View source for Minnesota North Stars

{{short description|Former National Hockey League team (1967–1993)}}
{{Redirect|North Stars|other uses|North Star (disambiguation)}}
{{NHL Team
| team_name = Minnesota North Stars
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF !important; border-top:#009639 5px solid !important; border-bottom:#FFD100 5px solid !important;
| text_color = #000000
| logo_image = Minnesota North Stars Logo 2.svg
| logo_image_size = 180px
| founded = 1967
| history = '''Minnesota North Stars'''<br />[[1967–68 NHL season|1967]]–[[1992–93 NHL season|1993]]<br />'''[[Dallas Stars]]'''<br />[[1993–94 NHL season|1993]]–present
| arena = [[Met Center]]
| city = [[Bloomington, Minnesota]]
| team_colors = Green, gold, black, white<br />{{color box|#009639}} {{color box|#FFD100}} {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| conf_titles = <!-- NOTE: DO NOT CHANGE THIS!! The conference championship title in 1981, when the North Stars went to the Cup Final, was given to the regular season champion, not the playoff champion. -->'''1''' ([[1990–91 NHL season|1990–91]])
| division_titles = '''2''' ([[1981–82 NHL season|1981–82]], [[1983–84 NHL season|1983–84]])
| presidents'_trophies = '''0'''
| stanley_cups = '''0'''
}}
The '''Minnesota North Stars''' were a professional [[ice hockey]] team in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) for 26 seasons, from [[1967–68 NHL season|1967]] to [[1992–93 NHL season|1993]]. The North Stars played their home games at the [[Met Center]] in [[Bloomington, Minnesota]], and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white. The North Stars played 2,062 regular season games and made the NHL playoffs 17 times, including two [[Stanley Cup Final]] appearances, but were unable to win the [[Stanley Cup]], losing to the [[New York Islanders]] and [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] in [[1981 Stanley Cup Final|1981]] and [[1991 Stanley Cup Final|1991]], respectively. After the 1992–93 season, the franchise moved to [[Dallas]], and the team was renamed the [[Dallas Stars]].

==History==

===Beginnings===
{{See also|1967 NHL expansion}}
[[Image:Metcenter.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Met Center]], home ice<br />of the Minnesota North Stars.]]
On March 11, 1965, NHL President [[Clarence Campbell]] announced that the league would expand to 12 teams from [[Original Six|six]] by creating a new six-team division for the 1967–68 season.<ref>{{harvnb|Showers|2007|p=5}}</ref> In response to the announcement, a partnership of nine men, led by [[Walter Bush|Walter Bush, Jr.]], [[Robert Ridder]], and John Driscoll, was formed to seek a franchise for the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul|Twin Cities]] area of [[Minnesota]].<ref name=history8>{{harvnb|Showers|2007|p=8}}</ref><ref name=history9 /><ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/27/sports/robert-blair-ridder-80-hockey-executive.html|title=Robert Blair Ridder, 80, Hockey Executive|date=2000-06-27|website=The New York Times|access-date=2018-10-08}}</ref><ref name="obituary">{{cite news|title=Media mogul was owner of hockey team|newspaper=Tribune Democrat|location=Johnstown, Pennsylvania|date=June 26, 2000|page=21|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/obituary-clipping-jun-26-2000-862370/}}{{free access}}</ref> Their efforts were successful, as the NHL awarded one of its six expansion franchises to Minnesota on February 9, 1966.<ref name=history9>{{harvnb|Showers|2007|p=9}}</ref> The five other franchises were awarded to [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Pittsburgh]], and [[St. Louis]].<ref name=history9 /> The expansion fee for each new team was [[United States Dollar|$]]2 million (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|2000000|1966}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).<ref name="ForbesExpansion">{{cite web| last=Ozanian|first=Mike|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2017/12/05/the-nhls-most-valuable-teams-4 | title = The NHL's Most Valuable Teams|work = Forbes | date = December 5, 2017 | access-date = December 19, 2017}}</ref> The "North Stars" name was announced on May 25, 1966, after a public contest.<ref name=history9 /> The name derives from the state motto, "[[L'Étoile du Nord]]", a French phrase meaning "The Star of the North".<ref name=Ecyclopedia>{{Cite web|title=Minnesota North Stars |url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/minnystars/northstars.html |publisher=Sports E-cyclopedia |access-date=2007-11-13}}</ref> Months after the naming of the team, ground was broken on October 3, 1966, for a new hockey arena in Bloomington.<ref name=history9 /> The home of the North Stars, the [[Met Center|Metropolitan Sports Center]], was built in 12 months at a cost of $7 million (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|7000000|1966}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).<ref name=history8 /> The arena was ready for play for the start of the [[1967–68 NHL season]], but parts of its construction were incomplete.<ref name=history28>{{harvnb|Showers|2007|p=28}}</ref> Spectator seats were still being installed as fans arrived for the opening home game on October 21, 1967.<ref name=history28 />

===Early years===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Stars Program.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The cover of a North Stars program shows a hockey game played at Met Center during the team's early years.]] -->
On October 11, 1967, the North Stars played the first game in franchise history on the road against the [[St. Louis Blues]], another expansion team. The game was a 2–2 tie, with former [[United States men's national ice hockey team|US National Team]] forward [[Bill Masterton]] scoring the first goal in franchise history.<ref>{{harvnb|Raider|2014|p=8}}</ref> On October 21, 1967, the North Stars played their first home game, against the [[California Seals]]. The North Stars won 3–1. The team achieved success early, reaching first place in the West Division halfway through the 1967–68 season.<ref name=Ecyclopedia /> Tragedy struck the team on January 13, 1968, when Masterton suffered a fatal hit during a game against the Seals at Met Center.<ref name=Ecyclopedia /> Skating towards the Seals goal across the blue line, he fell backward, hitting the back of his head on the ice, rendering him unconscious.<ref name=Ecyclopedia /><ref name=Time /> He never regained consciousness and died on January 15, 1968, two days after the accident. He was 29.<ref>{{harvnb|Raider|2014|pp=8–9}}</ref> Doctors described the cause of death as a "massive brain injury".<ref name=Time>{{Cite magazine|title=First Fatality |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837760,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930214033/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837760,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |date=1968-01-26 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=2007-11-19}}</ref> To date, this remains the only death of a player as a result of an injury during a game in NHL history.<ref name=RetiredStars>{{cite web|title=Retired Numbers |url=http://stars.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=sta_history-retired |website=[[Dallas Stars]] |access-date=2007-11-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204064905/http://stars.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=sta_history-retired |archive-date=2007-12-04}}</ref> The North Stars retired his jersey, and later that year, hockey writers established the [[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]], which would be given annually to a player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.<ref name=trophy>{{cite web|title=Trophies |url=http://www.nhl.com/trophies/masterton.html |website=[[National Hockey League]] |access-date=2007-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109071725/http://www.nhl.com/trophies/masterton.html |archive-date=2010-01-09}}</ref> Following the news of Masterton's death, the North Stars lost the next six games.<ref name=Ecyclopedia />

