It's a new year bringing the same old worries for Dallas Stars fans. Every mistake is a harbinger, every loss is a world-ender. Have we gotten too used to the good times?

In this episode, Wes and Mark invited David Castillo to talk about the Victory Green Gang's underlying stats – and, candidly, to talk them down from the rickety ledge of Stars positivity. And they had so much to talk about that we're splitting this cast into two parts, so you can slam it down fast.

In this edition, the crew ponders what Mikko Rantanen does that makes him unique among NHL forwards, what Thomas Harley can do to make the Stars a true playoffs force, what will happen if (when) regression gets to them, and ever so much more.

It's not unsustainable if you can do it. We're Stargazing, that's our story, and we're sticking to it.

While you're here, why not throw in an opinion at Defending Big D on where you expect the Stars to be at the Olympics break? We think about your feedback all the time, and that's why we'd also love a rate, review, or share from you, wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for everything. We love you.

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The rise of advanced stats in hockey has taught us that much of what we know about the Dallas Stars is bad. Just look at them: 31st in the NHL in shot share, 24th in expected goals...so how in the world do they just - keep - winning?

Wes and Mark have decided that this year's Stars were built this way on purpose. And in this edition of Stargazing, they make the case. They discuss the type of shots the team makes, the type they give up, and how the type of game they play means they perhaps don't get as much credit as they deserve for their own success.

Loading a whole other power-play unit...cats and dogs playing together...mass hysteria! We're Stargazing, and we endorse it. What about you? Tell us what you'd like to see at Defending Big D.

And if you're listening, please gift us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. We love you. Especially at holiday time.

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The Dallas Stars are having themselves a season, injuries and roster holes and recent losses notwithstanding. But this year, that success has come at an organizational cost — and their brethren in Cedar Park have often been the ones paying it.

Mark Zimmerman loves discussing the Texas Stars, and even more so when he can enlist Stephen Meserve to talk with. Late last week, the founder of the go-to T-Stars news site 100 Degree Hockey and co-author of We Win Here: The Definitive Essays You Need About The Texas Stars joined him for a fireside chat.

In this episode, they talk about the slump in special teams, the boost the offense needs, the long-term effects of trading away draft picks, the surprisingly happy news about the defense and goaltending, and why Texas is still in striking distance of the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs in spite of all their challenges. As a bonus, they also ponder how the Idaho Steelheads just. keep. winning. Somehow.

Who would you like to see step and be That Guy in Metro Austin? Tell us at Defending Big D. We may even discuss your thoughts in a future cast. (No, really!)

And, as always, please rate, review, or share wherever you get your ’casts. We're Stargazing, and we love you.

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With Tyler Seguin's season-ending injury, the Dallas Stars face a challenge above and beyond even their other well-documented woes in the man-games-lost department in 2026-27. The question now is how they will try to fill his roster spot...unless, perhaps, the real question is whether they need to at all.

Any time there's this much money involved, Wes and Mark know what to do — and that's to call on Juraj Kralik. In this edition, they all discuss the finer points of long-term injured reserve, how the newly christened Mark Stone Rule will complicate the playoffs picture, why the Stars might skip right past a rental forward and look to trade for another impact defender, why doing nothing may be a viable answer, and so much more.

You know what might really fix everything? Getting those '99 sweaters back in stock. We’re Stargazing, and we can tell you why. What's your answer? Tell us at Defending Big D.

And hey, don't forget to give us a rate, review or share wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks in advance. We love you all.

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The Dallas Stars are a better team now than they were a month ago...and they're still not as good as they project to be with a healthy lineup. In the spirit of the season, it's time for some thanksgiving.

As it turns out, Wes and Mark know all about being grateful for the bounty in Big D. In this edition, they discuss Jason Robertson's record-setting heater, Tyler Seguin's creativity, Mikko Rantanen's magic, Miro Heiskanen's renaissance, Wyatt Johnston's yet-untapped potential, the power play's deadly efficiency, and so much more.

This is one of the top two teams in the NHL. In the NHL. We’re Stargazing, and we're loving (almost) every minute of it. How about you? Talk to us at Defending Big D.

And while you're at it, please give us a rate, review or share at a podcast aggregator near you. Thanks in advance. We love you all.

