The Most Rewarding Team in Dallas is Its Least Valuable
Year after year, the Dallas Stars continue to make smart, impactful moves that keep them in the Stanley Cup conversation.
North Texas is home to four major sports franchises worth billions, including the most valuable sports team on the planet. But surprisingly, the local franchise with the lowest valuation is the one others should be taking notes from.
According to Forbes, the Dallas Cowboys are valued at a staggering $10.1 billion—far more than any other franchise, with the next highest valued at $8.8 billion. However, despite their financial dominance, the Cowboys have long been criticized as one of the worst-run teams in the area. That title, at least for now, has been snatched by the Dallas Mavericks following the shocking Luka Dončić trade, which turned them into the league’s laughingstock. That said, the Mavericks still have a championship from the last 15 years, which fans can fondly remember.
Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers finally secured their first World Series title in 2023 and have a promising outlook for 2025. General Manager Chris Young has skillfully blended young homegrown talent with high-profile veterans and, for the first time, assembled what could be a formidable starting rotation. Some might argue the Rangers are the best-run team in North Texas, but my pick goes to the Dallas Stars.
Though they didn’t appear on Forbes’ rankings, CNBC recently estimated the Stars’ value at $1.9 billion, placing them in the middle of the NHL. That’s a fraction of the Cowboys’ worth, and it’s been over two decades since their last Stanley Cup victory in 1999.
It might seem strange to suggest that the Cowboys and Mavericks should take cues from a team that hasn’t won a championship in years and lacks the financial clout of its counterparts. However, the Stars just made another bold move, acquiring Top 10 NHL talent Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes—once again proving they are a model franchise.
Make no mistake: the Stars are built to compete now and in the future, and if you haven’t been paying attention, it’s time to start.
Jim Nill has been the team’s general manager since 2013, winning back-to-back Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year awards in the past two seasons. Under his leadership, the Stars have reached three Conference Finals and a Stanley Cup Final in the last five years. Their championship window is wide open—not just a tiny crack, but a floor-to-ceiling opening bringing in the brightest possible future.
How have they done it? Like the Cowboys, the Stars prioritize drafting and developing young talent. But unlike the Cowboys, Nill aggressively pursues top players from other teams and secures young stars to team-friendly contracts early in their careers, ensuring long-term stability. Mikko Rantanen is the perfect example.
At just 28 years old, Rantanen is entering his prime. He was instrumental in the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory, recording 25 points in 20 playoff games. With multiple 100-point seasons under his belt, he arrives in Dallas as a dynamic offensive force. His career-high 55-goal season would tie the Stars’ franchise record, and he boasts 101 points in 81 career playoff games—proving he delivers in high-stakes moments.
Colorado was unable to negotiate a contract extension with him, leading to a midseason trade to Carolina. When he still couldn’t reach a long-term agreement there, the Hurricanes opted to trade him rather than risk losing him in free agency. That’s when Dallas swooped in.
Acquiring Rantanen wasn’t cheap. The Stars had to give up top prospect Logan Stankoven, a promising 22-year-old former first-round pick, along with two first-round and two third-round draft picks. Additionally, they signed Rantanen to a massive eight-year, $12 million-per-year contract, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history before he even put on the Stars’ jersey.
But that’s the cost of securing elite talent, and the move immediately positioned Dallas as the Stanley Cup favorite according to sportsbooks.
By trading for and locking in Rantanen through 2033, the Stars have solidified their core for years. That’s what well-run franchises do: identify top talent, secure it, and maintain a sustained championship window.
Their all-star goalie, Jake Oettinger, is entering his prime at 26 and was extended through 2033. Roope Hintz, a multiple 30-goal scorer, is locked in through 2031. Young star Wyatt Johnston, on pace for another 30-goal season in just his third year, signed an extension the same day the team acquired Rantanen. Meanwhile, their top defensemen—Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Thomas Harley—are all under contract for several more seasons, ensuring long-term stability on the blue line.
In short, the Stars have secured three elite forwards, three top-tier defensemen, and their franchise goaltender for the foreseeable future. That’s the kind of strategic planning that keeps teams in championship contention for years.
Will this core finally bring another Cup to Dallas for the first time since 1999? Time will tell. But with smart free-agent acquisitions like Matt Duchene and promising homegrown talent like Mavrik Bourque, Oskar Back, and Lian Bischel, the future is undeniably bright for Stars fans.
So if you’re frustrated with the Cowboys’ lack of urgency in free agency or still fuming over the Mavericks’ disastrous trade decisions, it’s time to turn your attention to the Dallas Stars. They’ve been running things the right way for years and are setting up their fans for an unforgettable playoff run.
And after all these years, it’s finally safe to chant again—just like we did in 1999 when Mike Modano and the Stars hoisted the Cup:
