Maybe the best move Pete DeBoer has made all season wasn't even on the ice.

The first-year bench boss for the Dallas Stars was presented with the challenge of coaching 19-year-old rookie Wyatt Johnston, who came straight from the Ontario Hockey League and had a lot to learn. DeBoer and GM Jim Nill came up with a plan to have Johnston live with veteran Joe Pavelski and his family, and things couldn't have gone better.

Following a run to the Western Conference Final, Razor and Mike wind down the 2022-23 Podman Rush year with a playoff recap and an eye on what's to come. Records were broken this season and the future appears bright, but there's still plenty of work for the Stars to do as we head into the summer. Thanks for joining the Rush all season!

Podman Rush, presented by Truly Hard Seltzer, is the official podcast of the Dallas Stars, available for download on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

When you look back at how the Stars came together this year, the hiring of Pete DeBoer was perfect.

The Stars decided to move on from Rick Bowness, and DeBoer had just been let go in Vegas. Shuffling coaches is an every-year proposition in the NHL, and last summer was one of the most successful, as Bowness ended up in Winnipeg, Bruce Cassidy took DeBoer's place in Vegas, and DeBoer took Bowness' place in Dallas. All three worked out, and there's a good reason for that. All three are good coaches, and they brought new ideas to places where they would fit.

There were a few news nuggets out of the Stars' exit interviews on Wednesday in Frisco. There were a lot of smiles and farewells, but mostly there was optimism about coming back for next season.

In bringing in a new coaching staff and a few new players, the Stars created a completely different vibe both inside and outside the team. Dallas went from 98 points to 108. The Stars went from minus-8 in goal differential to plus-67. They were better at scoring goals, better at preventing goals, better on the power play, and better on the penalty kill.

The history of the NHL is littered with stories of teams who had to learn how to win.

The Colorado Avalanche had significant disappointments before finally cashing in last season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had several near misses before they beat the Stars in 2020.

And the 1999 Stars were steeled by a Western Conference Final loss to the Red Wings, which played a big role in getting over the top.

So, we can look at this season as one that might pay off down the line.

The Stars' season ended with a thud on Monday.

Fueled by two wins against the Vegas Golden Knights and hoping the return of captain Jamie Benn would provide an emotional boost, Dallas instead was steamrolled 6-0 by a Vegas team who clearly didn't want to stretch the series to seven games.

Instead, the Golden Knights advanced in six games and will now go on to face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

Jamie Benn is back in the lineup on Monday night, and the Stars couldn't be happier.

The captain was suspended two games for a cross-checking penalty in Game 3. His teammates said they wanted to come back from an 0-3 deficit to allow Benn the chance to skate again this series, and they have done just that. Now Dallas has an opportunity to force Game 7, which is a huge motivation for everyone.

Every team has traditions.

Whether it's throwing the octopus on the ice in Detroit, a catfish in Nashville, or the roar of "STARS" during the National Anthem in Dallas, every team has a handful of special practices they cling to during games.

One of my personal favorites in Dallas is the various sing-a-long songs played during stoppages in a game.

What you need to know about Monday's Game 6 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights at American Airlines Center.

The Stars are coming off a convincing win in Game 5 and have now won two straight games against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The team is getting captain Jamie Benn back after a two-game suspension.

And they are going home for Game 6 on Monday at American Airlines Center.

Maybe this "backs-to-the-wall" stuff is sparking something remarkable for Dallas.