The North Stars achieved success in their first year of existence by finishing fourth in the West Division with a record of 27–32–15 and advancing to the playoffs. During the 1968 playoffs, the North Stars defeated the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in seven games after losing the first two in the series.<ref name=Ecyclopedia /> In the next round, the West finals, the North Stars faced the [[St. Louis Blues]] in a series that also went seven games. Minnesota was one game away from advancing to the [[1968 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]] but lost the deciding game in double overtime.<ref>{{harvnb|Raider|2014|pp=13–14}}</ref>

The team was led in the early years by the goaltending duo [[Gump Worsley|Lorne "Gump" Worsley]] and [[Cesare Maniago]]. Defenseman [[Ted Harris (ice hockey)|Ted Harris]] was the North Stars' [[Captain (hockey)|captain]]. The first Stars team also included high-scoring winger [[Bill Goldsworthy]] and other quality players such as [[Barry Gibbs]], [[Jude Drouin]], [[J. P. Parisé|J. P. Parise]], [[Danny Grant (ice hockey)|Danny Grant]], [[Lou Nanne]], [[Tom Reid (ice hockey)|Tom Reid]] and [[Dennis Hextall]].

The [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA) began play in 1972 with a franchise based in St. Paul, the [[Minnesota Fighting Saints]]. While a number of exhibition games were played between teams in the two leagues, the North Stars never played their cross-town rivals.<ref>{{harvnb|Raider|2014|p=26}}</ref> But the competition for the hockey dollar between these two clubs was fierce.<ref name="WHA facing off against their NHL counterparts">{{Cite web|title=The WHA vs the North Stars |url=http://www.northstarshockey.com/wha.htm |publisher=northstarshockey |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref> Despite making a good account of themselves on the ice, insurmountable financial difficulties forced the Fighting Saints to fold midway through their fourth season. A second incarnation of the Fighting Saints lasted only half of the next season before also folding.

By 1978 the North Stars had missed the playoffs in five of the previous six seasons, and had only tallied two winning seasons since joining the league. Attendance had tailed off so rapidly that the league feared that the franchise was on the verge of folding. At this point, [[Gordon Gund|Gordon]] and [[George Gund III]], owners of the equally strapped [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]], stepped in with an unprecedented solution—merging the North Stars with the Barons. The merged team retained the North Stars name, colors, and history, and remained in Minnesota. But the wealthier Gunds became majority owners of the merged team, and the North Stars moved from the then five-team [[Smythe Division]] to the Barons' place in the [[Adams Division]] (which would otherwise have been left with only three teams) for the [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79 season]]. The recently retired Nanne was named general manager, and some of the Barons players – notably [[goaltender]] [[Gilles Meloche]] and forwards [[Al MacAdam]] and [[Mike Fidler]] – bolstered Minnesota's lineup. Furthermore, Minnesota had drafted [[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Bobby Smith]], who went on to win the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] as the NHL's top rookie that year, and [[Steve Payne (ice hockey)|Steve Payne]], who recorded 42 goals in his second campaign in 1979–80.

On January 15, 1979, the North Stars defeated the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, 8–1. Tim Young became the second player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots. His five-goal game remains the best offensive output by a player in the Minnesota/Dallas franchise.<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |issn=1553-8095 |oclc=1645522 |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/16/archives/young-gets-5-goals-stars-rout-rangers-they-make-it-interesting.html |title=Young Gets 5 Goals, Stars Rout Rangers |date=1979-01-16 |accessdate=2023-11-07}}</ref>

===1980s===
In the middle of this transition, a historic night awaited the North Stars. On January 7, 1980, Minnesota was scheduled to play the [[Philadelphia Flyers]], who came to Bloomington with the NHL's and major league sports’ longest undefeated streak, a 35-game run of 25 wins and 10 ties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Youngblood|first1=Kent|title=1980 – could history repeat itself?|url=http://www.startribune.com/north-stars-stopped-nhl-record-streak-in-1980-could-history-repeat-itself/195180761/|access-date=2016-04-13|work=Minneapolis StarTribune|date=2013-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413182821/http://www.startribune.com/north-stars-stopped-nhl-record-streak-in-1980-could-history-repeat-itself/195180761/|archive-date=2016-04-13}}</ref> An all-time record Met Center crowd of 15,962 squeezed into the arena, which remained the highest total in all 26 seasons of the North Stars franchise. Minnesota ended the Flyers' streak with a 7–1 win. Seven different North Stars scored seven unanswered goals. In the quarterfinals of the [[1980 Stanley Cup playoffs|1980 playoffs]], the North Stars upset the four-time defending champion [[Montreal Canadiens]] in seven games before bowing out to Philadelphia in the next round.

With the addition of new players such as Minnesota native and [[Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics|1980 Olympian]] [[Neal Broten]] and sniper [[Dino Ciccarelli]], the North Stars had five straight winning seasons starting in [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]], which included back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup semifinals, against the Flyers in 1980 and against the [[Calgary Flames]] in 1981. By defeating the Flames in [[1980–81 NHL season|1981]], the North Stars reached their first [[1981 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]]. They lost in five games to the heavily favored [[New York Islanders]].

