1995–96 Dallas Stars season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1995–96
Year:	1995
Team:	Dallas Stars
Conferencerank:	11th
Divisionrank:	6th
Record:	26–42–14
Homerecord:	14–18–9
Roadrecord:	12–24–5
Goalsfor:	227
Goalsagainst:	280
Coach:	Bob Gainey (Oct-Jan) Ken Hitchcock (Jan-Apr)
Attendance:	15,572
Goalsleader:	Mike Modano (36)
Assistsleader:	Mike Modano (45)
Pointsleader:	Mike Modano (81)
Pimleader:	Bill Huard (176)
Plusminusleader:	Jere Lehtinen (+5)
Winsleader:	Andy Moog (13)
Gaaleader:	Andy Moog (2.99)

The 1995–96 Dallas Stars season was the third National Hockey League season in Dallas, Texas (and 29th as a franchise), which would start off badly and finish badly, with a division worst 26-42-14. The Stars failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1993 when they were known as the Minnesota North Stars.

Regular season

On January 8, 1996, Bob Gainey resigned as head coach and was replaced by Michigan K-Wings head coach Ken Hitchcock. Gainey remained the team's general manager.^[1]

On March 11, 1996, the Stars played in the final game at the Montreal Forum.

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|1||L||October 7, 1995||5–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||0–1–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|2||W||October 10, 1995||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||1–1–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|3||L||October 12, 1995||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||1–2–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|4||W||October 14, 1995||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||2–2–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|5||L||October 17, 1995||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||2–3–0 || |- style="text-align:center;"|6||T||October 19, 1995||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||2–3–1 || |- style="text-align:center;"|7||T||October 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||2–3–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|8||W||October 24, 1995||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||3–3–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|9||W||October 26, 1995||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||4–3–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|10||W||October 28, 1995||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||5–3–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|11||L||October 30, 1995||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||5–4–2 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|12||T||November 1, 1995||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||5–4–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|13||L||November 4, 1995||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||5–5–3 || |- style="text-align:center;"|14||T||November 8, 1995||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||5–5–4 || |- style="text-align:center;"|15||T||November 9, 1995||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||5–5–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|16||L||November 14, 1995||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||5–6–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|17||L||November 15, 1995||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||5–7–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|18||W||November 17, 1995||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||6–7–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|19||W||November 22, 1995||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||7–7–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|20||W||November 25, 1995||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||8–7–5 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|21||T||December 2, 1995||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||8–7–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|22||W||December 3, 1995||7–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||9–7–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|23||L||December 5, 1995||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||9–8–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|24||L||December 7, 1995||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||9–9–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|25||L||December 9, 1995||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||9–10–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|26||L||December 11, 1995||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||9–11–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|27||L||December 13, 1995||4–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||9–12–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|28||L||December 15, 1995||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||9–13–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|29||W||December 17, 1995||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||10–13–6 || |- style="text-align:center;"|30||T||December 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||10–13–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|31||L||December 23, 1995||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||10–14–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|32||L||December 26, 1995||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||10–15–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|33||L||December 28, 1995||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||10–16–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|34||L||December 29, 1995||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||10–17–7 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|35||L||January 1, 1996||0–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||10–18–7 || |- style="text-align:center;"|36||T||January 3, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||10–18–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|37||W||January 5, 1996||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||11–18–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|38||L||January 7, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||11–19–8 || |- style="text-align:center;"|39||T||January 8, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||11–19–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|40||L||January 10, 1996||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||11–20–9 || |- style="text-align:center;"|41||T||January 12, 1996||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||11–20–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|42||L||January 14, 1996||2–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||11–21–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|43||L||January 15, 1996||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||11–22–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|44||L||January 17, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||11–23–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|45||W||January 22, 1996||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||12–23–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|46||W||January 24, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||13–23–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|47||W||January 26, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||14–23–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|48||L||January 29, 1996||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||14–24–10 || |- style="text-align:center;"|49||T||January 31, 1996||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||14–24–11 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|50||L||February 2, 1996||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||14–25–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|51||L||February 4, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||14–26–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|52||W||February 6, 1996||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||15–26–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|53||L||February 7, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||15–27–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|54||L||February 10, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||15–28–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|55||L||February 11, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||15–29–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|56||W||February 16, 1996||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||16–29–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|57||L||February 18, 1996||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||16–30–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|58||L||February 19, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||16–31–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|59||W||February 22, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||17–31–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|60||W||February 24, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||18–31–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|61||W||February 25, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||19–31–11 || |- style="text-align:center;"|62||T||February 28, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||19–31–12 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|63||W||March 2, 1996||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||20–31–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|64||W||March 5, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||21–31–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|65||W||March 6, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||22–31–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|66||L||March 11, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||22–32–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|67||L||March 13, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||22–33–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|68||L||March 15, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||22–34–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|69||L||March 17, 1996||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||22–35–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|70||W||March 20, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||23–35–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|71||L||March 22, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||23–36–12 || |- style="text-align:center;"|72||T||March 23, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||23–36–13 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|73||L||March 26, 1996||2–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||23–37–13 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|74||W||March 28, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||24–37–13 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|75||L||March 31, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||24–38–13 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|76||L||April 3, 1996||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||24–39–13 || |- style="text-align:center;"|77||T||April 5, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||24–39–14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|78||L||April 7, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||24–40–14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|79||W||April 9, 1996||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||25–40–14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|80||W||April 10, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||26–40–14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|81||L||April 12, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||26–41–14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|82||L||April 14, 1996||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||26–42–14 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Stars only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Stars only.

