The Dallas Stars ended their successful 2022-23 campaign after a hard fought series against the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars have been one of the most consistent teams in hockey the past five seasons. 

The Stars have played tough hockey throughout that stretch making deep playoff runs. Notably losing in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 Stanley Cup. Dallas is retaining mostly the same core from last year’s squad but hockey is a tough grueling sport even for the world’s elite. 

The Stars are not the only team in the Western Conference vying to etch their name in Lord Stanley’s Cup. Teams such as Colorado Avalanche, who won the central last year but their postseason was derailed after a debilitating injury to their core, fall into this category. 

The Minnesota Wild is another team that the Stars need to be cautious with. Like Dallas, Minnesota is one of the hungry teams in the Western Conference that are always in the running for the Stanley Cup. The Wild played a hard fought series against the Stars in the first round last season, losing in six games. 

The Western Conference’s Pacific Division is loaded with Stanley Cup contenders. The Vegas Golden Knights are entering the season with the same imposing offensive attack that won them the cup. The NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, quickly broke onto the scene by making the playoffs in their second season. The Kraken played Dallas in the second round, pushing the Stars all the way to an elimination game seven. 

Arguably the biggest challenger for the Stars in the Western Conference is the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers are headlined by hockey’s next all time great, Connor McDavid. Edmonton is in Stanley Cup or bust mode after losing in six games to the Golden Knights in the first round last season. 

“Lord Stanley” has eluded Dallas far too long after valiant performances from franchise cornerstones. Veterans such as Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski and Captain Jamie Benn have the experience to give the younger players valuable guidance. Goaltender Jake Oettinger was an absolute brick wall and kept the Stars competitive in last season’s close games. The Stars have more than enough depth to make a deep playoff run.