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Logan\u00a0Stankoven (22) of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal against the Montr\u00e9al Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 29, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/p>\n
Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Rooting interests for Dallas Stars<\/a> fans in this year\u2019s Stanley Cup Final should be rather simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> will represent the Western Conference and seek to claim their second Stanley Cup title in a four-year span. Vegas is one of Dallas\u2019 top rivals after two heated playoff series between the teams in 2023 and 2024. The NHL also matched them up in Dallas\u2019 Stadium Series game at AT&T Stadium<\/a> in February.\u00a0<\/p>\n But from the Eastern Conference, the Stars and their fans should have a much easier time cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> and a familiar face in Logan Stankoven<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The 23-year-old Carolina center began his career with Dallas. The Stars drafted him 47th overall in the second round of the 2021 NHL draft. Stankoven played 83 regular-season games with the Stars before he was traded to Carolina ahead of the 2025 trade deadline along with four draft picks in exchange for Mikko Rantanen<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now in his first full season with the Hurricanes \u2014 competing in his first Stanley Cup Final beginning at 7 p.m. (CT) Tuesday in Raleigh \u2014 Stankoven has had a breakout season. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n He recorded 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 81 games and has been even better in the playoffs, recording 12 points, including nine goals, in 13 postseason games. \u00a0<\/p>\n He scored in the first five games of the playoffs and in Carolina\u2019s last two of the Eastern Conference finals against Montreal. The Hurricanes enter the Final with a 12-1 record in the postseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Stankoven has the fourth-best odds to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, according to DraftKings.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what you play for and what you dream of,\u201d Stankoven said following Carolina\u2019s Game 5 win over Montreal. \u201cYou want nothing more than to hoist that Cup someday. We still have a lot of work to get done here, but that\u2019s what motivates you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n His dad, Wes Stankoven, vividly remembers the night before Logan was traded, seeing rumors begin to swirl on social\u00a0media.\u00a0Within hours, his son, who was just 22 years old at the time, was on a plane to Raleigh.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n