NHL.com just revealed a bold prediction about the Dallas Stars' new season

The Dallas Stars enter 2025-26 with Glen Gulutzan's one percent challenge and a new identity that could finally unlock their Stanley Cup potential.

Jim Nill's decision to hire Glen Gulutzan this summer wasn't about tearing down what Pete DeBoer built, it was about refining the details.

For three straight years, Dallas has been one of the most consistent teams in the NHL, but the missing ingredient has been physical edge.

Gulutzan has already made his expectations clear.

He wants his team to treat every regular season game as preparation for the grind of playoff hockey.

He called the postseason "hand-to-hand combat" and believes that even a small change in mentality can add up over time.

Why Glen Gulutzan's one percent challenge could change everything for the Dallas Stars The Stars ranked near the bottom of the league in hits last year and dead last in the playoffs.

For a team with Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and Miro Heiskanen leading the way, that lack of grit became a talking point in their elimination against Edmonton.

That is where Mikko Rantanen comes in.

Acquired at the trade deadline, Rantanen's size and competitive presence could become the ripple effect Gulutzan is looking for.

As one analyst put it: "If your most skilled player shows up in the corners and battles every shift, the rest of the roster has no choice but to follow." Dallas also added Nathan Bastian and brought back Radek Faksa to reinforce their bottom six.

Meanwhile, Lian Bichsel is expected to take a bigger role on defense, giving the Stars more natural size and bite.

Personally, I think Gulutzan's philosophy makes sense.

The Stars don't need an overhaul, they just need to sharpen the areas that have been exploited in the postseason.

With the core intact and a new mindset in place, Dallas looks poised to make another deep run.

As Mike Heika noted in his full breakdown on NHL.com , the key will be whether the Stars can transform small changes into big playoff results..

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