The Central Division is full of teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild vying for postseason spots, but the Dallas Stars are perhaps the division’s most interesting story. With three straight trips to the Western Conference Finals under their belt, the team has the experience needed to bring the city its second Stanley Cup victory. A trio of players is hoping to make that happen, and the team’s last few games have showcased just how important they are.
Jason Robertson has made waves this season as one of the best offensive players, and Dallas is benefiting from his recent success in big ways. The seven-year veteran leads the team in goals (30) and is in the top three in both points (60) and assists (30). Robertson has been the main story in the city throughout 2025-26 for good reason, as he is on pace for the best offensive season of his career.
The 26-year-old was recently left off the United States Olympic Team and stands as perhaps the biggest snub on the roster. While other players are more experienced on the national stage, the left winger’s 30 goals stand as the most by an American-born player this season.
Robertson has done more than enough to represent the stars and stripes during the 2026 Olympic Games, so that snub has to be disappointing. Good news for Stars fans, though. It seems like Robertson is channeling his disappointment into being the best player he can be, which is working out well given the team’s second-place standing in the Central.
Miro Heiskanen is one of the most underrated blue-liners in the NHL. The Finnish native’s 40 points in 50 games played this season are tied for the 9th most by a defenseman across the NHL this season. The 26-year-old’s stat line only tells part of the story because his impact on the ice is felt by everyone.
Heiskanen provides a physical presence that Dallas will need if they hope to get back to the Western Conference Final. The eight-year veteran is by far the most offensive-minded defenseman on the Stars, a facet of his game that has only improved over the years. Heiskanen’s ability to contribute at such an elite level for a blueliner is overlooked by those who don’t watch Dallas regularly, a true shame because he’s one of the best.
Wyatt Johnston is another player for the Stars who had a strong case to make his country’s Olympic Team but ultimately fell short. The 22-year-old has been on a tear since Team Canada named their roster on December 31, 2025, scoring seven goals in 11 games.
Johnston’s biggest contribution to Dallas this season has been on the power play, as his 17 tallies on the man advantage lead the NHL. Having such an impressive asset has made a significant difference for the Stars in recent years, as Johnston has played a crucial role in their last three playoff runs.
The hope is that he’ll continue to do so throughout the season and beyond, which is getting more likely by the day. Johnston’s ability to impact the game on so many different levels and be as versatile as he is at such a young age is huge for the Stars. This could very well be the year they go all the way, and Johnston will have to perform if they want to get past teams like the Avalanche.
Dallas came into this season with a question mark on its back from firing their coach, Peter DeBoer, and trading away veteran talent like Mason Marchment. The team quickly established itself as one of the top teams across the league and hasn’t looked back since.
That’s a good sign of things to come for the Stars, they could be a very hard team to best come into the playoffs. The postseason has proved to be an Achilles heel for the team as of late, but Dallas has the talent and momentum to carry them towards a Stanley Cup win. How they will fare is yet to be seen, but I have high hopes for a team that seems to be firing on all cylinders.
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