The Finnish media keeps showing up in Dallas, and for good reason. This has become a familiar scene around the Stars, where a third of the roster comes from Finland and the group keeps delivering on the ice almost every night.
That was on display Thursday against Winnipeg, when Roope Hintz scored twice, including the overtime winner. Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen set up the decisive play with beautiful assists, and Rantanen had already chipped in on Jason Robertson’s goal. Just two days earlier, he piled up a hat trick in an overtime win over Boston.
For the Stars, this isn’t some new trend. It’s been part of the franchise’s identity for years, starting with Jere Lehtinen, a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota North Stars in 1992. Lehtinen brought the kind of disciplined, two-way game that fit perfectly with what GM Bob Gainey wanted to build, and his partnership with Mike Modano became a defining piece of the organization’s history.
That success opened the door wider. Gainey, and later Ken Hitchcock, clearly saw the value and kept looking for more of the same.
Finland became the obvious pipeline, and Dallas kept finding players who fit the mold. Niko Kapanen, Antti Miettinen and Jussi Jokinen came in as late-round draft finds.
By 2005-06, Lehtinen had been joined by all three, along with Niklas Hagman and Janne Niinimaa. Over time, fans got used to Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi, learned how to say Jyrki Jokipakka, or debated Julius Honka.
There was always something there to keep attention coming from Oulu to Espoo.
The current version of the Stars has leaned into that tradition even more. GM Jim Nill valued the Finns’ work ethic, and the scouting staff brought in Esa Lindell and Hintz before making the big move in 2017 by selecting Heiskanen third overall. From there, the path was set.
That has since helped Dallas add more Finnish pieces, including Rantanen, Joel Kiviranta and Arttu Hyry. Lehtinen also remains connected to the pipeline in his role as director of Finnish hockey for international play, and he has continued feeding the organization with information from his travels.
The effect is self-sustaining. Rantanen’s preference for Dallas over Carolina likely had a lot to do with the Finns already in place, and Kiviranta’s return fit the same pattern. His summer social media pictures made it easy to see the bond with Lindell, Hintz and Heiskanen.
It all comes back to familiarity, and the Stars are hoping that familiarity turns into something bigger. As coach Glen Gulutzan works to shape a culture, team defense is central to the plan.
With players like Lindell, Heiskanen, Hintz and Hyry, Dallas has a strong base of responsible players to build around. Plenty of non-Finns are part of the mix, too, but when some of your best players are also your most dependable ones, that carries real weight.
The question now is whether it all comes together this year or next, and whether the Lads in Victory Green can stitch a little blue and white into the fabric of the team.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Still Face A Nikishin Problem With No Easy Fix
The Stars are keeping a close eye on Radek Faksa after he was listed day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, though he did not leave Dallas win over Winnipeg. For a team already managing the usual early-season wear and tear, any uncertainty up front matters, especially when the schedule starts tightening and lineup depth gets tested quickly.
Around the league, Carolinas contract standoff with restricted free-agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin remains unresolved nearly a month into the regular season. The Hurricanes still have a one-year offer sitting there, but Nikishin has not signed it as he continues to seek a trade, leaving the situation in a holding pattern with no obvious clean resolution in sight. [Read more 🡒]