Now that the Dallas Stars’ season has ended, here are some offseason questions the team will face leading up to next season.
Last week, the NHL announced a salary cap of $88 million for the 2024-25 season — a $4.5 million increase, the most significant rise in six years. According to CapFriendly, Dallas will have approximately $16.2 million in cap space.
Offseason Questions For The Stars
Offseason Question 1: Who re-signs? Who walks?
The Stars have eight unrestricted free agents (seven when you account for the pending retirement of Joe Pavelski) and four restricted free agents from their NHL roster this offseason.
Of the remaining unrestricted free agents, Matt Duchene and Chris Tanev had the most significant impact on the team. Duchene was one of Dallas’ most productive forwards this season with 65 points in 80 games. Tanev helped transform a struggling defence and was clearly a crucial component of Dallas’ playoff success.
Both have expressed an interest in returning. But, with both players well into their 30s, will Dallas see fit to bring them back?
Other unrestricted free agents from the Stars include Craig Smith, Jani Hakanpaa, Derrick Pouliot, and Scott Wedgewood. It seems unlikely Smith will return, while the club could choose to find upgrades over the rest.
The restricted free agents include Sam Steel, Ty Dellandrea, Thomas Harley, and Nils Lundkvist. Harley is the only one not eligible for arbitration.
Offseason Question 2: How do you replace Joe Pavelski?
Forward Joe Pavelski has yet to officially retire, but he has made it clear that is his intention. The 18-year veteran made a significant impact on a young Stars team and will not be easy to replace.
Which begs the question: How exactly do you replace him?
Pavelski was a skilled player and will eventually be in the Hockey Hall of Fame for all his accolades, but his impact in Dallas went beyond the ice as he served as a mentor and leader for the entire locker room — even to some of the other veterans.
Luckily, guys like captain Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Evgenii Dadonov, Esa Lindell, and Radek Faksa are set to return. Defenceman Ryan Suter is also still under contract for the upcoming season if he chooses to continue his career. Bringing Tanev and/or Duchene back could also help, and younger guys like Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Mason Marchment, and Wyatt Johnston may be ready to step up.
Offseason Question 3: What does the goalie situation look like?
Let’s be clear; this isn’t exactly about Jake Oettinger. However, he will be a restricted free agent after next season, so a contract extension would make sense even following an up-and-down year. After all, he was a big difference-maker in the playoffs, especially in the Colorado series.
Wedgewood, Oettinger’s backup, is an unrestricted free agent. Wedgewood has greatly improved during his time in Dallas, posting back-to-back career lows in goals against and filling in admirably for Oettinger throughout parts of December and January.
However, Dallas may have to decide between Wedgewood and fellow restricted free agent Matt Murray as its backup going forward and could even pursue other free agent options if they are a better fit.
Offseason Question 4: Who’s playing defence?
The Stars recovered defensively after the acquisition of Tanev at the trade deadline, but some issues appeared later in the playoffs. Tanev’s injury did not help things, and the lineup along the blue line seemed to shuffle constantly. Seldom-used veteran Alex Petrovic even had to play critical minutes.
Lindell and Miro Heiskanen are the only defenceman definitely returning to Dallas next season, while Ryan Suter makes a decision on his future. The rest of the team’s defencemen are slated to be free agents.
Lundkvist and Harley are both RFAs, so it would make sense for both to be back. Yet, Harley’s situation may be a little murkier since he is not arbitration-eligible. Nonetheless, his performance in his first full NHL season warrants a new contract. They’ll also have the option to re-sign Tanev and insert 20-year-old Lian Bichsel into the lineup.
Offseason Question 5: How many prospects are ready to join the NHL Club?
This assumes Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque will start as full-time NHLers next season after providing additional scoring punches and offensive flurries down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. But could others join them?
Bichsel seems like the next most likely additional candidate. When Tanev suffered an injury against the Oilers in the playoffs, it was Bichsel who would have stepped in should Tanev have missed time. The 18th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has yet to appear in an NHL game, but he has been on the cusp of his pro debut, and the Stars may have some holes to fill on the blue line.
Main Photo: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