	Regular season
	Player
9		C	78	36	45	81	−12	63
23		LW	66	22	21	43	−21	33
41		LW	77	20	22	42	−11	36
4		D	74	15	26	41	−24	58
25		C	52	14	18	32	−17	41
2		D	79	8	23	31	−12	129
10		RW	69	9	20	29	−13	136
29		RW	70	9	19	28	0	111
26		RW	57	6	22	28	5	16
15		C	45	14	13	27	−17	44
33		C	34	7	20	27	4	36
39		C	61	9	17	26	−7	48
12		D	73	5	19	24	−15	20
21		C	71	8	15	23	−2	38
24		D	73	6	16	22	4	71
20		LW	41	10	9	19	−17	30
17		LW	51	6	6	12	3	176
22		RW	22	4	4	8	0	23
6		D	26	2	6	8	−1	41
27		RW	34	3	4	7	4	168
6		C	13	3	4	7	0	8
11		LW	24	2	5	7	−2	10
5		D	42	1	5	6	1	65
44		LW	30	1	4	5	−11	26
16		RW	12	2	2	4	−2	6
20		RW	12	1	3	4	−7	6
18		D	63	1	2	3	−10	31
3		D	65	1	2	3	−17	70
43		LW	10	1	2	3	−1	17
22		C	5	1	1	2	1	0
28		C	13	0	1	1	−6	15
38		RW	13	0	1	1	0	17
45		G	10	0	0	0		2
37		RW	2	0	0	0	0	0
14		D	8	0	0	0	−3	6
40		LW	2	0	0	0	−2	5
30		G	5	0	0	0		0
25		RW	3	0	0	0	−1	0
40		D	2	0	0	0	0	0
14		RW	3	0	0	0	0	2
35		G	41	0	0	0		28
32		D	1	0	0	0	−1	2
34		G	37	0	0	0		6
31		G	1	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Stars only.

	Regular season
	Player
35		41	13	19	7	1106	111	2.99	.900	1	2228
34		37	9	16	5	975	106	3.39	.891	1	1875
45		10	4	5	1	297	30	2.99	.899	0	601
30		5	0	1	1	121	19	4.58	.843	0	249
31		1	0	1	0	14	1	3.20	.929	0	19

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Kevin Hatcher	^[2]
NHL Rookie of the Month	Jere Lehtinen (February)	^[3]
Team	Star of the Game Award	Mike Modano	^[4]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
1,000th game played	Guy Carbonneau	February 6, 1996	^[5]
1,000th game played	Craig Ludwig	March 2, 1996	^[6]

Draft picks

Dallas's draft picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.^[7]

Round		Player	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	11	Jarome Iginla	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
2	37	Patrick Cote	Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
3	63	Petr Buzek	Dukla Jihlava (Czech Republic)
3	69	Sergei Gusev	Mayak Samara (Russia)
5	115	Wade Strand	Regina Pats (WHL)
6	141	Dominic Marleau	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
7	173	Jeff Dewar	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
8	193	Anatoli Koveshnikov	Sokil Kyiv (Ukraine)
8	202	Sergei Luchinkin	Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
9	219	Steve Lowe	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

References

Web site: Dallas Stars 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 15, 2023.
Web site: 1995-96 Dallas Stars Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . August 15, 2023.

Notes and References

Web site: Gainey quits as Stars coach . https://web.archive.org/web/20230815195725/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/01/09/gainey-quits-as-stars-coach/ . dead . August 15, 2023 . Tampa Bay Times . August 15, 2023 . January 9, 1996.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1996 . NHL.com . August 28, 2023.
Web site: Lehtinen NHL Rookie of Month - UPI Archives . UPI . August 28, 2023 . March 1, 1996.
Dallas Stars 2014–15 Organizational Compendium, p.269
Web site: Stars 5, Blues 2 - UPI Archives . UPI . August 28, 2023 . February 7, 1996 . Dallas center Guy Carbonneau appeared in his 1,000th NHL game and assisted on Marshall's first goal..
Web site: Stars 5, Maple Leafs 1 - UPI Archives . UPI . August 28, 2023 . March 3, 1996 . Dallas defenseman Craig Ludwig played the 1,000th game of his NHL career and was honored in a ceremony before the game..
Web site: 1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 28, 2023.