New Additions: F Nathan Bastian (1yr x $775k), F Radek Faksa (3yr x $2M AAV), HC Glen Gulutzan

Subtractions: F Mason Marchment (to SEA), D Matt Dumba (to PIT), Evgeny Dadonov (to NJD), D Brendan Smith (to CBJ), HC Peter DeBoer

Retentions/Extensions: F Matt Duchene (4yr x $4.5M AAV), D Nils Lundqvist (1yr x $1.25M AAV), F Mavrik Bourque (1yr x $900k), F Cole Lind (1yr x $775k), F Jamie Benn (1yr x $1M), F Colin Blackwell (2yr x $775k)

The Dallas Stars have made the Western Conference Final in three consecutive seasons, but in each of those years they have had to watch someone else receive the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. They have been so close so many times, but have continued to fall short of their ultimate goal. 

Whether it was to do with the handling of Jake Oettinger in Game Five against the Oilers, or three straight losses in the WCF, the team fired head coach Peter DeBoer. Taking his place behind the bench is Glen Gulutzan, who has been an assistant in Edmonton since 2018. He has been a NHL head coach twice in his coaching career, in Calgary from 2016-2018, and with the Stars from 2011-2013. Twelve years after his first stint in Dallas with more experience under his belt, they are hoping he lasts more than two seasons this time around. Other than Jamie Benn, this team is completely different from the last Stars team coached by Gulutzan. Three straight conference finals appearances is no fluke, they have one of the best rosters in the league.

Other than the coaching change, a fairly quiet offseason was expected after the team traded for Mikko Rantanen and signed him to an eight year, $96M extension ($12M AAV), and signed Wyatt Johnston to a five year extension with a cap hit of $8.4M on the same day. By locking up two of the team’s best forwards, they were left with little money to spend, which was used to retain veterans Matt Duchene and Radek Faksa. After an 82 point output in the regular season, Duchene continued to help the team by taking less than he would be worth on the open market ($4.5M cap hit) in order to compete in Dallas.

Rantanen becomes the team’s highest paid player, as well as the fifth highest paid player in the NHL. After an unimpressive 6 points in 13 games in Carolina, and with Necas producing in his role in Colorado, some people questioned if he was worth $12M per season, but those questions were quickly shut down after how he finished the year in Dallas. Mikko has 18 points in 20 regular season games as a Star, getting more and more comfortable with his new team with each passing game. In the playoffs, he looked like a superstar, scoring 9 goals, adding 13 assists for a total of 22 points in 18 games. The highlight of his playoff run was scoring hat tricks in back to back games, the first coming in game seven versus his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, and the second in the series opener against the Winnipeg Jets in round two. Fans are looking forward to seeing him on the team for a full season.

The other forwards on the team tend to get overlooked in conversations around the league, but do not be fooled, there is plenty of ‘Star’ talent in Dallas. Wyatt Johnston is an emerging young forward who continues to increase his point total, in each of his first three seasons in the league. Now on his second contract, he looks to keep improving and be a big part of the Stars offense. Jason Robertson has done nothing but produce through five seasons in the NHL (394 points in 374 games). After posting a career high 109 points in 2022-23, he has produced back to back 80 point seasons, as he enters the final year of his contract, the difference between another 80 point season versus being closer to that 109 mark, could be a few million dollars. Look out for the 26 year old to have a big year. Roope Hintz is another name that does not get the credit he deserves, as he continues to score around 30-40 goals, and 65-75 points year after year. If he plays the whole season with his fellow Finland native Mikko Rantanen, Hintz could increase those totals to 40-50 goals, and 80-100 points.

The star talent does not stop there, as the team has two Norris calibre defencemen in Miro Heiskanen, and Thomas Harley. Miro’s impact on the game is unquestioned, being selected 3rd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, there were expectations of him becoming a number one defenceman, and he has been just that since coming to Dallas. With Heiskanen in the picture, the team took their time developing Thomas Harley, as the 18th overall pick in 2019, did not become a full time player until the 2023-24 season. Through two full seasons, Harley has put up 47 and 50 points, and emerged as the more dangerous offensive player of the two. He continued a great regular season by adding 14 points in the playoffs. 

In net, the team has an elite goalie in Jake Oettinger, who has an impressive career record of 149-66-27, along with a .912 SV% and 2.52 GAA. Oetter was never in jeopardy of getting traded, but the team made it clear who’s side they were on when they fired DeBoer. He enters the first year of an eight year contract in the Lone Star State. You can never have too many goalies, or underestimate the value of a great backup, and Casey DeSmith is just that, who is coming off an excellent season where he had a .915 SV% and a 2.59 GAA. He is signed for the next two seasons for just $1M per year.

Rounding out the group are forwards like Tyler Seguin, who can still play (21 points in 21 games last season), captain Jamie Benn, Sam Steel, and Mavrik Bourque. Esa Lindell is a decent number three on defence, but there is a drop-off after him, if this team has any weakness, it’s defensive depth. Nils Ludqvist is a decent option, but has struggled at points in his young career with health and consistent play. Lian Bischel is a big body at 6’7”, but can be a liability at times in his own end, and Ilya Lubushkin is a veteran to complete the unit.

The expectation in Dallas is Cup or bust, although in Gulutzan’s first season with the team (kind of, not really) there is a bit of leeway. The team has young studs set to help them compete for the foreseeable future, but time is running out if they want to get the job done with their longtime captain Jamie Benn, who turned 36 in the offseason. For as good of a team they have had, they have not won an individual player award since Benn led the league in scoring back in 2014-15, so it would be nice for them if one of their top players could win an award, Oettinger could win the Vezina, both Heiskanen and Harley could take home the Norris, and as the top dog in Dallas, Rantanen could win a whole bunch of awards. However, this team is not built on individual success, and they would all trade any regular season awards, for the biggest piece of hardware there is, Dallas wants nothing more than to win the Stanley Cup, and they have a team capable of doing so.