from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News,

In just one summer, the Stars added $8.2 million to their payroll and climbed to within $2.2 million of the NHL’s $64.3 million salary cap.

And yet they sit 19th among 30 teams in salary cap ranking.

Welcome to the 2013-14 season, where a lockout-induced reign of parity could help determine everything from final standings to the level of activity on the trade market. And nobody is really sure how it all will play out.

“It’s a different world, for sure, and you have to really do your planning,” said Stars general manager Jim Nill. “There are a lot of details that could end up being very important at the end of the season.”

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