On November 11, 1981, the Winnipeg Jets visited Met Center. Fueled by an eight-goal second period, and a four-goal, seven-point night by Bobby Smith, the North Stars scored the most goals in an NHL game since 1944 in a 15–2 win.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://records.nhl.com/records/team-records/goals/most-goals-one-team-one-game | title=NHL Records}}</ref>

Following the 1981 NHL realignment to a more geographically grouped configuration, the North Stars were in the [[Norris Division]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=One in a series of NHL division sizeups: Norris Division - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/09/21/One-in-a-series-of-NHL-division-sizeups-Norris-Division/5455369892800/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> Ciccarelli scored a franchise record 55 goals in just his second season in 1981–82, leading Minnesota to its first division title. The team bowed out of the playoffs in the first round against the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]].

In the summer of 1982, general manager [[Lou Nanne]] drafted [[Brian Bellows]], who scored 35 goals in his rookie season of [[1982–83 NHL season|1982–83]], when the team finished with 40 wins and 96 regular season points – both the most ever recorded in the 26 years the franchise was based in Minnesota. The North Stars lost in the playoffs to the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round.

In 1983–84 [[Bill Mahoney]], a defensive-minded coach, took over. Early in the season, Bobby Smith was traded to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] for a pair of defense-minded forwards, [[Keith Acton]] and [[Mark Napier (ice hockey)|Mark Napier]]. The team posted the second-highest victory total in its history with 39 and won its second Norris Division crown in three years. Luckily for them, the Norris Division was very weak that year; they were the only team in the division to have a winning record.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Edmonton Oilers, behind Ken Linseman&#039;s power-play goal in... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/05/01/The-Edmonton-Oilers-behind-Ken-Linsemans-power-play-goal-in/1590452232000/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

In the playoffs, the North Stars defeated the Blackhawks. Minnesota won the series 3–2, then eliminated the [[St. Louis Blues]] in seven games. They then lost to the [[Edmonton Oilers]] in four games.<ref name=":0" />

After 1984, the franchise only had one more winning season in Minnesota, in 1985–86. In 1987–88, it won 19 games, the second-fewest wins in franchise history. A loss to the [[Calgary Flames]] coupled with the Leafs' win over the Red Wings not only kept the North Stars out of the playoffs, but also with the worst record in the league. Chronic attendance problems led the owners to threaten to move the club to the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], against the league's wishes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Calgary Flames regained the lead in the NHL... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/03/25/The-Calgary-Flames-regained-the-lead-in-the-NHL/1410575269200/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=UPI}}</ref>

===1990s===
The NHL instituted a compromise for the [[1990–91 NHL season|1990–91 season]] whereby the Gund brothers were awarded an expansion team in the Bay Area, the [[San Jose Sharks]], that would receive players from Minnesota via a [[1991 NHL dispersal draft|dispersal draft]] with the North Stars. Both the Sharks and North Stars would then be able to select players from the other 20 NHL teams in an [[expansion draft]]. A group previously petitioning for an NHL team in the Bay Area, led by [[Howard Baldwin]] and [[Morris Belzberg]], bought the North Stars as part of the deal. Baldwin and Belzberg purchased the team from the Gunds for approximately $38.1 million (including $1 million in liabilities as well as giving the Gunds their share of the fees from the next three expansion teams, expected to be $7.14 million). [[Norman Green]], a former part-owner of the [[Calgary Flames]] and a last-minute newcomer to Baldwin and Belzberg's group, purchased 51% controlling interest in the North Stars from them, with Baldwin and Belzberg sharing the remaining 49% stake. Green agreed to purchase Baldwin's 24.5% share, giving him more than 75% control of the team shortly after a dispute with Baldwin arose. Belzberg maintained his share of the rest of the team's stock until October 1990, when Green became the team's sole owner by buying Belzberg's shares.

In the 1990–91 season, despite a losing record in the regular season, the North Stars embarked on a [[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella]] run to the [[1991 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]]. They knocked off the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] and [[St. Louis Blues]] (the top two teams in the NHL during the regular season) in six games each and the defending Stanley Cup champion [[Edmonton Oilers]] in five games, making it to the finals for the second time in franchise history. The team fought hard against the eventual champion [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], led by [[Mario Lemieux]]. They won two out of the first three contests before being obliterated 8–0 in game six of the best-of-seven series. It was the most lopsided defeat in a deciding game of the Stanley Cup Final since the original [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] defeated the [[Dawson City Nuggets]] 23–2 in 1905.

Following the 1991 Finals run, the North Stars adopted a new logo – the word "STARS" in italicized gold capitals over a green star with a gold outline; the gold now a more metallic shade than the previous yellowish shade. The team also adopted black as its primary color for its road uniforms, and eliminated gold from the uniform, except for the logo. Even before the logo change, it had been speculated that the North Stars would adopt a new logo following the 1990–91 season, as the future primary logo was first painted on the Met Center ice before the aforementioned season, albeit in a reverse color scheme from its upcoming incarnation.

To celebrate the team's 25th anniversary, the team wore a commemorative patch on the left shoulder of its uniforms. The patch depicted Bill Goldsworthy, wearing a green uniform, facing off against Mike Modano, wearing the new black uniform.<ref>{{harvnb|Raider|2014|p=75}}</ref>

Per the 1991 expansion agreement, the North Stars were allowed to protect fourteen players from selection by the Sharks. This meant the core of their 1991 conference championship roster essentially remained intact, with the team losing only four players from its NHL roster to San Jose (the Sharks' remaining selections from Minnesota were minor-leaguers). As a result, while the Sharks endured the typical struggles of an expansion team and finished last overall, the North Stars modestly improved from the 1990–91 regular season though still finishing with a losing record. They made the [[1992 Stanley Cup playoffs|1992 playoffs]] and took a 3–2 series lead into game six at the Met Center against the Norris Division champion Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings won, 1–0, in overtime after a video referee review confirmed that Sergei Fedorov had scored a goal. This was the first use of video replay in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Wings won the seventh game at home, 5–2.

===Departure to Dallas===
{{See also|Dallas Stars}}
By 1992, Norman Green was arranging a deal to turn the team into the Los Angeles Stars, playing at a new arena (which is now the [[Honda Center]]) under construction in [[Anaheim, California]]. However, as [[The Walt Disney Company]] was already in negotiations with the NHL to create an expansion team in the area, the league instead asked Green to let Disney create the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] while the North Stars would be allowed to relocate to any city of Green's choosing. In January 1993, Green chose [[Dallas, Texas]] as the new home of the franchise,<ref name="dmagazine1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2010/January/The_35_Biggest_Moments_in_Modern_Dallas_History_11.aspx |title=The 35 Biggest Moments in Modern Dallas History |publisher=Dmagazine.com |access-date=2011-09-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520003803/http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2010/January/The_35_Biggest_Moments_in_Modern_Dallas_History_11.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-20}}</ref> and the decision was formally announced on March 10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/patrick-plus-thanks-norm-green/265064341/|title=Patrick Plus: Thanks, Norm Green|website=Star Tribune|date=29 June 2014 |access-date=2016-04-14}}</ref> Several reasons were cited for the relocation, including poor attendance during a string of losing seasons, the failure to reach deals for a new arena in either Minneapolis or Saint Paul, and a sexual harassment lawsuit against Green that resulted in his wife threatening to leave him unless he moved the team.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Andrew|title=Don't Blame Gary Bettman|url=http://thehockeywriters.com/dont-blame-gary-bettman/|publisher=The Hockey Writers|access-date=26 January 2017|date=7 August 2014}}</ref> The subsequent decision to relocate the franchise to Texas made Green much reviled in Minnesota, where he derisively came to be known as "Norm Greed".<ref name=normgreen>{{Cite magazine|title=Spleen for Green |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138154/3/index.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102115504/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138154/3/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |access-date=2009-04-21 | date=April 19, 1993}}</ref><ref name="BursonHart2011">{{cite book|author1=Rusty Burson|author2=Glenn Hart|title=The Lone Star Skate: Improbable (But True) Stories of Texas's Hockey Heroes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JsGiFh_B65gC&pg=PA26|date=1 March 2011|publisher=BookPros, LLC|isbn=978-1-934454-38-1|page=26}}</ref>

Another factor that also precipitated the move to Dallas was that the team refused to play at the [[Target Center]], where the NBA's [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] played, due to the fact that [[Coca-Cola]] had advertising and pouring rights at that arena. The North Stars and the Met Center had [[Pepsi]] as their sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stateofhockeynews.com/2011-articles/a-look-back-the-minnesota-north-stars-the-story-back-then-and-its-legacy-today.html |title=A look back: The Minnesota North Stars, the story back then and its legacy today {{!}} State of Hockey News |website=stateofhockeynews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909200701/http://stateofhockeynews.com/2011-articles/a-look-back-the-minnesota-north-stars-the-story-back-then-and-its-legacy-today.html |archive-date=2015-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6JbZfpd5I|title = - YouTube|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> Despite that, the newly relocated Stars did play at Target Center on December 9, 1993, against the [[1993–94 Ottawa Senators season|Ottawa Senators]], though only 14,058 fans showed up to watch the Stars defeat the Senators 6–1.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Austin|title=Gone but Not Forgotten: The still-unsettled Dallas Stars played a return engagement before Minnesota's sadder but wiser fans|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/12/20/gone-but-not-forgotten-the-still-unsettled-dallas-stars-played-a-return-engagement-before-minnesotas-sadder-but-wiser-fans|publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=18 December 2021|date=20 December 1993}}</ref>

Due to mounting financial problems resulting from poor management of his non-hockey business ventures, Green only kept the Stars for three more years before selling them to [[Tom Hicks]] in 1996.<ref name="Tranchina">{{Cite news |url=http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=450062 |title=Green a hockey pioneer in Dallas |date=26 October 2007 |last=Tranchina |first=John}}</ref>

On the other hand, the Dallas franchise has taken some steps to mend the emotional wounds left in Minnesota. When the Dallas Stars won the 1999 Stanley Cup–three years after Green sold the team–their official video "Nothing Else Matters" not only included their past seasons' disappointments, but also paid tribute to the North Stars' 1991 run to the final, of which star [[Mike Modano]] and general manager [[Bob Gainey]] had been a part of.

Modano, who retired in 2011, was the last former North Star in the NHL, leaving the Stars franchise after the {{NHL Year|2009}} season. The last active former North Star was [[Mike Craig (ice hockey born 1971)|Mike Craig]], who played in Italy until 2013. After Modano's last game as a Dallas Star, which was in Minnesota playing the Wild, Modano came on the ice as the first star wearing a North Stars jersey, getting a standing ovation from the crowd.

With the departure of former North Stars scout [[Les Jackson (ice hockey)|Les Jackson]] from the Dallas Stars franchise on June 30, 2020, there is no longer anyone working for Dallas who had a direct connection to the franchise's time in Minnesota.

===Return of NHL hockey to Minnesota===
{{See also|Minnesota Wild}}
NHL hockey returned to Minnesota when the NHL announced in 1997 that the state had been awarded an expansion franchise to begin play in the [[2000–01 NHL season]]. In 1998, the team name for the new franchise became the [[Minnesota Wild]].

On December 17, 2000, the Wild hosted the Dallas Stars in the latter's first visit to Minnesota since the relocation (excluding the aforementioned neutral-site game at Target Center in 1993). The Wild won that game 6–0 with [[Darby Hendrickson]] scoring two goals and [[Manny Fernandez (ice hockey)|Manny Fernandez]] making 24 saves for a shutout. As of the [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24 season]], the Stars won 52 of 90 meetings with the Wild, with one tie and nine [[Overtime (ice hockey)|overtime/shootout]] (OT/SO) losses.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL Stats - Dallas Stars - Minnesota Wild |url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20232024&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.15&opponent=franchise.37&sort=points,wins&page=0&pageSize=50 |website=NHL.com |access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref> The two teams also faced each other in the [[2016 Stanley Cup playoffs#(C1) Dallas Stars vs. (WC2) Minnesota Wild|2016]] and [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs#(C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild|2023 first round]] of the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]], the Stars prevailed over the Wild in both series. 

On April 4, 2017, the Wild honored the North Stars by wearing North Stars jerseys for warmups, despite the North Stars history belonging to the [[Dallas Stars]]. [[Martin Hanzal]] warmed up with number 91, as the North Stars retired number 19 in honor of [[Bill Masterton]]. [[Zach Parise]] also warmed up with equipment belonging to his father, the late [[Jean-Paul Parise]], who played for the North Stars.

An alumni game between the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] and team Minnesota took place the day prior to the [[2016 NHL Stadium Series|2016 Stadium Series]] with team Minnesota winning 6–4. Team Minnesota featured a mix of former North Stars and Wild players, and wore throwback North Stars jerseys with the former's logo on the right shoulder and the Wild logo on the left shoulder.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Chris |title=WATCH: Five great moments from Blackhawks-North Stars alumni game |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/watch-five-great-moments-from-blackhawks-north-stars-alumni-game/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=November 30, 2024 |date=February 20, 2016}}</ref>

For the [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]], the Minnesota Wild introduced a version of the 1978 North Stars jersey, featuring a recolored Wild logo as part of the league-wide "Reverse Retro" jersey program.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ledra |first1=Cristina |title=Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 15, 2021 |date=December 1, 2020}}</ref> In the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]], a green version of the "Reverse Retro" jersey was used.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL Reverse Retro jerseys for all 32 teams unveiled by adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|website=NHL.com|date=October 20, 2022|access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref> The Wild's green "Reverse Retro" jersey was subsequently promoted to a full-time [[third jersey]] as "The 78s" alternate uniform, adding the recolored "State of Hockey" patch on the shoulders.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Wild Unveils New Alternate Uniform |url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/minnesota-wild-unveils-new-alternate-uniform|website=National Hockey League|access-date=September 23, 2023|date=September 23, 2023}}</ref>

==Logos and colors==
[[File:Minnesota North Stars Logo 1967-1974.svg|thumb|left|200x200px|The original North Stars logo, used until 1985.]]
[[File:Minnesota North Stars Logo 1991-1993.svg|thumb|right|200x200px|The North Stars logo used for the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons, before the move to Dallas. Dallas adopted a similar logo until 2013.]]
The North Stars were known for their "classic" green and gold color scheme. For the majority of their existence, the North Stars wore white jerseys with green and gold striping at home and green jerseys with white and gold stripes on the road. Black trim was added to the white jerseys in 1981, and to the green jerseys in 1988. In 1988–89, the pants changed from green to black, with three stars on each side in place of stripes.

In 1991, black became the primary color, as the team underwent a complete redesign. The new logo and uniforms were carried over to Dallas after the team moved south.

==Season-by-season record==
{{Main|List of Minnesota North Stars seasons}}
{{See also|List of Dallas Stars seasons}}
The team had a 758–970–334 regular season record, and a 77–82 playoff record with two [[Norris Division]] championships, and one [[Western Conference (NHL)|Campbell Conference]] championship.<ref name=hockeydb>{{Cite web|title=Minnesota North Stars |url=http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=37 |publisher=The Internet Hockey Database}}</ref>

==Players and personnel==

===Retired numbers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ colspan="5" style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009639 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 5px solid;"|Minnesota North Stars retired numbers
|-
! style="width:40px;"|No.
! style="width:150px;"|Player
! style="width:40px;"|Position
! style="width:100px;"|Career
! style="width:150px;"|Date of retirement
|-
| '''8''' || [[Bill Goldsworthy]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1967–1977 || February 15, 1992
|-
| '''19''' || [[Bill Masterton]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1967–1968 || January 17, 1987
|}

===Hockey Hall of Fame===
'''Players'''
* [[Leo Boivin]]
* [[Dino Ciccarelli]]
* [[Mike Gartner]]
* [[Mike Modano]]
* [[Larry Murphy (ice hockey)|Larry Murphy]]
* [[Gump Worsley]]

These numbers remain retired with the [[Dallas Stars]]. In addition to Goldsworthy and Masterton, the Stars have retired the number 7 of [[Neal Broten]], who played with the North Stars from 1981 to 1993, and the number 9 of [[Mike Modano]] who played from 1988 to 1993.

===First-round draft picks===
{{div col}}
* [[1967 NHL amateur draft|1967]]: [[Wayne Cheesman]] (fourth overall)
* [[1968 NHL amateur draft|1968]]: [[Jim Benzelock]] (fifth overall)
* [[1969 NHL amateur draft|1969]]: [[Dick Redmond]] (fifth overall)
* [[1972 NHL amateur draft|1972]]: [[Jerry Byers]] (12th overall)
* [[1974 NHL amateur draft|1974]]: [[Doug Hicks]] (sixth overall)
* [[1975 NHL amateur draft|1975]]: [[Bryan Maxwell]] (fourth overall)
* [[1976 NHL amateur draft|1976]]: [[Glen Sharpley]] (third overall)
* [[1977 NHL amateur draft|1977]]: [[Brad Maxwell]] (seventh overall)
* [[1978 NHL amateur draft|1978]]: [[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Bobby Smith]] (first overall)
* [[1979 NHL entry draft|1979]]: [[Craig Hartsburg]] (sixth overall) and [[Tom McCarthy (ice hockey b. 1960)|Tom McCarthy]] (10th overall)
* [[1980 NHL entry draft|1980]]: [[Brad Palmer]] (16th overall)
* [[1981 NHL entry draft|1981]]: [[Ron Meighan]] (13th overall)
* [[1982 NHL entry draft|1982]]: [[Brian Bellows]] (second overall)
* [[1983 NHL entry draft|1983]]: [[Brian Lawton]] (first overall)
* [[1984 NHL entry draft|1984]]: [[David Quinn (ice hockey)|David Quinn]] (13th overall)
* [[1986 NHL entry draft|1986]]: [[Warren Babe]] (12th overall)
* [[1987 NHL entry draft|1987]]: [[Dave Archibald]] (sixth overall)
* [[1988 NHL entry draft|1988]]: [[Mike Modano]] (first overall)
* [[1989 NHL entry draft|1989]]: [[Doug Zmolek]] (seventh overall)
* [[1990 NHL entry draft|1990]]: [[Derian Hatcher]] (eighth overall)
* [[1991 NHL entry draft|1991]]: [[Richard Matvichuk]] (eighth overall)
{{div col end}}

===Team captains===<!-- This section is linked from [[Bob Woytowich]] -->
''Note: This list does not include [[Dallas Stars]], [[California Golden Seals]] and [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]] captains''.<ref name=Ecyclopedia />
{{div col}}
* [[Bob Woytowich]] 1967–1968
* [[Elmer Vasko]] 1968–1969
* [[Claude Larose (ice hockey, born 1942)|Claude Larose]] 1969–1970
* [[Ted Harris (ice hockey)|Ted Harris]] 1970–1974
* [[Bill Goldsworthy]] 1974–1976
* [[Bill Hogaboam]] 1976–1977
* [[Nick Beverley]] 1977–1978
* [[J. P. Parisé|J. P. Parise]] 1978–1979
* [[Paul Shmyr]] 1979–1981
* [[Tim Young (ice hockey)|Tim Young]] 1981–1982
* [[Craig Hartsburg]] 1982–1989
* [[Brian Bellows]] 1984 <small>(interim)</small>
* [[Curt Giles]] 1989–1991
* [[Mark Tinordi]] 1991–1993
{{div col end}}

===Head coaches===
{{div col}}
* [[Wren Blair]], 1967–1970
* [[John Muckler]], 1968–1969
* [[Charlie Burns (ice hockey)|Charlie Burns]], 1969–1970, 1974–1975
* [[Jack Gordon (ice hockey)|Jack Gordon]], 1970–1975
* [[Parker MacDonald]], 1973–1974
* [[Ted Harris (ice hockey)|Ted Harris]], 1975–1978
* [[André Beaulieu|Andre Beaulieu]], 1977–1978
* [[Lou Nanne]], 1977–1978
* [[Harry Howell (ice hockey)|Harry Howell]], 1978–1979
* [[Glen Sonmor]], 1978–1987
* [[Murray Oliver]], 1982–1983
* [[Bill Mahoney]], 1983–1985
* [[Lorne Henning]], 1985–1987
* [[Herb Brooks]], 1987–1988
* [[Pierre Page]], 1988–1990
* [[Bob Gainey]], 1990–1993
{{div col end}}

==NHL awards and trophies==
'''[[Clarence S. Campbell Bowl]]'''
*[[1990–91 NHL season|1990–91]]

'''[[Calder Memorial Trophy]]'''
*[[Danny Grant (ice hockey)|Danny Grant]]: [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]]
*[[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Bobby Smith]]: [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79]]

'''[[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]]'''
*[[Al MacAdam]]: [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]]

==Franchise leaders and records==

===Franchise scoring leaders===
This is a listing of the top ten point scorers in franchise history.

'''''Note:''' Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009639 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 5px solid;"|Points
|-
! class="unsortable"|Player
! class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Pos|Position}}
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
! {{abbr|Pts|Points}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|+/−|Plus/minus}}
! {{abbr|PIM|Penalty minutes}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Neal Broten]] || C || 876 || 249 || 547 || '''796''' || 15 || 457
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Brian Bellows]] || LW || 753 || 342 || 380 || '''722''' || −82 || 537
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dino Ciccarelli]] || RW || 602 || 332 || 319 || '''651''' || −2 || 642
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Bobby Smith]] || C || 572 || 185 || 369 || '''554''' || −43 || 487
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Bill Goldsworthy]] || RW || 670 || 267 || 239 || '''506''' || −86 || 711
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tim Young (ice hockey)|Tim Young]] || C || 565 || 178 || 316 || '''494''' || −71 || 401
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Steve Payne (ice hockey)|Steve Payne]] || LW || 613 || 228 || 238 || '''466''' || 31 || 435
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Craig Hartsburg]] || D || 570 || 98 || 315 || '''413''' || −6 || 815
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dave Gagner]] || C || 440 || 187 || 217 || '''404''' || −10 || 577
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[J. P. Parisé|J. P. Parise]] || LW || 588 || 154 || 242 || '''396''' || −85 || 509
|}

===Franchise records===
;Regular season
* Games played: [[Neal Broten]], 876
* Goals: [[Brian Bellows]], 342
* Assists: Neal Broten, 547
* Points: Neal Broten, 796
* Penalty minutes: [[Basil McRae]], 1,567
* Games: [[Cesare Maniago]], 420
* Wins: Cesare Maniago, 145
* Shutouts: Cesare Maniago, 26

;Single season
* Goals: [[Dino Ciccarelli]] (1981–82) and Brian Bellows (1989-90), 55
* Assists: Neal Broten, 76 (1985–86)
* Points: [[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Bobby Smith]], 114 (1981–82)
* Penalty minutes: Basil McRae, 382 (1987–88)
* Wins: [[Jon Casey]], 31 (1989–90)
* Shutouts: Cesare Maniago, 6 (1967–68)

;Playoffs
* Games played: Neal Broten, 104
* Goals: [[Steve Payne (ice hockey)|Steve Payne]], 35
* Assists: Bobby Smith, 50
* Points: Brian Bellows, 83
* Penalty minutes: [[Willi Plett]], 201
* Games: [[Gilles Meloche]], 45
* Wins: Gilles Meloche and [[Jon Casey]], 21
* Shutouts: Cesare Maniago, 3

==Broadcasting==
WTCN-TV Channel 11 (now [[KARE (TV)|KARE]]) carried North Stars games from 1967 to 1979. Usually, 27 road games and three home games were televised each season. Frank Buetel was the play-by-play announcer from 1967 to 1970. [[Hal Kelly]] took over for the next few years, followed by Joe Boyle in the mid-1970s. Boyle was joined by color commentator Roger Buxton. After the station gained [[NBC]] affiliation in 1979, telecasts moved to [[KMSP-TV]] (now a [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] owned-and-operated station), with most called by [[Bob Kurtz (broadcaster)|Bob Kurtz]] and retired North Stars defenseman [[Tom Reid (ice hockey)|Tom Reid]] (incidentally, Kurtz and Reid are the Minnesota Wild's current radio announce team). KITN (now [[WFTC]]) televised North Stars games with Frank Mazzocco on play-by-play with color commentators [[Fred Barrett (ice hockey)|Fred Barrett]], Roger Buxton, and Wally Shaver from the 1984–85 through 1986–87 seasons. The 1987–88 season saw North Stars' games telecast over [[Saint Cloud, Minnesota|Saint Cloud]]-based [[UHF]] station [[KPXM|KXLI]] (with Kurtz on play-by-play and former Islander goalie [[Chico Resch|Glenn "Chico" Resch]] on color). After Kurtz moved on to [[Massachusetts]]-based [[NESN]] in the summer of 1988, Doug McLeod joined Resch in the broadcast booth beginning with the 1988–89 season. The North Stars' telecasts returned to KMSP in December 1988. The majority of the road games continued to be shown on KMSP, though late in the season some road games were shown on the premium channel [[Bally Sports North|Midwest Sports Channel]]. For the 1989–90 season, Tom Reid joined McLeod in the booth, replacing Resch as color commentator. The 1990–91 season saw first [[Lou Nanne]], then [[Dave Maloney]], and then again, for the playoffs, Nanne paired with McLeod for television broadcasts on both of these same channels. Telecasts were almost exclusively of North Stars' road games, although a handful of home games were televised during that period of time. The [[1991 Stanley Cup Final]] run saw home games available only on [[pay-per-view]] and not available to most hockey fans in Minnesota. [[Dave Hodge]] handled TV play-by-play, partnering with color analyst [[Joe Micheletti]] in the 1991–92 season.

North Stars radio broadcasts originated from [[WCCO (AM)|WCCO Radio]] from 1967 to 1978, then moved to another Twin Cities-based [[clear-channel station]], [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]], where radio broadcasts stayed until the team moved to Dallas in 1993, save a few seasons on a 5,000-watt radio station, [[KKMS (AM)|WAYL]].<ref name=Shaver>{{Cite web|title=Al Shaver |url=http://www.pavekmuseum.org/Shaver.htm |publisher=Pavek Museum of Broadcasting |access-date=2007-11-17}}</ref> [[Al Shaver]] was the play-by-play radio announcer throughout the Stars' stay in Minnesota.<ref name=Shaver /> During the WCCO era, Shaver was joined for many home games by WCCO's Larry Jagoe in the early seasons, followed by WCCO personality [[Steve Cannon (radio)|Steve Cannon]]. Shaver's partners on KSTP were Russ Small, [[Ted Robinson (sportscaster)|Ted Robinson]], and (during the last three seasons) former Dallas Stars announcer [[Ralph Strangis]]. During the Stars' final season (1992–93), Shaver and Strangis called games on KMSP, while the Stars' cable TV game announcer, Doug McLeod, called games over KSTP and the Stars' radio network.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}} [[Dan Stoneking]] covered the North Stars on KSTP, hosting a sports talk show, and was described by team general manager [[Lou Nanne]] as an "honorary teammate" subjected to player pranks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dan Stoneking, print and radio journalist|last=Cohen|first=Ben|date=February 4, 2007|newspaper=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|page=B6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-stoneking-2007/92140123/}}</ref>

Shaver is a ten-time Minnesota Sportscaster of the Year and, as the 1993 [[Foster Hewitt Memorial Award]]-winner, a member of the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]].<ref name=Shaver /> Following the team's departure to Dallas, he called [[University of Minnesota]] [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey|Golden Gophers hockey]] games until his retirement in 1996.<ref name=Shaver />

It was on the night of the Stars' final game at [[Joe Louis Arena]] versus the [[Detroit Red Wings]] that Shaver first shared the broadcast booth with his son, Wally, who is the current Gopher hockey radio announcer. The elder Shaver's call of the closing moments of the last-ever North Stars game went thus:
{{blockquote|"It's [[Craig Ludwig|Ludwig]], giving it to [[Ulf Dahlén|Dahlen]] ... 4, 3, 2, 1 ... and it's all over. The Stars lose it here, 5–3, and now it's pack-'em up time and on to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]]. We wish them good luck. And to all the North Stars over the past 26 years, we say thank you, all of you, for so much fine entertainment. It's been a pleasure knowing you, Minnesota's loss is definitely a gain for Dallas – and a big one. We thank you, though, from the bottoms of our hearts, for all the wonderful nights at [[Met Center]], when you've given us so much entertainment and you've been such a credit to the community in which you played. We will still remember you as the Minnesota North Stars. Good night, everybody. And goodbye."<ref name=lastcall>{{Cite web|title=Al Shaver's Last Call |url=http://www.northstarshockey.com/lastcall.htm |publisher=Minnesota North Stars Memories |access-date=2007-11-17}}</ref>}}

===Radio===
{{more citations needed|date=November 2019}}
'''Play-by-play'''
* [[Al Shaver]], 1967–1992
* Doug McLeod, 1992–1993

