Dallas Stars prove they care about winning more than the Cowboys do

For many in the city, this wasn't even the first heartbreak of the year. Earlier, Luka Doncic was sent from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, another move that left Dallas fans reeling. It felt like the city kept losing its biggest names one after another.

But in the middle of the chaos, one Dallas team has managed to do the opposite: the Dallas Stars. Instead of losing a franchise player, they landed one. When the Stars traded for Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche and locked him up on a long-term contract, fans were finally able to celebrate.

Rantanen is coming off a 32-goal, 56-assist season with a +13 rating, and his arrival immediately changes the Stars' ceiling. Paired with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson, he gives Dallas what could be the best line in hockey. Unlike the Cowboys, the Stars are doubling down on winning now.

The Stars' social media team even stepped in after the Parsons trade, reminding fans that at least one Dallas team is still pushing for a championship. It struck a chord, because the Stars are closer than anyone in the city to actually delivering one.

Dallas has reached back-to-back Western Conference Finals, only to fall short to the Edmonton Oilers each time. Still, the consistency shows they're on the verge. As NHL.com has highlighted, the team's core is in its prime and built to compete for years.

Even though the Stars haven't lifted the Stanley Cup since 1999, they've been back to the Finals twice since and continue to look like true contenders. Meanwhile, the Cowboys frustrate fans, and the Texas Rangers are sliding after their 2023 World Series win. That leaves the Stars as the most realistic shot at another Dallas championship.

Personally, I think fans are right to put their faith in the Stars, they're the only team in Dallas right now that looks all-in.