When the Central Division comes up in a typical hockey conversation, the Dallas Stars are rarely the first team that comes to mind (outside of Stars fans). That is due to a few things.
Lack of recent impressive success, playing in a non-traditional market, and the relevance of their competitors are all factors. If you were to ask a typical NHL fan up north to name the first Central Division team that comes to mind, the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, or maybe even Nashville Predators would be their answer more often than not. It’s just how it goes.