(LM Otero/AP Photo)
Today brought an end to one of the longest tenured players on the Dallas Stars. The former 13th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft Radek Faksa was traded to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations.
The trade was most likely made to create cap space as Faksa is on an expiring contract for $3.25 million. Faksa ended the 2023-24 season with 19 points (7G, 12) in 74 games at 30 years old.
Faksa made his NHL debut with the Stars on Oct. 17, 2015. Since the 2015-16 season, Faksa was one of the best defensive forwards and hard hitters on the roster. With Faksa now traded, it’s time to take a look at his top five moments wearing Victory Green.
#5 Recording 200th career point
The Stars hosted the Oilers on a prime time Wednesday night game on April 3, 2024, and dominated with a 5-0 victory. Faksa scored the first goal of the game in the first period. Faksa would then record two assists in the win to get his 200th career point. His assist on Sam Steel’s goal to make it 5-0 would be his 200th career point.
#4 Late game winner vs Blackhawks in 2022
On Nov. 23, 2022, the Stars hosted the Blackhawks, and it was a battle. The Stars found themselves 4-1 in the third period, and all hope appeared to be gone.
However, the Stars ended up scoring three goals in a 3:57 span to tie the game at four. At 18:27 of the third period, Faksa go ahead goal to put the Stars up. The puck barely crossed the goal line and play had to be stopped in the middle of play to review it. When the replay was shown on the AAC jumbotron, the Stars fans yelled that Faksa put the Stars up. The Stars would add an empty netter to win 6-4.
#3 First career hat trick vs Golden Knights
On Nov. 28, 2017, the Stars flew to Sin City to play the expansion Golden Knights for the first time in franchise history. Unbothered by the bright and big lights in Vegas, Faksa sparkled in the game.
Faksa recorded the first hat trick of his career, and it was a natural hat trick. All the goals were scored in the second period. The Stars would go on to win 3-0 in their first game played in Vegas.
#2 Game 1 winner vs Blues in 2016 Playoffs
The Stars and Blues met in the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Game 1, the young rookie scored one of the biggest goals of his career to open the series.
With the Stars leading 1-0 past halfway of the third period, Kevin Shattenkirk tied the game for the Blues with 8:28 remaining. Thoughts of this tight game going into overtime appeared likely, then it wasn’t.
With 4:44 remaining, Faksa scored the go-ahead goal to make it 2-1 Stars. The Stars would go on to win the game by the same score. Even though the Stars didn’t prevail to win the seven-game series against the Blues, Faksa’s goal in Game 1 was one of the biggest in his career.
#1 Game 7 go-ahead goal vs Golden Knights
Was there any other moment that would take the icing on the cake? Not at all. Faksa’s goal in Game 7 of the 2024 first round against the Golden Knights lives in Stars infamy.
Against the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights, the Stars found themselves tied at one after the second period in Game 7 at home. Just 44 seconds into the third period, Faksa scored on a sick backhand shot past Adin Hill to put the Stars ahead 2-1. The AAC went bonkers went Faksa scored the go-ahead goal for Dallas, and they would go on to win by the same score.
Faksa and the Stars now say farewell to one another as Faksa will begin his tenure with the Blues. In his Stars tenure, Faksa totaled for 200 points (89G, 111A) in 638 games. With the Stars 2024-25 schedule released today, the Stars play the Blues for the first time this upcoming season on Dec. 14.
Leave a Reply