The Dallas Stars lose one of the best players in franchise history in shocking move today in hockey history

Fans were still celebrating the memories of the 1999 Stanley Cup when the news broke that the Dallas Stars would not be bringing back their iconic sniper.

Brett Hull, a player who had become a franchise legend, was leaving Dallas after three unforgettable seasons that changed the team's history forever.

It was a decision that stunned the hockey world. Hull was more than just a goal scorer, he was a leader, a big-game performer, and the man who scored the most famous goal in Stars history, sealing their first and only Stanley Cup championship.

For those who followed the team closely, the idea of Hull in another sweater felt almost unthinkable.

On this day in 2001, Hull officially became a free agent after the Stars chose not to exercise their option to keep him. Within days, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings, joining a stacked roster that included Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan.

Hull's impact in Dallas went far beyond the box score. In 218 regular-season games with the Stars, he scored 196 points, but it was his playoff heroics that cemented his legacy. The triple-overtime Cup-winning goal in 1999 remains one of the most debated, and celebrated, moments in NHL history.

Former teammates and fans still look back on his time in Dallas with admiration.

Looking back now, I think this was one of the most bittersweet days in Stars history. It marked the end of a championship era and the start of a new chapter that didn't have the same magic.

Hull would go on to win another Stanley Cup in Detroit in 2002, proving he still had plenty left in the tank.

For Stars fans, though, this day will always be remembered as the day they had to say goodbye to one of the greatest players to ever wear their jersey.