The Dallas Stars face a pivotal offseason in 2025 as they navigate a tight salary cap situation and the looming unrestricted free agency of several key veterans. After another disappointing end to their season, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, General Manager Jim Nill has some tough decisions to make regarding who stays and who goes.
The Big Names: UFAs
The most prominent UFAs for the Stars this year are Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, and Mikael Granlund. Each of these players brings a unique skillset and value to the team, but with less than $5 million in cap space, retaining all three seems highly unlikely.
Jamie Benn: The long-time captain of the Stars, Benn has spent his entire career in Dallas and has expressed a strong desire to remain with the team. At 36 years old, he is no longer the offensive force he once was, but he still provides valuable leadership and secondary scoring from a bottom-six role. Given his age and likely willingness to take a significant pay cut from his previous $9.5 million cap hit, Benn is the most likely of the three to re-sign with the Stars. It's plausible he signs for around $1 million per season.
Matt Duchene: Duchene is coming off a resurgent season, leading the Stars in points with 82. After having his contract bought out by the Nashville Predators, he signed a one-year "prove it" deal with Dallas for $3 million and has certainly exceeded expectations. However, his performance has priced him out of Dallas, and he may command upwards of $7 million annually on the open market. While the Stars would likely want to retain him, the financial realities may make it impossible unless other players are moved to create cap space.
Mikael Granlund: Acquired mid-season from the San Jose Sharks, Granlund provided an immediate offensive spark for the Stars. He is a skilled playmaker who can contribute in the top six. However, Granlund has been an inconsistent player throughout his career, making his market value difficult to assess. At 33 years old, he may be seeking one last significant contract, and the Stars will have to weigh his potential contribution against the cost.
Other UFAs
Besides the headliners, the Stars also have several other unrestricted free agents, including Kole Lind, Cameron Hughes, Matej Blumel, and Mathias Emilio Pettersen.
Restricted Free Agents
The Stars have a few restricted free agents (RFAs) to consider, most notably Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist.
Mavrik Bourque: Bourque enjoyed a solid rookie season, contributing 11 goals and 24 points in a bottom-six role. As a former first-round pick with high upside, the Stars will likely want to retain him long-term, especially given their limited cap space.
Nils Lundkvist: Lundkvist, a former first-round pick, has been a depth defenseman for the Stars. With several high-priced defensemen already on the roster, the Stars may be hesitant to invest significant cap space in Lundkvist. However, he could be a cost-effective option for their third pairing.
Potential Moves to Create Cap Space
Given their limited cap space, the Stars may need to make some difficult decisions to create financial flexibility. One option would be to trade players with higher cap hits, such as Jason Robertson or Mason Marchment.
Jason Robertson: Despite being a consistent offensive contributor, Robertson's $7.75 million cap hit could make him a trade candidate. General Manager Jim Nill has reportedly received inquiries from other teams about Robertson.
Mason Marchment: Marchment has a $4.5 million cap hit. While he is considered more expendable than Robertson, his no-trade list could make him more difficult to move.
Looking Ahead
The decisions made this offseason will significantly impact the Stars' competitiveness in the 2025-26 season. Retaining key veterans like Duchene and Benn will be crucial, but Nill must also find ways to add depth and talent while managing the team's limited cap space. Whether that involves trades, bargain signings, or relying on young players remains to be seen.