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Somehow, the Dallas Stars have become one of the NHL's most dangerous power-play teams with only one power-play unit. And that's not the weird part. Wes and Mark are always looking for the worst explanations for the Stars' best performances — and even they're going to the "special teams mean nothing during the playoffs after the refs swallow their whistles" take at this point.

That said, they do have questions. In this episode of Stargazing, they want to know what's up with Thomas Harley, how Mikko Rantanen has changed the team's structure, whether the new system is contributing to defensive foibles, if the Stars can keep holding their own in the Central Division, and so much more. It all adds up to the kind of hard-hitting analysis that can be summarized as "More points are better than less points."

This team we're so worried about has a 7-1-2 record over the past 10 games. We’re Stargazing, and we say, let that soak in. But tell us why you're concerned over at Defending Big D, because we swear we'll understand.

By the way, please, give us a rate, review or share wherever you get your digital sound files. Thanks in advance. We love you all.

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Good news! The Dallas Stars' power play is every bit as dangerous as it looks. Now if only they could score at even strength....

There's so little flexibility in the Victory Green lineup right now that it's easy to hang all one's hopes on the regular roster players who are surely coming back any day now. And however much false hope may trouble Wes and Mark, their take on the Stars' status is...pretty optimistic, all things considered. In the latest edition of Stargazing, they discuss who will be the best partner for Lian Bichsel, whether Mavrik Bourque needs to move up a line, who we need to call to get Wyatt Johnston onto Team Canada, and so much, much more.

Just wait ’til everyone is healthy. Right? ...Right? If you have a different take, then by all means share it at Defending Big D. We'll probably even mention you in a future cast. We're Stargazing, and we say Miro solves everything. (Hey, prove us wrong.)

And please, give us a rate, review or share wherever you get your digital sound files. Thanks in advance. We love you all.

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The Dallas Stars have had a slower start than many fans wanted this season. Yet the team is still one point out of the Central Division's top three, which also means they're four points from the top of the league in general. Is the roster working as designed, despite new systems and old injuries? And is their progress sustainable through a playoffs run, or next year...or five years from now?

For the latest edition of Stargazing, we followed the money. Friend of DBD Juraj Kralik joins Wes and Mark, and he needs you to stop thinking as if the NHL is still in a flat-cap era. They discuss how the salary cap is poised to take off, why NHL needle-movers aren't making it to free agency, new possibilities for the Jason Robertson re-signing, and the ways in which Thomas Harley's blockbuster extension will benefit the Stars in general and Miro Heiskanen in particular.

Do you really think we'd do an entire episode about the Dallas Stars and their financial flexes without figuring in Jamie Benn's potential bonuses? Get in, losers, we're going Stargazing.

What's your take on what the Stars should do next? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And please, throw us a rate, review or share wherever you listen. Enjoy.

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Four Dallas Stars scored last night! Unfortunately, two of them were playing for the Los Angeles Kings. That left Our Team with one point, another loss, and a lot to contemplate.

We here at Stargazing acknowledge our fault in this, mainly by making this season's Doom Cast so much longer than...well, every other cast we've done so far. In this episode, Wes and Mark pull back a little. There's plenty to like in the Stars' latest run of play (breakouts, neutral zone coverage, the power play), as well as plenty that still needs work (two words: penalty kill). We cover all of it in the time it'll take you to complete your afternoon commute. Probably. Maybe.

Do we need to end the "Esa Lindell is the Alex Ovechkin of Dylan Sambergs" talking point? We're Stargazing, and we're thinking about it. What's your take? Tell us at Defending Big D.

And please give us a rate, review or share wherever you listen. Welcome to the podcast. We love you.

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Welcome to Stargazing's annual celebration of the signal pastime of true Dallas Stars fans: obsessing over every bad turn the season takes. And even we have to admit, the Victory Green Gang's scheduled loss to Thatcher Demko sure did set this one up.

For the 2025 Doom Cast, Wes and Mark pull out all the stops. From the gaps at left wing, to the lack of depth at goalkeeping, to why the best path to getting a better penalty kill is not to get on the penalty kill...nothing is safe from the worst possible interpretation. It's cathartic, or something.

Will our team never be able to hold a lead? We’re Stargazing, and we urge you to face your fears so we can shake them off...together.

(Bonus thought: Aura-farming could be part of the solution. Let's discuss it at Defending Big D.)

And please give the cast a rate, review or share wherever you listen. It’s fuel for our future rants. Thanks.

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