Dallas Stars re-signed a key defensive warrior, and it changed everything on this day in history
Photo credit: The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Stars made a quiet move on August 7, 2005, but bringing back Stéphane Robidas turned out to be a long-term win for their blue line.
Some signings feel small in the moment but turn into cornerstones.
That's exactly what happened on August 6, 2005, when the Dallas Stars re-signed defenseman Stéphane Robidas to a modest two-year deal.
At the time, it didn't make many headlines.
But in hindsight, it marked the beginning of one of the most consistent and hard-nosed stretches by any Dallas defender during the 2000s.
After a brief stint with Dallas in 2002-03, Robidas had bounced around to Atlanta and Chicago before GM Doug Armstrong decided to bring him back.
It was a gamble on a gritty, undersized right-shot blueliner who hadn't yet proven he could be a regular top-four guy.
And it paid off.
Why bringing back Stéphane Robidas became a turning point for the Dallas Stars defense
Robidas would go on to play over 500 games for the Stars, evolving into a beloved presence on the team's back end.
He was never flashy, but his toughness and consistency won over fans, coaches, and teammates alike.
Between 2007 and 2012, Robidas averaged more than 22 minutes per game and regularly took on top defensive assignments.
His leadership was especially valued during the transition years after the Stars' 1999 Cup run era.
«He just played the right way,» former teammate Trevor Daley once said. «He never complained, blocked shots, and always showed up.»
Robidas even earned an NHL All-Star Game selection in 2009, proving that hard work and resilience can elevate the so-called depth signings.
What started as a forgotten summer signing in 2005 turned into one of the most reliable stretches by any Dallas defenseman in team history.
I honestly think Robidas never got the full credit he deserved, and that 2005 deal aged far better than anyone predicted.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 7 | 40 ANSWERS Dallas Stars re-signed a key defensive warrior, and it changed everything on this day in history Do you think Stéphane Robidas was one of the most underrated players in Dallas Stars history? | ||
| yes | 25 | 62.5 % |
| No | 15 | 37.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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