(Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)
The Dallas Stars had missed the Playoffs for the fifth consecutive season when they made a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on July 4, 2013, to acquire veteran center Shawn Horcoff in exchange for defenseman Philip Larsen and a 2016 seventh-round draft pick.
The 34-year-old had to waive his no-trade clause to accept being traded to Dallas after spending 12 seasons in Edmonton. In his tenure in Edmonton, Horcoff played in 796 games and recorded 447 points (162G, 285A) and scored a career-high 73 points (22G, 51A) in the 2005-06 season when the Oilers fell in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Before the trade deadline in the 2012-13 season, the Stars traded their captain Brenden Morrow to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Horcoff was able to provide leadership to a young Stars roster that Morrow had as he served as the Oilers captain from 2010-2013.
(Perry Nelson/Getty Images)
In his first season in Dallas, Horcoff recorded 20 points (7G, 13A) in 77 games. Despite being tied for 15th on the Stars in points with defenseman Jordie Benn, the Stars got back into the Playoffs as the second Wild Card seed.
In the 2014 Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks, Horcoff led the Stars in assists with 5 and points with 6 before the Stars would be eventually eliminated in six games. Horcoff recorded two assists in Dallas’ 4-2 win in Game 4.
Horcoff’s lone goal of the series came in Game 5 to cut the Ducks lead to 3-2 in the second period. The Stars fell 6-2 in Game 5 with three goals allowed in the third period. Dallas lost Game 6 in overtime 5-4 to lose the series.
The 2014-15 season would be Horcoff’s last as a Star. Horcoff improved in scoring and recorded 29 points (11G, 18A) in 76 games. The Stars missed the Playoffs in 2015. In his two seasons in Dallas, Horcoff recorded 49 points (18G, 31A) in 153 games played.
Horcoff signed with the Anaheim Ducks in July 2015 on a one-year deal. In January 2016, Horcoff was suspended 20 games for using PEDs. In the 2015-16 season, Horcoff recorded 15 points (6G, 9A) in 59 games played.
The Ducks were eliminated in seven games by the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2016 Playoffs. Horcoff played in five games of the series and recorded just one assist.
Shortly after being eliminated by the Predators, Horcoff retired from the NHL after 15 seasons. Horcoff recorded 511 points (186G, 325A) in 1,008 games.
(Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
After his playing career was done, Horcoff was named director of player development for the Detroit Red Wings in September 2016. In February 2022, Horcoff was named assist general manager of the Red Wings and the fifth general manager of Detroit’s AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
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