The Dallas Stars did not practice in Philadelphia on Wednesday, so this travel log will focus squarely on Thursday’s adventures.

As I sit here eating a breakfast burrito after a workout at Lifetime Fitness just over the border into New Jersey, here are a few quick notes from my travel and time in the City of Brotherly Love.

A very unique sports setup

Nothing from my travels — other than my rental car windows having just enough water on them to completely freeze over and block the view of my mirrors (which should be fun when I leave tonight!) — was worthy enough to talk about here.

What is worth it is the crazy sports setup that Philadelphia has.

One of my favorite parts of many drives while growing up in New Jersey was going past Lincoln Financial Field (home of the Eagles). The stadium is right off the highway and as you drive by, you can see into the seats (as long as your Dad is driving!), which is pretty cool.

But as you approach Lincoln Financial, you also catch a glimpse of Citizens Bank Park — the home of the Phillies… a very cool baseball park that is about 100 yards to the right of the football stadium.

But it’s not over yet.

Once you get past the football stadium, Wells Fargo Center finally comes into view in the SAME PARKING LOT! No joke, all three are in the exact same parking lot. I parked in H lot at Wells Fargo and within about five minutes could have walked into any arena, park, or stadium of my choice.

Can you imagine the traffic when two teams play at once?? Or all three!

These aren’t the best pics — because it was 18 degrees and the wind was knocking me over — but you get the picture (HA!). Nailed it.

Mason Marchment update, Arttu Hyry learning from observing

As we talked about in my New York travel log, Mason Marchment needed surgery to repair a facial injury and is not on the current trip.

Today was one of the better conversations I have ever had with Stars coach Pete DeBoer. After the great Mike Heika shocked us with a large word neither of us understood, DeBoer dove deep into a lot of hot topics. One of those was Marchment.

I asked DeBoer to go into further detail on Marchment’s injury and surgery:

“Nose and facial area,” DeBoer said. “It wasn’t an orbital bone though… So yeah, he had a lot of stuff going on there…

“They were thinking it would be three to four weeks from the surgical date (7-10 days ago), and we’re still a long way from that.”

DeBoer did confirm that Marchment stopped by the rink before the team left for the current five-game road trip. He is a huge part of the leadership group, so I am sure the team was happy to see him around.

I also learned a few more details about Arttu Hyry living with Roope Hintz during his time in Dallas. The Finns are not very outspoken, so we really had to push Hyry to get any detail.

What we learned is that this was not a team-organized living situation. Hintz took it upon himself to bring Hyry in and give him a more comfortable setup where he can both continue to learn english and relax and speak his native language.

Hyry said that he learns a ton from Hintz — as someone who has accomplished a lot so far in his NHL career — but most of it comes from observing, not conversation. That checks out with how quiet Hintz usually is on and off the ice.

Then, DeBoer gave us this gem:

DeBoer told us that this is something the team really likes. It is not what they do with every single call up, but especially when it comes to younger players or guys who don’t speak great english, it is important to put them in a position to succeed.

DeBoer said they also try to find the right balance and allow men to make their own decisions and fend for themselves when the time comes — like Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven are doing now.

Hopefully, Hyry can pick up a few pointers from someone who has carved out an excellent NHL career so far.

DeBoer calling Tyler Seguin

After I ran into Tyler Seguin following the Stars last home game on Saturday, I wanted to ask DeBoer what it meant to have the veteran back around the team for the first time following his hip surgery.

DeBoer said his presence is huge for the team. Seguin is a big part of the leadership group — as well as a very underrated aspect of the success of this team, something many didn’t fully recognize until he was no longer available in the lineup. Not only does the team want him around, but Seguin really wants to be there.

“You know what? He wants to be around,” DeBoer said. “He’s a big part of our leadership group here, so it’s nice having him around. He’s got a real good pulse on the room, the guys in the room. I try to have a weekly call with him on his opinion, on where we’re at because I value what he thinks.”

That says a lot. It’s one thing for a head coach to have conversations with veteran players in the room or at practice, but to go out of his way to call Seguin every week while he away from the team? That is a huge nod to Seguin’s role on this Dallas team.

It reminds me of another veteran forward who has stayed in touch with the Stars players and coaches after retiring last summer… DING!

The Jamie Benn stick taping experience

Since I started covering the Stars, I have tried my best to get a video of Stars captain Jamie Benn taping his stick.

He has such a unique tape job and seems to re-tape it all the time. Despite that, I still had not gotten it — whether I was too far away or his body was blocking it… until now!

Even better was when @SlavBritt posted a slowed down version for those who did blink and missed it lol.

Benn not only uses a thicker tape than most, he also only uses a few strips. He has recently added a strip of black tape across the bottom of the blade for a bit of added grip, further cementing him among the strangest tape jobs in the NHL.

Give the people what they want!

See you back in Dallas!