WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MINNESOTA NORTH STARS? // RELOCATED: A MINNESOTA NORTH STARS DOCUMENTARY

In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the Minnesota North Stars before they moved to Dallas in 1993.

Here's what this "Minnesota North Stars History" video covers:

For 26 years Minnesota (widely known as one of the best places for hockey) was home to a NHL team, the North Stars. So what exactly led to the team leaving after so many seasons? In today’s video we’ll take a look back at how the team’s struggles to stay relevant, and an owner’s mismanagement and personal scandals ultimately doomed the franchise’s chances of survival in Minnesota.

With expansion to the NHL in 1967, and just after the Metropolitan Center (which would become the Minnesota North Stars Arena for their entire existence), the team began their first ever season in franchise history. After overcoming a tragedy in 1968, when star player Bill Masterton died after falling to the ice hard, the team found itself in playoff contention during its first season. Some early Minnesota North Stars highlights included beating the Los Angeles Kings, and getting one game away from the Stanley Cup final before losing to the St. Louis Blues in 1968. The team would soon face stiff competition not just in the NHL, but outside the league as well. in 1972, the World Hockey Association formed in the hopes of competing with the NHL, and one of the original teams was the Minnesota Fighting Saints. It didn't help that during this time the North Stars had begun to struggle, failing to reach the playoffs three years in a row. Even with the Fighting Saints outdrawing the North Stars on occasion, the Fighting Saints folded in 1976 due to financial problems with the team. Things continued to get worse for the North Stars, who were routinely drawing fewer and fewer crowds. The Cleveland Barons were also struggling pretty badly, and the owners George and Gordon Gund pitched a radical idea to the NHL. Why not merge the North Stars and Barons together? Well that's exactly what they did, and in 1979 the two teams officially merged with the North Stars remaining while the Barons ceased operations.

By the early 1980's the North Stars fortunes began to change. In 1981, the infamous Minnesota North Stars vs Boston Bruins Brawl happened which helped spark the team onto an incredible run at the Stanley Cup. The brawl produced the Minnesota North Stars full game record of 211 penalty minutes. The team unexpectedly defeated the Bruins, Sabres, and the Flames to reach the finals for the first time in team history. Unfortunately, they ran into to the red hot New York Islanders who had just won the cup the previous year. The Islanders proved to be too much for the North Stars, who were defeated in five games. After realignment in 1982, the North Stars would languish season after season until in absolutely dreadful 1987 season where they only won 19 games. The only true bright spot during this period was the drafting of Minnesota North Stars Mike Modano, who would go on to have a hall of fame career. The Gund Brothers ended up selling the team in 1990, and Norman Green took over as the new owner. During this time, the team embarked on yet another improbable run throughout the Minnesota North Stars 1991 playoffs. The Stars reached the finals once again, only to be defeated by the Penguins in 6 games. It was long after this that Norm Green decided to move the team due to a number issues surrounding the franchise. The Minnesota North Stars last game took place on April 13, 1993. It would be another 7 years before Minnesota regained an NHL team, when the Wild first played in 2000. The Wild have on occasion played tribute to the North Stars, like in 2020 when they wore reverse retro sweaters inspired by the Minnesota North Stars jersey 1978.

So what did you guys think of the Minnesota North Stars move to Dallas? What do you most remember about the North Star’s time in Minnesota? Let me know in the comments below!

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MINNESOTA NORTH STARS? // RELOCATED: A MINNESOTA NORTH STARS DOCUMENTARY

[AllSportsHistory]

Hey Sports Historians! What did you think about Norman Green moving the North Stars to Dallas? And what do you remember most about the North Stars time in Minnesota? Let me know in the comments below!

[stevebergeson]

Norm Green will always suck. When he bought the North Stars he claimed, "Only an idiot can lose money with hockey in Minnesota." He proved himself correct.

[AlwaysHalloween]

There wasn't a hard core hockey fan in the entire world no matter what team you supported that weren't sad when The North Stars moved to Dallas.. Even though i lived in Chicago I felt bloody betrayed by the NHL when the North Stars left.

[reallifelebowski]

I was in almost all of the old arena's and when I saw a game at the Met Center decades ago I simply couldn't believe what an incredible arena it was - I moved around and every seat in the place was great and the fans and atmosphere was beyond incredible.. Those home white jerseys were also magnificent - seriously among my top 3 favorite of all time..

[mspcityboy]

As a newer hockey fan and Wild fan, this was an excellent documentary to bring me up to speed on the lost beloved team. Thank you!

[nervouswilly]

I always had so much respect for Mike Modano. He would have been an all time great addition to any team in the league.

[mattanderson]

Norm Green was the biggest stab in the back Minnesota ever endured. And then he sold the team two years after he moved them to Dallas! What I remember the most is being at the old Met Centre the night Henry Boucher got ambushed by Dave Forbes against the Bruins. I thought Boucher had lost his eye with all the blood on the ice.

[nookbandit]

As a lifelong Hawk fan I really miss the North Stars, it really was a must watch

[JohnMartin-yjgv]

Watched the North Stars growing up in the early 70's continuing through the 1993 season. !981 finals Islanders in 5 games.

[JoeyArmstrong]

I'm so glad that Minnesota and Winnipeg eventually got their NHL hockey back!

[TBevill]

Despite being happy to have the Stars in Dallas as my “home team” (From Louisiana), what happened to them in Minnesota was truly a mess.

[millie]

I lived in Minnesota and was at almost every Northstar game (80s/90s) and watched the very last game played in the Met Center. I was also there when they unveiled the name change and new jerseys.
I'm back in Texas (Waco) and glad they're here. Wasn't happy when they left because I stayed in Minnesota a couple more years. But things turned out well 😊. I still wear my satin Northstar jacket. I have most of the rookie cards of Mikey-Mo, Brian Bellows and so many legendary NS players.

[TheTempleOfBoom]

Congratulations on probably the best hockey history content on youi-tube ! No annoying loud music, noise, great photos, and good narration . Good job .

[DubdorfUMMMMA]

Thank you for making this.

Sincerely,
Salty Minnesotan

[aleisha]

Great video, as always! I always thought it was a crime that Minnesota lost the North Stars to Dallas. Or that they didn't at least get to reclaim the name when the NHL re-expanded there.

Seeing good ole Gump Worsley, I had a thought for a topic that might make an awesome All Sports History: The full-face fiberglass mask era of the NHL (What Happened to the Classic Goalie Mask?). So, like, 1959 to the mid-80s or so when the last goalie wore a full-face mask? You could cover the early days of Plante, the holdouts who went maskless, the wild mask art of the 70s, and how they eventually gave way to safer options like the helmet cage or the combo. Heck, you could even mention Jason Vorhees. :)

Anyway, I really like your stuff, and tell all my sports friends about your channel. Keep up the awesome work!

[mohawkmike]

A friend of mine was a big North Stars fan and me being a Blues fan we had our own personal rivalry. He was devastated when they moved to Dallas and if you mention Norm Greens name to this day he gets pissed. He hates the Dallas Stars and has adopted the Wild as his team. We fans get emotional about our teams, When I see him I still call him Danny Grant ( his favo player) or Gump. We love reminiscing about the old days and games between our teams. He called me when the Blues finally won their Cup and offered congrats. I used to tune North Star games in on the radio . WCCO Minny/St Paul and the play by play man Al Shaver . Long live the Minny N Stars.

[thenotoriousmm]

I don’t know why but the Minnesota North Stars works as a better team name to me rather than the Minnesota Wild. I was never around when they had the North Stars, but it’s very cool to see their legacy from their time in Minnesota. I love these historical videos about fallen franchises, keep up the good work!

[brentonbataille]

91 cup run still my favorite memory. An amazing, improbable, and great underdog story to this day. I used to wonder how it would have played out had they pulled off the miracle and won it, but sadly I don't anything would have changed.

[ericonly]

Good stuff! Love learning about sports history.

[scottellsworth]

When they opened Met Sports Center, they had the beer vendors carrying backpack with draft beer in them and a hose to fill cups. They didn't anticipate that climbing the stairs shook the beer and produced cup after cup of foam. My parents took our aunt and uncle to the first game. They were so impressed, they bought 4 season tickets every year until the franchise left.