Jordan

Parsons needs a ring to be in the conversation for number one. Ware never got one in Dallas either but at least he carried those mid-2000s teams to the playoffs.

Parsons is the most talented defender the Cowboys have ever had. I watched every game of DeMarcus Ware and Parsons is a different animal in terms of pure athleticism.

Parsons had 13.5 sacks and it still was not enough to carry this defense. That tells you how bad the secondary was. PFF had two of our starting corners below 55 grade.

State championship weekend at AT&T Stadium is the best sporting event in Texas and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. Including Cowboys fans.

Texas insurance is surprisingly cheap compared to most states. I pay less here for better coverage than I did in Michigan.

Wild fans at AAC are always respectful but intense. They travel well and they know the sport. It is the kind of rivalry where you can trash-talk and shake hands after the game.

The coaching alignment between the AHL and NHL is underrated. When a player gets called up, they already know the power play formations and defensive schemes. That seamless transition is a competitive advantage.

The slot protection philosophy is smart. Outside shots with low xG are fine to give up. What you cannot give up is cross-crease passes and shots from the high slot. The Stars understand this.

Denver for the rivalry game is a must-do at least once. Stars-Avs at Ball Arena with the history between these teams is intense. Plus you can ski at Breckenridge the day before.

The STARS chant during the anthem never gets old. I have been going to games for 15 years and it still gives me chills every time. First-time visitors always look around in shock when it happens.

Deflection goals going from 2 to 11 shows the impact of net-front presence. Putting a big body in front of the goalie creates chaos. Rebounds, deflections, and screens all lead to goals.

Post-game at Idle Rich is the sophisticated move. Quieter, better drinks, and you can actually have a conversation about the game without screaming over a crowd.

The depth defenseman for a fourth-round pick is the kind of low-cost, high-impact move that good front offices make. Right-shot D who can play physical hockey in the playoffs? Sign me up.

Texas being the 7th-largest state for youth hockey is a stat that would have been laughable in 1993. The Stars franchise deserves enormous credit for investing in grassroots development rather than just focusing on the NHL product.

Going from 2,000 youth players to 18,000 in 30 years is remarkable growth. In a state with no natural ice and no hockey tradition, the Stars organization built this from nothing. The StarCenter investment was critical.

STH Facebook groups are the secret. Season ticket holders who cannot make a game will sell below face value just to recoup something. I have gotten $100 seats for $50 multiple times.

Jere Lehtinen with 3 Selke Trophies does not get enough recognition outside of Dallas. He was the best defensive forward in the league for half a decade and could score too. The complete player.

Goaltending is THE position in hockey playoffs. Nothing else matters if your goalie is not stopping pucks. The starter needs to be .916 or better for us to have a chance in a 7-game series.

Colorado games at AAC still hit different. The crowd is louder, the intensity is higher, and there is a respect for the history of the matchup that newer rivalries do not have.

The $1.5M in deadline cap space is frustrating. It basically means the Stars cannot make a major addition without subtracting someone. Contending with one hand tied behind your back.

The hard cap in the NHL makes roster construction a genuine puzzle. Every dollar matters. The Stars front office finding value contracts year after year is impressive given how tight the margins are.

The logarithmic decibel scale explanation is important. 115 dB is not just a little louder than 105 dB. It is perceived as approximately TWICE as loud. The AAC during a Stars playoff game is genuinely painful to your eardrums. I wear earplugs now and I am not ashamed.

The goaltender prospect is interesting long-term. 6-4 goalies with good positioning are rare. If he develops properly, the Stars have their starter of the future. But goalie development is the most unpredictable thing in hockey.

I started playing hockey in Plano because I watched Modano when I was 8 years old. There are thousands of us — kids who became hockey fans because of one player in a football state.

Nieuwendyk winning the Conn Smythe was deserved but Belfour was equally valuable. A .930 save percentage in the playoffs is elite. He was the reason Dallas survived the Colorado series.

Tip for newcomers: sit lower level behind the glass at least once. When a 200-pound player hits the boards 3 feet from your face at 20 MPH, you understand why people love this sport.