a return to "normal" hockey, what Esa Lindell does exceptionally well, why the Stars succeed, or fail, in individual games, which groups are crushing it, and which are Kryptonite, how the whole team can help out Jake Oettinger, why even a struggling Jason Robertson is better than you think, and what may be the one way Vegas can control the series. It's on, as they say, like Donkey Kong. We're Stargazing, and we approve this message. Brought to you by our good friends at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. What does your NHL GM bingo card look like? Tell us about it at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We may talk about it in the next podcast. And don't forget to spread the Stars love around – rate, review and share.

It's win-or-go-home time for the Dallas Stars, which means it's the same for a very tough opponent, the Seattle Kraken. What's gonna happen? (No, really...what is going to happen?!) Taylor Baird joined MC Wes Lawrence to go over the Stars' scenarios, and they had a lot to discuss in a short 30 minutes. In this episode: the case for a Victory Green victory, the factors that could swing the game, who needs to step up, the case for shortening the bench, what the Stars must do to put the Kraken on the back foot (tentacle, whatever), and what may happen if they don't. It's time to get real. It's time...for Stargazing. Brought to you by the good folks at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. Any Stanley Cup playoffs questions keeping you up at night, not that there's anything wrong with that? Tell us about them at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We read them all, and we may even talk about them in the next podcast, so you got that going for you. And don't forget to spread the Stars love around – rate, review and share.

The Dallas Stars are coming home from Washington with a tied series in their duffles. Can they take their first Round 2 lead over the Seattle Kraken, on home ice? Wes, Mark and Tyler got together to give it a think-out-loud, and we turned it into a whole podcast. In this episode: why the Stars' top line has been the dog that didn't bark, what to make of Jake Oettinger's Round 2 stats, the horrible truth (?) about Miro Heiskanen, what to look for if the Stars have really turned a corner, and what may be the biggest danger facing the Victory Green Gang for the rest of the series. We don't know the question, but the answer is "Give Thomas Harley more ice time." Meanwhile, it's time for Stargazing! Brought to you by the good folks at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. Have a Round 2 question? Tell us about a Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll name-check you in the next podcast. And don't forget what needy creatures we are – rate, review and share. Thanks!  

The Dallas Stars have responded to adversity pretty well so far in this Stanley Cup playoffs series. How can they carry that forward against a Seattle Kraken team that's (mostly) capable of matching skill with skill? DBD's fearless leader, Taylor Baird, joins Wes and Mark for a long look at the series so far, just in time for your pre-Game 3 listening. In this episode: the impact of Joe Pavelski, the importance of knowing when to react and when to let it ride, which lines are working (and which players they're not working for), what Dallas might do to switch up the defense, how Jason Robertson can get his groove on, and the eternal danger of Jake Oettinger. Who do you think is the Stars player most likely to make another team miserable during a seven-game series? Share your thoughts...with Stargazing. It's brought to you by the good folks at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. What's Kraken? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We're collecting your thoughts, because we love you. (Not like we're stalkers, or anything.) And don't forget that rating, reviewing and sharing is a great way to share the love around. Thanks in advance.

Three Round 1 wins in a row, taking the series in six...these Dallas Stars may actually be pretty good. Can they carry the pace into the Western Conference semifinals against a team that just knocked off the reigning champs? Wes, Mark and Tyler took a deep look into the team's performance and found plenty to talk about. In this episode: how the Victory Green Gang fashioned the Round 1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, the individual performances that stood out during the series, what they need to do to prevail now that the fans have the fight they wanted with the Seattle Kraken, and who needs to deliver if the Stars want another Western Conference Final in their future. All this, plus a quick listen to the thunder in the East...it's time for Stargazing. Brought to you by the good folks at the Green Team, Greening Law, P.C. Have a Round 2 question? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us on the bird app @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We'll name-check you in the next podcast. Rating, reviewing and sharing is a great way to spread the Stars love. Thanks!