7 Hockey Players who Played for Stars and Lightning
My guess is you’ve searched this page out because you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
If I’m right, that also means that today’s grid is asking for players who have played for both the Dallas Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
And, I’m also guessing that you’re a little stuck on this particular square and you’re looking for a little help to keep your grid immaculate. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, I’m here to help.
I’ve already done the research and have put together a list of well-known stars along with some more “under-the-radar” players that could land you a low rarity score.
Ben Bishop
Ben Bishop is an American goaltender known for his towering presence in the net, standing at 6 feet 7 inches, making him one of the tallest goaltenders in NHL history. Bishop was drafted 85th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2005 NHL Draft.
His early career involved stints with the Blues and the Ottawa Senators, but he rose to prominence during his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning where he was twice a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league’s top goaltender.
In 2017, Bishop was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he continued to be a key player, helping guide the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020. Over his career, Bishop earned multiple selections to the NHL All-Star Game.
Bishop Key Stats
- 30+ Win Season (Lightning)
Mike Smith
Mike Smith’s NHL journey began with the Dallas Stars, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. After a few seasons developing and playing backup in Dallas, Smith was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008, where he assumed a larger role between the pipes.
In 2011, Smith signed with the Phoenix Coyotes (now the Arizona Coyotes), where he would enjoy some of his best years as a professional. In the 2011-2012 season, he played a pivotal role in leading the Coyotes to the Western Conference Finals, with standout performances throughout the playoffs.
After his tenure with the Coyotes, Smith joined the Calgary Flames in 2017 and later the Edmonton Oilers in 2019. With the Oilers, he showcased his veteran presence, helping stabilize the team’s goaltending situation.
Smith Key Stats
- 30+ Win Season (Coyotes)
Corey Perry
Corey Perry is currently serving as an alternate captain for the Chicago Blackhawks. He spent the first 14 years of his career with the Anaheim Ducks and also played for the Stars, Canadiens, and Lightning. Perry is recognized for his goal-scoring prowess and abrasive playing style, earning nicknames like “Scorey Perry” and “The Worm.”
Drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Perry won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007. His career trajectory continued to rise, recording 29 goals and 25 assists in 2008, improving to 72 points in 2009, and being named to his first NHL All-Star Game.
In the 2010-11 season, Perry won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, leading the NHL with 50 goals and finishing third in points with 98. Internationally, Perry has been equally successful, winning gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Perry Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Champion (Ducks)
- 40+ Goals in a Season (Ducks)
Dino Ciccarelli
Dino Ciccarelli was never drafted into the NHL, but he signed as a free agent with the Minnesota North Stars in 1980. Despite his undrafted status, Ciccarelli quickly made an impact in the league, becoming one of the premier goal-scorers of his era.
In his second season, Ciccarelli recorded 55 goals and 106 points, setting the stage for a successful career that included several seasons with 40 or more goals. He played with the North Stars (now Dallas), Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers over 19 seasons in the NHL.
Ciccarelli’s career totals include 608 goals and 592 assists for 1,200 points. He also made his mark in the playoffs, with 73 goals and 45 assists in 141 postseason appearances. His goal-scoring ability and fierce competitiveness earned him a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame, with induction coming in 2010.
Ciccarelli Key Stats
- Hall of Fame (Stars, Capitals, Red Wings, Lightning, Panthers)
- 1000+ Career Points (Stars, Capitals, Red Wings, Lightning, Panthers)
- 500+ Career Goals (Stars, Capitals, Red Wings, Lightning, Panthers)
- 100+ Point Season (Stars)
- 40+ Goal Season (Stars, Capitals, Red Wings)
- 50+ Assist Season (Stars, Red Wings)
Jussi Jokinen
Jussi Jokinen is a retired Finnish forward. Jokinen was selected by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2005–06 season with the Stars and quickly gained a reputation as a top shootout specialist in the league.
Jokinen’s NHL career spanned over 13 seasons, during which he played for nine teams. After his tenure with the Dallas Stars, he played for the Lightning, Hurricanes, Penguins, Panthers, Oilers, Kings, Blue Jackets, and Canucks.
His most productive season came in 2013–14 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored 21 goals and totaled 57 points in 81 games. In the 2017–18 season, he became the fourth player in NHL history to play for four different teams in a single season.
Vladislav Namestnikov
Vladislav Namestnikov is a Russian center currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets. He was drafted 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has since played for several NHL teams, including the Lightning, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, and now the Jets.
Namestnikov’s NHL career began with the Lightning in the 2014-15 season, where he scored his first NHL goal against the Montreal Canadiens. He recorded his first NHL hat-trick in 2016 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Throughout his career, he has been traded several times, including to the Rangers in 2018, the Senators in 2019, the Avalanche in 2020, and the Stars in 2022. He returned to the Lightning in 2022 before being traded to the Jets in 2023. His NHL career statistics include 630 games played, with 115 goals, 146 assists, and a total of 261 points.
Brad Richards
Brad Richards, a Canadian former center, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He played for multiple NHL teams, including the Lightning, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings.
Richards won two Stanley Cups, in 2004 with the Lightning, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy, and in 2015 with the Blackhawks. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2004 and played for Team Canada in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Richards retired in 2016 after a solid NHL career, during which he scored 298 goals and 634 assists in 1,126 games. He set a record for most assists in a debut game for the Dallas Stars. His accolades include being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2001, and participating in the 2002 YoungStars Game.
Richards Key Stats
- Stanley Cup Championship (Lightning, Blackhawks)
- 50+ Assist Season (Lightning, Stars)
