(Jeffrey McWhorter/AP Photo)
Losing fan favorite players on any team can upset sports fans. In the Summer of 2022, the Dallas Stars lost two as both of them were members of the 2020 Stanley Cup roster. But, two years later, it may have helped the franchise in the long-run.
Fan favorite loss: John Klingberg
(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Klingberg played his first season with the Stars in the 2014-15 season and made an impact quick recording 40 points his rookie season. Of those 40 points, 29 were assists. As a defenseman, Klingberg was always near the top for assist leaders on the Stars roster.
Klingberg was a member of Dallas’ 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2022 Playoff teams. Fans will always remember Klingberg for his overtime series-winning goal in the 2019 first round against the Nashville Predators.
In the Stars’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, Klingberg was second in Playoff points on the Stars with 21 behind Miro Heiskanen.
The 2021-22 season was Klingberg’s last in Dallas. Despite having the fifth most points with 47, Klingberg finished with the lowest rating on the Stars with -28. In the 2022 Playoffs against the Calgary Flames, Klingberg recorded 1 assist in the series.
On July 29, 2022, Klingberg signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks at 29 years old. In his eight seasons in Dallas, Klingberg recorded 374 points (71G, 303A) in 552 games. This season as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Klingberg has recorded 5 assists in 14 games and hasn’t played since Nov. 11 due to injury.
The defenseman who filled in Klingberg’s spot: Thomas Harley
(Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News)
For Harley, he had to wait to get playing time in Dallas. Harley played 34 games in the 2021-22 season. Last season, he played in 6 regular season games. Harley did see playing time in the 2023 Playoffs. Harley played in all 19 of Dallas’ Playoff games in 2023 and 9 points (1G, 8A).
With a chance to be a full-time defenseman this season, Harley has recorded 40 points (15G, 25A) in 72 of Dallas’ 75 games this season. Harley’s 15 goals is the most among Stars defensemen and his +23 rating is second among the Stars roster. Three of Harley’s 15 goals are game-winning goals. Harley has the second most points among Stars defensemen behind Heiskanen.
Fan favorite loss: Alexander Radulov
(Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Prior to joining the Stars, Radulov played the 2016-17 season with the Montreal Canadiens. In his one season with Montreal, Radulov recorded 54 points (18G, 16A). Radulov signed a five-year, $31.25 million contract in July 3, 2017.
Radulov’s impact was quick. In his first two seasons in Dallas, he reocrded back-to-back 72-point seasons. In 2020, Radulov gave Stars fans two moments they’ll never forget.
In the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl, Radulov scored the go-ahead goal in the third period against the Predators for a 3-2 lead. Safe to say, the Cotton Bowl got loud:
In the 2020 Playoffs, Radulov played an important role on the Stars roster. Radulov recorded the fifth most points on the Stars roster with 18 (8G, 10A). His signature moment was scoring 31 seconds into overtime in Game 3 of the 2020 Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights:
The 2021-22 season would be Radulov’s last season in Dallas; it was a struggling one. Radulov recorded 22 points (4G, 18A) in 71 games played. Radulov’s -20 rating was tied with Radek Faksa for the third lowest on the team. In the 2022 Playoffs against the Flames, Radulov recorded no points.
On July 14, 2022, Radulov signed a two-year deal to return home to Russia to play with the Ak Bars in the KHL. In his five seasons in Dallas, Radulov recorded 212 points (79G, 133A) in 294 games.
The forward who filled Radulov’s spot: Wyatt Johnston
(Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
After being drafted 23rd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Johnston made his NHL debut for the Stars on Oct. 13, 2022. He made an immediate impact scoring his first NHL goal against the Predators in his debut.
Johnston finished last season with 41 points (24G, 17A) and playing all 82 games. His 24 goals was the fifth most on the Stars and tied for all rookies alongside Matty Berniers of the Seattle Kraken.
In the 2023 Playoffs, Johnston scored 4 goals. His signature moment of the Playoffs came in Game 7 of the second round against the Kraken one day after turning 20 years old. With the Stars up 1-0 past halfway of the third period, Johnston scored a backhand goal on Philipp Grubauer. Johnston’s goal would be the game-winning goal.
This season, Johnston has gotten better. Johnston has 59 points (29G, 30A) while playing all 75 of Dallas’ games. At 20 years old, Johnston’s leads the Stars with 29 goals. On Jan. 20, Johnston scored one of the best goals of the 2023-24 season against the New Jersey Devils when he toe dragged around Devils defenseman Luke Hughes:
On March 5, Johnston recorded his first career hat trick in Dallas’ comeback win against the San Jose Sharks. The Stars won 7-6 in overtime after Johnston tied the game at six in the third period:
In Dallas’ 3-0 win last night’s against Seattle, Johnston scored the first goal of the game at 18:12 of the second period; it would turn out to be the game-winning goal. Johnston recorded his 100th career NHL point on Roope Hintz’s empty-net goal in the third period.
In two years time after losing both Klingberg and Radulov in 2022, Harley and Johnston have played important role on the Stars roster in 2024. The Stars’ 47-19-9 record is the best record in the Western Conference with 103 points. The Stars are one point behind the New York Rangers for the best record in the NHL.
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