A fair number of Dallas Stars enjoyers have perceived that fan fave Thomas Harley has been doing more, but with less to show for it, since the 2025-26 NHL season began. Is this a problem with his defensive partners? The lingering effects of his injury in November, and the missed games that resulted? The predictable struggles of a still very young blueliner? Something more concerning? Or less? ...If only there were some way of measuring it all. You know, with math and stuff.

In this episode of Stargazing, Mark sat down for an incredibly specific Stars conversation with Puck Over The Glass founder (and friend of DBD) Aaron Knodell. With Aaron's recent article on Harley's output as a jumping-off point, they take a deep dive into the Stars' defense — the pairings, the performances, the effects of Glen Gulutzan's new system, and so much more.

You don't play like an elite NHL defender for two years and just forget how, do you? We’re Stargazing, and we're beginning to think not.

Are you looking for Team Canada Thomas Harley in Milano-Cortina? And while we're talking about it, who you got for the men's and women's Olympic hockey hardware? Let’s talk about it at Defending Big D. (And put your picks up now. You don't get to come in on February 23 and say you went 14-0 in the medal rounds.)

And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you.

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A blowout, followed by a shutout...the Dallas Stars are still all over the map. Did the momentary absence of Mikko Rantanen really doom the Victory Green Gang against the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference?

Wes and Mark think it's not that simple...or is it? In this episode of Stargazing, they talk about the impact of beast mode, the cold comfort of outplaying an opponent and missing by that much, the value of swagger, the upcoming schedule and what they want to see from it, and ever so much more.

You're in the other team's head until you're not. We’re Stargazing, and we got that dog in us.

What do you want to see from the Stars during the Central-heavy stretch ahead? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Stargazing. We love you.

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Do you remember what a power play goal looks like? The Dallas Stars have had a hard time getting out of their own way for the past...little while, and it seems as if their opponents have figured them out. Or is it the typical winter doldrums conjoined with an Olympics-compressed schedule?

Wes and Mark understand complexity, especially when it comes to the Victory Green Gang's problems. In this episode, they talk about why the Stars can't score anymore, the surprisingly affordable tweak that could help them at the NHL trade deadline, whether or not this is the year the team goes all in on a Stanley Cup run, Jim Nill's legacy, and ever so much more.

Sometimes you have to win two Western Conference Finals just to get to the Western Conference Final. We’re Stargazing, and we say, "Welcome to the Central Division."

What are your thoughts as we approach the big February break? Share them with us at Defending Big D. And please, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback is practically all we think about.

Thanks for everything. We love you.

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The Dallas Stars vs. the Minnesota Wild is a practically guaranteed first-round matchup at this point. So why play all this hockey in the meantime...?

No, Wes and Mark aren't serious about that. But they do have quite a few ideas about how the Stars can become the best version of themselves before April.

In this edition of Stargazing, they discuss the tradeoffs the Stars make for an elite power play, the ways this team can still improve before the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the elephants in the room that are the Stars' future NHL Draft options, the Winter Olympics snub you're not talking about (yet),and ever so much more.

Never make a deal from a point of weakness. We’re Stargazing, and we make all our deals over coffee.

What sort of short-term rental could make the Stars unstopabble? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And if you will, give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback is practically all we think about.

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The Dallas Stars are winning again, more or less, which means it's time for more unbridled optimism about the stretch run to come. Right? ...Right?

Regression got the Victory Green Gang, at least for the period of their regularly scheduled post-holiday swoon, and Our Gang probably told you so. Wes and Mark may even now be chatting with David Castillo – owner and operator of Stars Stack and its audio companion, the Stars Stackcast – because they do run long when its comes to these deep dives.

In this edition, the stats exam goes into team momentum, the potential benefits of not planning around the Stars' opponents but making opponents plan around them, the respect Jason Robertson deserves (and doesn't get, even from some Dallas fans), the real takeaway from the worst Mighty Ducks movie, and ever so much more.

The NHL may be more Guerin-brained than ever, but you'll have to prove it. With math. We’re Stargazing, and we can do this if we really, really have to.

Why not share your thoughts at Defending Big D? For that matter, why not make it your New Year's resolution to give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts? Your feedback means the world to us.

Thanks for everything. We love you.

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It's a new year bringing the same old worries for Dallas Stars fans. Every mistake is a harbinger, every loss is a world-ender. Have we gotten too used to the good times?

In this episode, Wes and Mark invited David Castillo to talk about the Victory Green Gang's underlying stats – and, candidly, to talk them down from the rickety ledge of Stars positivity. And they had so much to talk about that we're splitting this cast into two parts, so you can slam it down fast.

In this edition, the crew ponders what Mikko Rantanen does that makes him unique among NHL forwards, what Thomas Harley can do to make the Stars a true playoffs force, what will happen if (when) regression gets to them, and ever so much more.

It's not unsustainable if you can do it. We're Stargazing, that's our story, and we're sticking to it.

While you're here, why not throw in an opinion at Defending Big D on where you expect the Stars to be at the Olympics break? We think about your feedback all the time, and that's why we'd also love a rate, review, or share from you, wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for everything. We love you.

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The rise of advanced stats in hockey has taught us that much of what we know about the Dallas Stars is bad. Just look at them: 31st in the NHL in shot share, 24th in expected goals...so how in the world do they just - keep - winning?

Wes and Mark have decided that this year's Stars were built this way on purpose. And in this edition of Stargazing, they make the case. They discuss the type of shots the team makes, the type they give up, and how the type of game they play means they perhaps don't get as much credit as they deserve for their own success.

Loading a whole other power-play unit...cats and dogs playing together...mass hysteria! We're Stargazing, and we endorse it. What about you? Tell us what you'd like to see at Defending Big D.

And if you're listening, please gift us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. We love you. Especially at holiday time.

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The Dallas Stars are having themselves a season, injuries and roster holes and recent losses notwithstanding. But this year, that success has come at an organizational cost — and their brethren in Cedar Park have often been the ones paying it.

Mark Zimmerman loves discussing the Texas Stars, and even more so when he can enlist Stephen Meserve to talk with. Late last week, the founder of the go-to T-Stars news site 100 Degree Hockey and co-author of We Win Here: The Definitive Essays You Need About The Texas Stars joined him for a fireside chat.

In this episode, they talk about the slump in special teams, the boost the offense needs, the long-term effects of trading away draft picks, the surprisingly happy news about the defense and goaltending, and why Texas is still in striking distance of the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs in spite of all their challenges. As a bonus, they also ponder how the Idaho Steelheads just. keep. winning. Somehow.

Who would you like to see step and be That Guy in Metro Austin? Tell us at Defending Big D. We may even discuss your thoughts in a future cast. (No, really!)

And, as always, please rate, review, or share wherever you get your ’casts. We're Stargazing, and we love you.

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