“It’s The Dallas Stars’ Time,” Says NHL Legend Darren McCarty On Stanley Cup Prediction

Dallas Stars: Ready to Shine?

“My pick for the Stanley Cup is the Dallas Stars,” said McCarty in a one-on-one interview just prior to the Stars’ Game 1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. “With what they’ve added in Mikko Rantanen, this Stars team is loaded. If they can get the goaltending from Jake Oettinger, they’re going to be tough.”

The Stars have been a contender for a number of years under this current core, but have been unable to seal the deal. They lost in the Stanley Cup Finals during the 2019-20 season and have been to the playoffs in each of the past four years. Despite finishing with over 100 points in each of the past three seasons, the Stars have lost in the conference finals twice during that time frame.

However, they’re considered the Stanley Cup betting favorites following the addition of former Avalanche star forward Rantanen. The 28-year-old is a two-time All-Star and won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. He racked up 18 points in 20 regular-season games with the Stars after the trade deadline.

Is it McDavid’s Moment?

While McCarty is confident in his pick of the Stars winning it all, he does mention the possibility of the Connor McDavid-led Edmonton Oilers returning to the Stanley Cup Finals to finish the job. McDavid and the Oilers lost in seven games to the Florida Panthers in the Finals last season, but they’ll be back in the playoffs this season matching up against the Los Angeles Kings.

McDavid also just so happened to score the tournament-winning goal during the 4 Nations Face Off, so it would be a cinematic ending if the NHL’s best scorer were to win the Stanley Cup this season.

“Is it Connor McDavid’s time to shine and obviously the heartbreak of losing in seven in the Finals,” says McCarty. “Does Edmonton battle back after that? We’ll see. The bottom line is I love playoff hockey because it reverts as much back to the old game as we’ve seen.”

McCarty once again hammers home that while there will be upsets, it’s the Stars’ time to win the Cup. It would be their first Cup since 1999.

“There’s going to be upsets,” says McCarty. “There’s going to be new guys that are stepping up and making a name for themselves and I just think that it is the Dallas Stars’ time.”

Leafs’ Long Wait Nearly Over?

While the Panthers are still one of the betting favorites as the defending Stanley Cup champs, they appear extremely vulnerable heading into their first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not only do their in-state rivals appear to be reloaded with a new core featuring Jake Guentzel, but the Panthers are hoping a banged-up Matthew Tkachuk can return to form.

Tkachuk missed the past two months of hockey after suffering a groin injury during the 4 Nations Face Off tournament. McCarty explained that the Panthers’ star won’t be at 100% and probably won’t play at his usual high level due to this injury. However, on Tuesday, Tkachuk scored two goals in the opening game of the series against the Lightning, helping the Panthers secure a 6-2 victory. Looks like he’s already proving his doubters wrong.

He picks the Toronto Maple Leafs to represent the Eastern Conference to match up against the Stars.

“I’ve had three sports hernia surgeries and stuff that he’s fighting,” says McCarty of Tkachuk’s injury. “He ain’t gonna be right. My question is, is it the Leafs’ time? Do they get the goaltending? Do they step out in the East? I’ll go Toronto-Dallas for the Finals just for all you Maple Leaf fans that haven’t won anything.”

It would be the Leafs’ first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1967, when they last won the Cup. That was before McCarty was born (he was born in 1972), which the Red Wings great playfully points out.

“They haven’t won anything since before I was born,” says McCarty of the Leafs while smiling. “Don’t worry, I’m not talking to any Toronto Maple Leafs fan except for my cousin. I’m speaking right to you, Chad.”

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