The Dallas Stars will be narrowing down free agent targets to improve their roster for 2024-25 when the signing period begins on Monday, July 1st. Dallas has a young, up-and-coming lineup, with just a few holes to patch. According to CapFriendly, the Stars will have $19.1 million to address 11 roster spots. Based on, among other things, how much cap space the Stars have currently, here are four players that would make sense for the Dallas Stars to target in free agency.
Potential Dallas Stars Free Agent Targets for 2024-25
William Carrier
Carrier was the first external Stars free agent target to emerge, linked to the Stars by Sportsnet NHL inside Elliotte Friedman last week.
The 29-year-old has been one of the league’s best bottom-six forwards since joining the Vegas Golden Knights via the 2017 Expansion Draft. His offensive numbers aren’t incredible, but he does the little things well and is a tremendous asset defensively. Vegas has just $6.1 million in cap space entering the offseason, so many of its free agents will not be retained. Furthermore, Dallas may be looking to improve its bottom-six forwards to maintain a lethally deep lineup. Carrier would certainly fit the bill and add some power to the forecheck.
Matt Duchene
Dallas signed Duchene to a one-year deal last offseason, and he produced at a high level. The 33-year-old manned the centre spot on the second line for most of the season, finishing tied for second on the team with 65 points (25 goals and 40 assists). He is also just two years removed from an 86-point season in which he scored 43 goals.
Duchene has expressed interest in remaining in Dallas, but the Stars may want to explore other free agent targets for the spot. Duchene would presumably take his same spot in the lineup, deepening Dallas’ top lines, but causing some shuffling. Currently, Daily Faceoff has Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston, and Logan Stankoven as the Stars’ projected second line. Bringing back Duchene or adding a similar-calibre forward would likely knock one of the three down a spot.
A second year with Duchene would make sense if Dallas wants to add to its top-six. He can also help make up for the leadership losses of Ryan Suter and Joe Pavelski. Reports of an extension with Dallas surfaced on Saturday.
Another post-draft note: Matt Duchene and Dallas are working towards an extension, taking him off the market.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 29, 2024
Matt Roy
Now that Chris Tanev has been traded, the Stars’ free agent targets figure to include a capable right-handed defenceman. As it stands now, Alexander Petrovic is the only right-hander guaranteed to return, after signing a two-year, two-way contract on Friday. However, Nils Lundkvist should also return as the Stars retain his rights as a restricted free agent.
Still, it would behoove Dallas to add another right-handed shot to the blue line with its vast group of lefties. Roy may require stretching the cap a bit. In contrast, it is worth the price compared to others available as an ideal fit on a second defence pairing. However, he will have plenty of additional suitors, thus giving rise to the competition the Stars will be up against in the negotiation process.
The #Sens will circle around LAK D Matt Roy in free agency. My friend @PanofSCU saw Steve Staios have several discussions with Rob Blake today.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 29, 2024
New Stanley Cup Champion Brandon Montour would also make sense but may be slightly out of Dallas’ price range. Reports on Montour indicate he may cost as much as $7 million annually.
Cam Talbot
In a perfect world, Dallas and Scott Wedgewood agree on a new deal, but that appears to be in doubt. If the Stars do not retain Wedgewood, Talbot could be a good free agent target for the Stars as a backup goalie.
The 11-year veteran is on the back end of his career and played well as the backup for the Los Angeles Kings last season. He would likely cost about half as much as Wedgewood, with much more valuable experience as a former starter with 486 appearances and 245 career wins.
Moreover, 26-year-old backup Matt Murray may also be in line for the spot after a lengthy stay in the AHL. Murray has been up and down between the NHL and the minors and is looking to solidify his NHL future. Still, adding a veteran goalie as another mentor would be extremely helpful. Depending on who the signing is, the new guy might even become a third-string goalie behind Murray, as he grows into a more legitimate NHL goaltender.
Main photo credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
