Some seasons have a moment when everything clicks. Ice time climbs. Confidence follows. Suddenly a player hits a new level.
Since the Olympic break, that’s exactly what’s happened to Mavrik Bourque in Dallas.
In the middle of a ten-game winning streak, the Quebec-born forward has slid onto the right wing of the top line with Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. A promotion that looks like a reward — and a test.
So far, he’s aced it.
The perfect time to shine
The 6-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday was textbook. Bourque scored and logged just over 18 minutes in a game the Stars controlled from puck drop.
Numbers matter, sure. But it’s the momentum that jumps out.
“I’m playing the best hockey of my NHL career,” he says. “I like where my game is at. And when the team wins, everything gets easier.”
Dallas is firing on all cylinders despite a handful of key absences — Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin, the latter out for the season after knee surgery.
That opened a door for Bourque. He walked right through it.
Confidence earned on the ice
His ice time has climbed noticeably over the last few games.
18:13 vs Seattle
21:45 vs Nashville
17:15 vs Vancouver
18:37 vs Calgary
Over those four games he chipped in three points and mustered 16 shots on goal.
For a 24-year-old still carving out a long-term role in the league, a run like this can rewrite everything.
“Injuries create chances. It’s on me to show I can play an offensive role on a good team,” he admits. “But the NHL will humble you quick. Consistency’s everything.”
This rise isn’t luck
This season already marks a personal milestone for Bourque.
With 12 goals and 25 points he’s set a new career high for goals and matched his entire output from last year.
But he’s less interested in the stat sheet than the way he’s improved.
“It’s the progression in my game,” he says without hesitation. “I feel like I’m still getting better. Even in a good run, I know there’s another level to reach.”
That mindset took shape last year, when he saw little playoff ice time despite Dallas’ deep run.
From natural center to effective winger
Drafted and trained as a center, Bourque is getting used to life on the wing — and, to everyone’s surprise, he’s starting to like it.
“I keep a center’s mindset; I end up in the middle of the ice a lot,” he explains. “But to stick in the top six, I probably get more looks on the right wing.”
That versatility matters for a Stars club built on a deep offense and the ability to shuffle players between center and wing.
Dallas still has one goal: the Stanley Cup
In Dallas the aim hasn’t changed: go all the way.
The Stars have made the Western Conference final three years running and still haven’t cleared the last hurdle.
So yeah, the current streak raises hopes.
“When you win ten straight, you can’t complain,” Bourque grins. “We’re winning, sure, but more importantly we’re playing the right way.”
The next test comes fast — a showdown with the Colorado Avalanche.
For Bourque, every game is now an audition to prove he belongs among Dallas’ top forwards.
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