Cogliano focused on helping Stars as he prepares to play 1,000th NHL game

DALLAS -- Andrew Cogliano says that playing in his 1,000th NHL game, which he is expected to do Thursday in his hometown when the Dallas Stars play the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNO, FS-SW, NHL.TV), is a significant milestone, even if he hasn't thought about it much.

"This is a milestone and it's something you're going to appreciate when you're done with hockey and down the line," the Stars forward said. "You'll really realize how important and how special it is.
"I think it's something that -- for anyone in their career -- if you're able to stay where you work for a long time and have a long and successful career, that's something to be proud of."
The 32-year-old was a first-round pick (No. 25) in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and played 12 seasons with the Oilers and Anaheim Ducks before being traded to the Stars on Jan. 14, 2019.

Since arriving in Dallas, he has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 87 games. While he acknowledges that his career is not built around goal scoring or offensive production -- he has 396 points (164 goals, 232 assists) in the NHL -- Cogliano is confident that he is making an impact with the Stars in other areas.
"I think it's been good," Cogliano said of his time in Dallas. "At the end of the day, I judge myself and my game on how our team plays. My role on the team is someone that plays on a line that has a job every night. The line with me, [Radek] Faksa, and [Blake] Comeau is asked to do things, play a certain way every night, be consistent, and play a team game.
"I think I've played with those two guys for basically 75 percent of the time since I've been here, which I think is pretty cool. It shows that we're doing something right."
Cogliano has focused on being a model of consistency and reliability in his career, which is highlighted by his streak of 830 consecutive games played that ran from Oct. 4, 2007-Jan. 13, 2018. It is the seventh-longest such streak in NHL history.

"That's something that I was fortunate to be able to do," Cogliano said about the streak. "I like to think that I did things the right way in terms of taking care of myself, being a professional, and being someone that looked after myself physically."
As Cogliano closes in on the milestone, he said that there will be a lot to remember and be thankful for down the road.
"I've been able to play on good teams," Cogliano said. "I think that's the one thing I will really always remember. I've been very fortunate to play in some Conference Finals and play on some good teams for quite a while. And then, special moments like the Winter Classic and things like that."
For now, though, the forward is focused on being an asset for the Stars (32-19-5), who are third in the Central Division.
"I'm a veteran guy and I'm here to help our team make the playoffs, be a part of the puzzle to help our team have success, and go to a Stanley Cup Final and win," he said.