When the NHL realigned in 2013 and the Dallas Stars were placed in the Central Division, it came at a price. That price happened to be the insane amount of depth they would be competing with.
Since the 2013-14 season, a select few teams have ruled the Central Division. The Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Minnesota Wild always seem to be at or near the top of the standings.
It’s been a struggle for the Stars and the other teams in the division to make their case known. It has also forced these teams to adapt and reconfigure their lineups in order to compete.