The Stars celebrated 25 years in Dallas last season with regular visits from and recognition of their Stanley Cup stars from nearly two decades ago. It’s the kind of thing you do when you can no longer count on going to the playoffs. If the 2018-19 season that begins Thursday night looks like something less than special, perhaps the club will drum up local interest by celebrating the past one more time.
Like last year.
Coach Ken Hitchcock is gone -- that represents the only major battle GM Jim Nill won in the off-season since his pursuit of elite defenseman Erik Karlsson was a flop (he ended up in San Jose) -- but the improvements the Stars showed last year on Hitch’s watch have a good chance to remain.