FRISCO — Leaving Dallas was never in the plans for Radek Faksa and his family.
The depth forward was drafted and developed by the Stars organization. While the Czech Republic is his home, Texas had been as well since he was drafted 13th overall in the first round in 2012.
That 2012-13 season, he started playing down in Cedar Park. He had been a consistent member of Dallas’ roster since the 2015-16 season.
But after over a decade in the Stars organization, Faksa and his family were blindsided. The Stars traded the depth forward to St. Louis last offseason for future considerations. Entering the final year of a five-year deal worth $3.25 annually, the Stars couldn’t afford him — or at least weren’t willing to pay that rate at the time for a depth forward.
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“Obviously, it was really emotional to leave Dallas because we spent so much time here,” Faksa said Thursday at the first on-ice day of Stars training camp. “I spent like a third of my life here. It’s like my second home here. It was tough for the whole family to move. Both of our kids were born here, so it was tough to leave.”
Faksa and his family learned on July 1 that they’d be returning to their longtime home after a year away, as Stars GM Jim Nill signed Faksa to a three-year deal worth $2 million annually. At a cheaper price and a longer term, it was a deal that worked for both parties.
Faksa had a successful year in St. Louis, appearing in 70 games and scoring five goals and 15 assists. He helped the Blues make a late push to earn a playoff spot and take No. 1-seed Winnipeg to seven games.
“Hockey-wise, I had a great time in St. Louis,” he said. “It was something new for me. I never played anywhere else. It was a great experience for me. I have nothing bad to say about St. Louis. But I’m happy to be back.”
But throughout his year away, there were times the Stars had second thoughts about their decision
Faksa is a skilled two-way forward with strong defensive instincts. He played meaningful minutes for Dallas on the penalty kill and his size at 6-3, 215 pounds helped him play a physical game that was missing for the Stars much of last year. He was also one of the team’s top performers at the face-off dot, winning 54.4% of the time his last year in Dallas.
“I think he’s kind of maybe one guy that we’ve been missing at times,” Stars forward Tyler Seguin said. “You probably would’ve loved to have a Faksa last year at different times. So, great to have him back. It’s pretty much like he was just here.”
Faksa’s style of play fits in well with the system new head coach Glen Gulutzan plans to install in Dallas. Gulutzan is seeking a grittier, more physical style of play. Bringing in Faksa and free agent Nathan Bastian from New Jersey will help supplement those efforts on the fourth line.
Faksa could be key in helping the Stars get over the hump, and he hopes this skilled Stars roster, which has added new pieces like Mikko Rantanen since his departure, can help him reach his goals of winning the Stanley Cup.
“That’s kind of why I wanted to come back because I know how good the team is and how close we were in the last five, six years,” Faksa said. “That’s really important for me because I’m not a young player anymore. That’s the main reason why I want to be back.”
He and his family have had to start over somewhat, finding a new place to live. They never expected they’d be brought back to Dallas when the trade with St. Louis happened.
But now that he’s back on the Comerica Center ice for training camp — a place he’s been so many times before — he and the Stars organization believe he’s back where he belongs.
“Now, I feel like I never left,” Faksa said.
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