{"id":444165,"date":"2024-06-30T08:45:53","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T12:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=444165"},"modified":"2024-06-29T22:19:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T02:19:40","slug":"predicting-some-dallas-stars-free-agent-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/06\/30\/predicting-some-dallas-stars-free-agent-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"Predicting Some Dallas Stars Free Agent Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Stars<\/a> 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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Potential Dallas Stars Free Agent Targets for 2024-25<\/h2>\n

William Carrier<\/a><\/h3>\n

Carrier was the first external Stars free agent target to emerge, linked<\/a> to the Stars by Sportsnet NHL inside Elliotte Friedman last week.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old has been one of the league’s best bottom-six forwards since joining the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Matt Duchene<\/a><\/h3>\n

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<\/a> 43 goals.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>. Currently, Daily Faceoff<\/a> has Jamie Benn<\/a>, Wyatt Johnston<\/a>, and Logan Stankoven<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> losses of Ryan Suter<\/a> and Joe Pavelski<\/a>. Reports of an extension with Dallas surfaced on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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Another post-draft note: Matt Duchene and Dallas are working towards an extension, taking him off the market.<\/p>\n

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 29, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n