The Dallas Stars have turned themselves into a marquee destination for Finnish hockey players. Especially since Stars Hall of Famer Jere Lehtinen became the General Manager of the Finnish Men’s National Ice Hockey Team in 2014, legend has it that Lehtinen was actually behind the emergency deployment of Joel Kiviranta in Game 7 against the Avalanche in 2020. Of course, Kiviranta scored a hat trick that game, including the series-clinching OT winner that immortalized him in Stars lore.
As a result of the edge the Stars have in Finland, Dallas is now loaded with notable Finnish draft picks like Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell.