DALLAS – It’s playoff season. There’s a shift of energy inside the locker room, an expectation to play your best hockey, and the pressure to perform under the stress.
But what does that pressure feel like for players who haven’t seen the postseason in a few years?
On the Dallas Stars’ roster, that question hits home for forwards Mikael Granlund and Colin Blackwell — both of whom are preparing for their first playoff series since the 2021-22 season — along with defenseman Brendan Smith, who hasn’t seen postseason action since 2022-23.
Whether they joined the team at the start of the year or arrived via midseason trades, each player is navigating the excitement and challenge of returning to the NHL’s biggest stage.
For Blackwell, who last appeared in the postseason with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the opportunity to return is as motivating as it is meaningful.
“For me, I’m a gamer,” Blackwell said. “My game’s not that pretty, but I love playing in these kinds of situations. Hopefully I can continue to do the right things, build my game and feel confident going into the playoffs. When my number’s called, I’ll be ready.”
Blackwell signed with Dallas in the summer of 2024 after becoming a free agent following his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 31-year-old has skated for five other NHL clubs and brings veteran experience to a Dallas team seeking a deep playoff run.
Blackwell feels like he’s best fit into the Stars roster, where he’s secured a consistent position on the fourth line.
“I think we have that chemistry in practice and games,” he said. “We all kind of play a similar style of hockey, so I think that’s what makes us successful — and that’s also going to help us be successful in the playoffs.”
Typically skating alongside second-year center Sam Steel and rookie Oskar Bäck, the trio has combined for 16 goals and 195 shot attempts this season. Blackwell has contributed six goals and 11 assists, with a shooting percentage of 9.5.
Beyond the stats, Blackwell is soaking in the moment — and the chance to experience playoff hockey in a city that’s thrilled to have four consecutive playoff runs.
“It’s a hard place to play, so using that to your advantage… with everything that’s happened this year, the buzz around the city has been about the Stars,” he said. “You pull up to games and Victory Ave. is just jam-packed. There’s green everywhere. You’re kind of blessed to be in that situation where the city rallies around you, hopefully for a long run here.”
The Stars’ push for the postseason begins April 19, after wrapping up the last regular-season game on the road Wednesday night against the Nashville Predators. Blackwell is ready for his second career postseason with his family and 8-month-old son in attendance.
“Seeing him at the games just brings a whole new perspective, a different kind of light,” Blackwell said. “Being able to be in a playoff atmosphere, it’s going to be pretty cool. The last couple of years I never really had the chance to do that where I was playing (in the postseason). It’s just a complete 180, a way different mindset — and the feeling around the room, too.”
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