'''Color commentators'''
{{div col}}
* Larry Jagoe, 1967–1971
* [[Paul Giel]], 1971–1972
* [[Steve Cannon (radio)|Steve Cannon]], 1972–1978
* [[Tom Reid (ice hockey)|Tom Reid]], 1978–1980
* [[Ted Robinson (sportscaster)|Ted Robinson]], 1980–1982
* Russ Small, 1982–1984
* Tom Reid, 1984–1989
* [[Bill Goldsworthy]], 1989–1990
* [[Ralph Strangis]], 1990–1992
* [[Doug Woog]], 1992–1993 (select games)
* [[Tom Vannelli]], 1992–1993 (select games)
* Wally Shaver, 1992–1993 (select games)
{{div col end}}

Al Shaver did all radio play-by-play except in 1992–93, when he did radio play-by-play on non televised games. He also missed some games when he did the [[High school boys ice hockey in Minnesota|high school hockey tournament]] in a number of years. Shaver's replacements were [[Bob Kurtz (sportscaster)|Bob Kurtz]] (1979–80), [[Ted Robinson (sportscaster)|Ted Robinson]] (1980–81 and 1981–82), Frank Mazzocco (1986–87), [[Ralph Strangis]] (1990–91). In 1992–93, Doug McLeod did radio play-by-play on televised games with various analysts including [[Doug Woog]], [[Tom Vannelli]], and Wally Shaver.

Shaver did not follow the North Stars when they moved to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] in 1993, opting to stay in the [[Twin Cities]]. He called [[University of Minnesota]] men's hockey for several seasons, then retired in 1996. Shaver came out of retirement for one season in 2000, when the NHL returned to Minnesota with the debut of the [[Minnesota Wild]], calling their games during their inaugural season in 2000–01.

After retiring as a player, Reid spent 12 years as color commentator for the North Stars. After the team's move to Dallas, Reid continued as an analyst for NCAA hockey. He and [[Bob Kurtz (broadcaster)|Bob Kurtz]] have been part of the radio broadcast team for the [[Minnesota Wild]] since the team's inaugural season in 2000.

Although Strangis had a great deal of broadcast experience, his tryout as color commentator on the Minnesota North Stars radio network was a longshot; other better-known sportscasters received more air time during the auditioning process. The five potential candidates split up a game as guest commentators alongside [[Al Shaver]], then voice of the Minnesota North Stars. The two better-known talents each took a period and then the three longshots split up the third, with Strangis going last. When Al Shaver was asked who he liked the best, he chose Strangis. Ralph shone in his audition, with the perfect ability to complement Shaver's play-by-play with insights from the players and his own intimate knowledge of the game. When the Stars moved to Dallas in 1993, Shaver decided not to migrate south with the franchise and retired. After three more seasons as color commentator (teaming with Mike Fornes), Strangis migrated to the play-by-play mic, effectively cementing his status as the "Voice of the Stars."

===Television===
'''Play-by-play'''
{{div col}}
* Frank Buetel, 1967–1970
* Hal Kelly, 1970–1973
* Joe Boyle, 1973–1979
* [[Bob Kurtz (sportscaster)|Bob Kurtz]], 1979–1984
* Frank Mazzocco, 1984–1987
* Bob Kurtz, 1987–1988
* Doug McLeod, 1988–1991
* [[Dave Hodge]], 1991–1992
* [[Al Shaver]], 1992–1993
{{div col end}}

'''Color commentators'''
{{div col}}
* Norm Aldred and Bob May, 1967–68
* Ed Harringan, 1968–69
* Joe Boyle, 1970–1973
* Roger Buxton, 1973–1979
* Dave Sheehan, 1979–1980
* [[Tom Reid (ice hockey)|Tom Reid]], 1980–1984
* [[Fred Barrett (ice hockey)|Fred Barrett]] and Roger Buxton, 1984–1985
* Wally Shaver, 1985–1987
* [[Chico Resch]], 1987–1989
* Tom Reid, 1989–90
* [[Lou Nanne]], 1990–1991 (select games)
* [[Dave Maloney]], 1990–1991 (select games)
* [[Joe Micheletti]], 1991–1992
* [[Ralph Strangis]], 1992–1993
{{div col end}}

In 1979, Kurtz joined [[KMSP-TV]], where he called Minnesota Twins games from 1979 to 1986 and Minnesota North Stars games from 1979 to 1984. He was also the North Stars play by play announcer on [[KXLI-TV]] during the [[1987–88 NHL season]]. From 1988 to 1989, he was the sports director at [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] radio, where he also called [[University of Minnesota]] hockey, football and basketball.<ref name="wild.nhl.com">{{cite web |url=http://wild.nhl.com/team/app?service%3Dpage%26page%3DNHLPage%26bcid%3Dtea_BobKurtz |title=Minnesota Wild – Team – Minnesota Wild Team |access-date=2008-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006192821/http://wild.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tea_BobKurtz |archive-date=2008-10-06}}</ref> Kurtz returned to Minnesota in 2000 when he was hired to become the first radio play by play announcer for the [[Minnesota Wild]]. He was reunited with [[Tom Reid (ice hockey)|Tom Reid]], who he previously worked with while calling games for the North Stars as well as University of Minnesota and Michigan State hockey broadcasts.<ref name="wild.nhl.com"/>

==See also==
* [[List of Minnesota North Stars players]]
* [[List of Minnesota North Stars draft picks]]
* [[Dallas Stars]]
* [[Minnesota Wild]]
* [[California Seals]]
* [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]]
* [[List of defunct NHL teams]]
* [[1967 NHL expansion]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{citation|last=Raider|first=Adam|year=2014|title=Frozen in Time: A Minnesota North Stars History|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|isbn=978-0-8032-4998-1}}
* {{citation|last=Showers|first=Bob|year=2007|title=Minnesota North Stars: History and Memories with Lou Nanne|publisher = Beaver's Pond Press|isbn=978-1-59298-197-7}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Minnesota North Stars}}

{{Minnesota North Stars}}
{{Navboxes| titlestyle = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009639 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 5px solid;|list1=
{{Minnesota North Stars seasons}}
{{Dallas Stars}}
{{NHLdefunct}}
{{NHL}}
}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Minnesota North Stars| ]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct National Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:National Hockey League in Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1967]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1993]]
[[Category:Sports in Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:1993 disestablishments in Minnesota]]