Stars Central Division Showdown: How Dallas Will Fare Against The Minnesota Wild

The Dallas Stars were the Central Division’s top team last season, and they’re likely to be there again this coming year. That said, they’re going to be hard-pressed to regularly knock off all the teams in what is almost assuredly an improved Central.

To that end, THN’s Stars site is breaking down the Stars’ Central rivals, noting how they will fare against each opponent. Tuesday, we started the series by breaking down the Winnipeg Jets; Wednesday, we focused on the Colorado Avalanche; Thursday, we put the Nashville Predators in the spotlight; and Friday, we turned our attention to the St. Louis Blues. In today’s file, we’re analyzing how the Stars shape up against the Minnesota Wild.

DALLAS’ 2023-24 RECORD: 52-21-9

MINNESOTA’S 2023-24 RECORD: 39-34-9

DALLAS’ REGULAR-SEASON RECORD AGAINST MINNESOTA IN 2023-24: 2-1-1

HOW THE STARS STACK UP AGAINST THE WILD IN 2024-25: The Wild were a major disappointment this past season, and, as they’re hamstrung by salary cap constraints, Minnesota were one of the NHL’s least-active teams on the trade and free-agency markets this summer.

The Stars first take on the Wild in mid-November, then again in late-December, late-March, and finally, in early April in Dallas’ sixth-to-last game of the regular season. To be frank, we don’t think much of Minnesota’s chances to make the playoffs, let alone go on a lengthy post-season run next spring. The Wild do have some solid young talent to build around, but they don’t have nearly enough quality depth and Grade-A elite talent to match up well against the Stars.

But let’s say, for argument’s sake, that Minnesota does defy expectations and qualify for the playoffs. Does anyone believe the Stars won’t be an overwhelming favorite against the Wild? We sure don’t. Minnesota are in a difficult phase of their competitive cycle, and compared to the generational talents Dallas possesses, the Wild will likely be a relatively easy out for the Stars, both in the regular-season and in the playoffs.

A year or two from now, if Minnesota’s youngsters do develop into elite performers, the Wild will give Dallas a run for their money. But at this particular moment, Minnesota is nowhere near good enough to challenge the Stars on any serious level.

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