On January 7, 2011, Langenbrunner was traded to the Dallas Stars for a conditional third-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The pick would become a second-round pick if the Stars either win a playoff round or re-sign Langenbrunner before the draft. Langenbrunner would score his first goal in his return as a Star in his 1,000th career game, which was against the Los Angeles Kings on January 17, 2011, as the Stars defeated the Kings 2–1.