The Dallas Stars are well-versed with the mantra that “defense wins championships.” After all, it’s the primary reason in why they have not come close to a Stanley Cup championship in the past decade.
For much of the 2010’s, the Stars have struggled in finding a championship-caliber blue line. And, while they scrambled for answers, teams with already-established and dominant defenses raked it in.
Think about the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. These three teams have six Stanley Cups between them over the past nine years. A common thread between each of those championship teams happens to be an elite defense.