The unshakable history between Dallas and Minnesota

The hockey feud between Minnesota and Texas has been raging for decades.
Something about a know-nothing group of Cowpokes poaching a beloved sports franchise from the hard-working fans who birthed it and carried it through adolescence. Y'know, all of that stuff Shakespeare taught us.
But while there is plenty to divide the North from the South here, shouldn't we be able to find some common ground? Isn't there a way to see that the blood between these two groups does indeed flow green?
I think there is.

As the Stars have navigated one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history, players like Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen have attacked the record book. It's divided up into two segments to highlight accomplishments since 1967, when the organization started in Minnesota, and since 1993, when it moved to Dallas. That can be confusing for fans, but it also can be educational.
For instance, when Robertson tallied his 94th point and moved ahead of Mike Modano for best single season performance in Dallas Stars history, most fans knew Modano and probably even witnessed his 1993-94 season, so it meant something to them. Those same people might not have heard of Bobby Smith, who had 114 points in 1981-82 for the Minnesota North Stars, but they got a little curious.
You mean there was somebody even better than Modano?
Well, technically, yes. For one season Smith set a mark that stood for years. Likewise, Craig Hartsburg, during the same 1981-82 campaign, established numbers for a defenseman that have yet to be passed. So, when Heiskanen passed Sergei Zubov's 71 points from 2005-06, there was an amazing feeling that you could now compare the 23-year-old defenseman to a player who has his name in the rafters at the AAC. It's a great story.
But fans in Minnesota will tell you Heiskanen still hasn't passed Hartsburg, who had 77 points in one year. It's a neat realization when you think about it.
Those sporting Victory Green have heard names like Smith and Hartsburg and Dino Ciccarelli this year. They might google Brad Maxwell or Brian Bellows now. That's good. You should know the history of your franchise. As Game 3 gets revved up in Minnesota, there will be fans who grew up on those names, who idolized those players, and who can tell stories of watching their exploits. Pro sports, in a lot of ways, are most important for kids, and a lot of Wild fans loved those players when they were kids.
And this should bond us.
Of course, the team did leave, and that gets in the way. But the fans in Texas didn't make the North Stars leave. They simply welcomed their good fortune and grabbed on for a heck of a ride. They were blessed by a group that pumped money into the roster and added superstars like Brett Hull, Ed Belfour and Joe Nieuwendyk. Bob Gainey was able to construct a team in Texas that he probably couldn't have in Minnesota. He was able to bring a Stanley Cup to the franchise.
Likewise, Minnesota fans received some good things too. After sitting idle for seven years, the Wild sprung up in St. Paul in 2000. They were an expansion team and they had to fight their way up, but they did. They did it in a great arena where they really are the biggest show in town, and you can feel it when you're there.
The North Stars arena in the early '90s wasn't always full. There were youth or high school or college games that seemed more important. But the building in St. Paul has allowed for a real connection between high school hockey and the pros. The Xcel Energy Center concourse is lined with high school hockey sweaters, honoring its local youth teams. Maybe the hunger created by the absence of pro hockey helped create something that wasn't there before.
When the North Stars announced their move to Texas, players honestly thought it was crazy. "What do those guys know about hockey?" they thought. Almost 30 years later, the building is pumping, there are banners in the rafters, and Dallas might have held one of the best Winter Classics ever.
That should draw some amount of respect.
The players who had strong bonds in Minnesota developed new ones in Texas. Modano, Derian Hatcher, Craig Ludwig, Ralph Strangis, and Bob Gainey showed everyone that both places can be welcoming.
Every rivalry needs some bad blood, so from one perspective, it is enjoyable to watch the two teams battle it out for the chance to move forward and pursue the Stanley Cup. The hate clearly spills over onto the ice, and that's good for the product. We should all be happy. But it is still interesting how intertwined the two places are. As the record book continues to be rewritten, we might learn even more about the past.
Bottom line, every fan in this First Round series are brothers or mothers or cousins of different cultures, but there is a thread there.
There is a strand of connection, tying all of this together.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika