Ryan and James tackle two glaring holes in the Dallas Stars’ current lineup: the second line left wing and the number four defenseman. With departures like Marchment and Dadonov, the Stars face major questions going into next season. Can internal options, among others, like Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque, Sam Steel, and Nils Lundkvist step up? Or are we asking too much?

We also debate if Thomas Harley could command a bigger contract than Miro Heiskanen, and we touch on Gavin McKenna’s shocking $700K NIL deal with Penn State—and what that means for the future of college and junior hockey development.

All that and more, including some spicy optimism and cautious skepticism.

Subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and join us every week for more unfiltered Stars talk.

💬 New Stars' Fan Stories episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7 pm on our YouTube channel throughout the months of July and August! Available on audio platforms the following Wednesday!
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Recorded June 27, 2025

Tee Haynes isn’t your typical Dallas Stars fan. Born in Australia, living in Vancouver, and never having set foot in Texas, Tee somehow became a diehard Stars supporter thanks to NHL ‘99 and one fateful trip to a hockey jersey shop. In this week’s Stars Fan Stories, Ryan sits down with Tee to hear about his international hockey journey, his Olympic work in Vancouver, and what it’s like being a Stars fan surrounded by Canucks.

Tee opens up about:

• His favorite Stars from the Cup era and today

• What Jamie Benn means to him

• The Western Conference Final experience in Edmonton

• How Aussie grit meets Texas hockey loyalty

💬 New Stars' Fan Stories episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7 pm on our YouTube channel throughout the months of July and August! Available on audio platforms the following Wednesday!
Subscribe and follow us to hear more incredible Stars fan stories all summer long!

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The Dallas Stars introduced Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach, and his press conference delivered a clear vision: collaboration, flexibility, and a ramp-up in physicality. Ryan and James break down Gulutzan’s comments, what they reveal about the coaching staff, and how this shift might reshape the team’s playoff readiness.

Then they dive into NHL free agency news, from Mitch Marner’s blockbuster move to Vegas to Florida’s miracle re-signings and a handful of eyebrow-raising deals. The episode wraps with a look at under-the-radar risers (like Utah and Anaheim) and which Central Division teams might fall off.

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🎧 In the premiere episode of this offseason's Stars’ Fan Stories series, we chat with Ryan Gardner — an airline pilot, model airplane collector, TikTok creator, and a proud member of the Starcastic Remarks’ Who Cares Club.

Gardner shares how he went from casually watching hockey to becoming a season ticket holder who lives and breathes Stars hockey. From 2020’s Bubble magic to Game 7 nerves, Ryan reflects on what this team means to him and why he believes the Dallas Stars are the heartbeat of DFW sports.

Inside this episode:

• How the 2020 playoff run ignited his passion

• Favorite players past and present (spoiler: Wyatt Johnston)

• Why the AAC is unlike any other sports venue

• The power of community, and what being a Stars fan truly means

• A heartfelt message to the Dallas Stars team

💬 New Stars' Fan Stories episodes premiere every Tuesday at 7 pm on our YouTube channel throughout the months of July and August! Available on audio platforms the following Wednesday!
Subscribe and follow us to hear more incredible Stars fan stories all summer long!

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Glen Gulutzan is officially the Dallas Stars’ new head coach… again. Radek Faksa is back on a much cheaper deal. And free agency? It was more of a fizzle than a frenzy. Ryan and Chris break down what Jim Nill’s quiet July 1st tells us about the team’s direction — and whether this coaching staff can take the Stars to the next level.

In this episode:

• The pros and cons of hiring Gulutzan
• Neil Graham's growing role
• What re-signing Faksa signals about the bottom six
• Colin Blackwell, Wyatt Johnston's fit, and Duchene's position
• Who left, who stayed, and who got way overpaid
• The impact of keeping Mikko Rantanen, losing Marchment, and missing out on Dadonov
• Why Vegas and Florida owned July 1st

Also: a passionate defense of Lyubushkin, the long-awaited return of “acknowledge the tribal chief,” and early predictions on the Stars’ top-six pairings.

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A heartfelt shout-out to young Stars fan Mason Tutt and the whole Tutt family. Please consider supporting his family’s GoFundMe during his battle with leukemia by clicking the link here.

In this episode of Starcastic Remarks, Ryan, Chris, and James go full offseason mode with a deep dive into the Mitch Marner-to-Dallas rumors — could it really happen? And if so, would Jason Robertson have to go the other way?

The guys also discuss the latest in the Stars’ coaching search, why Glen Gulutzan feels like a step backward, and what to make of Steve Spott’s departure. They evaluate Jim Nill’s latest cap-saving moves with the re-signings of Nils Lundkvist and Mavrik Bourque, and offer thoughts on Marchment’s exit.

Other highlights:

• What Marner’s contract could look like

• Why Rasmus Andersson and Aaron Ekblad also don’t make sense

• Is Jamie Benn at risk of being poached in free agency?

• Who should be Dallas’ #4 defenseman next season?

If you enjoy the show, leave us a five-star review and share with a fellow Stars fan!

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A heartfelt shout-out to young Stars fan Mason Tutt and the whole Tutt family. Please consider supporting his family’s GoFundMe during his battle with leukemia by clicking the link here.

In this solo episode, Ryan reacts to the Dallas Stars' first major offseason moves. Matt Duchene is staying in Dallas on a 4-year, $4.5M AAV contract, while Mason Marchment is headed to Seattle in a trade driven by cap concerns.

Topics covered:

• Full reaction to Duchene's deal and why it surprised many

• The emotional weight of losing Marchment and his playoff struggles

• How the Stars may manage remaining cap space (Dumba buyout?)

• What these moves signal about Rantanen, Johnston, and the Stars’ playoff outlook

• The challenge of replacing Marchment’s and Dadonov’s combined 40 goals

Plus, a breakdown of what the Stars might do next with RFAs and potential roster moves.

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A heartfelt shout-out to young Stars fan Mason Tutt and the whole Tutt family. Please consider supporting his family’s GoFundMe during his battle with leukemia by clicking the link here.

The Stanley Cup Final is over — and now it’s decision time for the Dallas Stars. Ryan, Chris, and James put on their GM hats and dive into which Stars players should return for next season. From Duchene’s playoff struggles to Benn’s looming re-signing, they break down the financial and on-ice implications of every move.

You’ll also hear:

• A deep look at what made the Florida Panthers so dominant

• Thoughts on McDavid’s one-goal final and Edmonton’s collapse

• Roster projections, contract predictions, and potential call-ups

• What Olympic roster hints mean for Jake Oettinger and Team USA

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