The Dallas Stars are days away from starting the long climb, once again, to play for the Stanley Cup. In the last three seasons, they have been two and three wins away from that privilege, but fell short each time. Once, it was against the Vegas Golden Knights, and twice against the Edmonton Oilers. This season, however, it’s their own Central Division that appears to be the bigger obstacle, since the Golden Knights and Oilers have been inconsistent all season, as has the rest of the Pacific Division.
Regardless of who they play to get to the Stanley Cup Final, the Stars are in win-now mode. After three straight Western Conference Finals, anything short of the final round would be a massive disappointment. Because of that fact, it’s easy to forget what general manager Jim Nill has built in Dallas. I don’t mean in the here and now, but for the future.
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Nill, who was signed to a two-year extension on March 31, has won General Manager of the Year each of the last three seasons for the work he has done in building a contender out of the Stars. Whether through trades, free agency, or the draft, Nill has done a masterful job at putting the Stars in a position to win, and win now.
However, regardless of how this season ends, in many ways, their championship window has just begun, even after all the success they have had in the last three seasons.
Homegrown Talent Here For the Long Haul
The trade for Mikko Rantanen at last year’s trade deadline has received major accolades, and rightfully so, as did the free-agent signing of Matt Duchene in years past. But the core of this team has been built through the draft. Not only that, but for the most part, this core is here for the long haul.
The Stars’ number one center, Roope Hintz, was drafted 49th overall in 2014 and is in Dallas until at least 2031. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen (third overall), goaltender Jake Oettinger (26th), and Jason Robertson (39th) were all drafted in 2017. Heiskanen is signed until the 2028-29 season, Oettinger is signed until 2032-33, and while Robertson is without a contract beyond this season, both sides have expressed a desire to work out a deal in the offseason. All four of those players are among the elite at their position.
In 2019, Nill drafted Thomas Harley 18th overall and signed him earlier this season to a new contract that expires in the summer of 2034. Two drafts later, the Stars selected Wyatt Johnston 23rd overall and extended him to 2030. Harley and Johnston might not be considered elite yet, but they are well on their way.
Also drafted in 2021 was Logan Stankoven at 47th overall. Stankoven was a part of the package that went to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Rantanen, who immediately signed with the Stars until 2033.
Hintz, Heiskanen, Oettinger, Robertson, Harley, Johnston, and Rantanen make up most of Dallas’ core. Not all, but most. Aside from Robertson, these players are signed for at least the next three seasons, with the majority of them signed into the 2030s. Robertson will, too, if and when his deal gets done.
Top-4 Defenders Steady as They Come
The Stars seem to always be one of the best defensive teams in the NHL, and this season is no different. They are second in goals against per game with 2.68, and 12th on the penalty kill (PK) at 80.3%. Although the PK has taken a significant step back from the top-five status of the last few seasons, it is still a very solid number.
What has made this group so steady and versatile over the years has been their ability to defend, of course, but also contribute to the offense. Heiskanen is a perfect representation of the ability to do both and is widely known as one of the best defensemen in the league. Harley’s defensive game continues to grow, but it’s the offense that earned him his shiny new $10.59 million-per-year deal. As we mentioned, Heiskanen’s deal ends in 2029, and Harley’s in 2034.
Despite the notoriety of Heiskanen and Harley, it can be argued that Esa Lindell is the backbone of this defense. He’s one of those players who doesn’t get his name mentioned a lot on the broadcast, and his points definitely don’t jump off the page. But when Lindell’s name isn’t mentioned, that simply means he’s doing his job. He is the definition of a lockdown defender, both 5-on-5 and on the PK, and isn’t afraid to throw his body in front of a puck or two. Lindell is signed until 2030.
In addition to the core D-men on the Stars, Ilya Lyubushkin and newly acquired Tyler Myers are both signed through next season.
Lian Bichsel and Nils Lundkvist are the honorable mentions on this list, even though their futures are a bit more unknown.
Lundkvist & Bichsel Bring Youth to a Veteran Core
Lundkvist had a lot of potential offensively when he first joined the Stars. Before this season, it was noticeable that he was sacrificing what made him a good two-way, puck-moving defender to focus more on the defensive side of his game. Being a shutdown defensive defenseman has never been his game, and we have seen him come back to the player he has always been this season. The big issue for him has been his health, and it will be a factor in how the Stars decide to proceed with him in the summer. Lundkvist is a restricted free agent (RFA) in the offseason.
When head coach Glen Gulutzan was hired last summer, he made an emphasis on physicality. Something that had been missing from this lineup for the last few seasons. The roster overall has improved in this area, but in many ways, Bichsel has led the charge. He’s a young player, and like Lundkvist, his defensive game is continuing to grow. That being said, he has become a reliable player on the backend and will certainly be extended once his entry-level contract expires next summer.
If I had to predict which one they will 100% sign, I would say Bichsel. That being said, if they bring back Lundkvist as well, it will save them from having to figure out the majority of their D-core for a long time.
Don’t Forget About the Depth
Bottom-six players move in and out of lineups in the NHL all the time. That’s just the nature of the salary cap world. Maybe that will change as the cap continues to rise, but for now, that’s the way it is. The Stars, however, have done a relatively good job at keeping that part of the roster as consistent as possible.
The biggest name in that would be Matt Duchene. He’s not always in a bottom-six role, but as Johnston continues to emerge as a star center in this league, Duchene’s role might shrink a little bit by default. Regardless, Duchene has turned into an important contributor and is in Dallas for the next two seasons.
Tyler Seguin is another one who has been in the top-six, but may be considered more of a role player, as his contract expires next summer.
Justin Hryckowian has emerged as a key part of the Stars’ future and is in the first season of a three-year entry-level deal. Radek Faksa is also in the first year of a three-year deal, while Oskar Back, Colin Blackwell, and Sam Steel are all signed through next season.
Stars Ready For the Now & the Next
The majority of this team is locked in for next season and beyond. However, there are still some decisions to be made. Captain Jamie Benn’s future is still unknown, as are the futures of other bottom-six players.
While the Stars do not have a first-round draft pick this year or in 2028, the cupboards are not all bare. In the next four seasons, they still have two first, second, third, and fourth round picks. They also have four fifth, sixth, and seventh round picks. Keep in mind that they exchanged two firsts for Rantanen, and it seems to be working out just fine.
All of that is to say, the Stars are in an excellent position to do some serious damage in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and in the year to come.
