The NHL trade deadline always brings great anxiety and change with it. Along with those two themes, heartbreak is almost an assured feeling for those truly dedicated fans whose team has not performed up to par in the given season.
The Dallas Stars fall into the category of teams that have not performed up to par so far in the 2016-17 season. They fell extremely far from the lofty expectations that were set for them in the preseason and now sit 28th in the NHL, ahead of only Arizona and Colorado.
After an exciting and unexpected 2015-16 season that saw Dallas secure first place in the Western Conference and fall one win short of the Western Conference Finals, many expected the Stars to be strong contenders for the Stanley Cup.