The 2025-2026 Dallas Stars roster is mostly set after a hectic offseason. The Stars offloaded Matt Dumba in a cap-dump trade last week, allowing them to become cap-compliant. The season will begin next October while long-term thinking brings them into their next phase one year from now. The 2026 offseason for the Stars will find them aiming for cap compliance again. Many new free agents will test the market, most notably RFA Jason Robertson. Robertson is expected to garner a higher salary than he is making now, probably in the high 7-figure or $10 million+ range. Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist will also hit RFA status. The salary cap will rise to approximately $104 million next season, providing the Stars more wiggle room in an expected high-pressure offseason.
2025-2026 Stars
Winning the Stanley Cup is every team’s goal at the start of a hockey season, a realistic expectation for the Stars over the past several years. Three consecutive eliminations in the Western Conference Final are providing this team with pain and frustration in falling short of a Stanley Cup. The Stars enter the 27th year of their title drought. The pressure is on after three straight falls in the Western Conference Final. Reaching the Stanley Cup Final is a major achievement for several teams. Only one appearance in the Stanley Cup Final since 2000 puts a damper on morale. Having a high-expectation team can bring them past the Western Conference Final. The pressure is high with wiggle room on the salary cap depleting.
2026-2027 Stars
Long-term thinking is prudent for General Managers in the NHL. The Stars entered this offseason in a tricky cap situation. The Stars traded Matt Dumba and a 2nd round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Vladislav Kolyachonok. This cap-dump trade alongside Mason Marchment’s trade opened options for the Stars heading into next offseason. Small-scale deals like Jamie Benn and Radek Faksa allowed long-term thinking into the next offseason, where the cap situation is even more troublesome. Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley, Mavrik Bourque, and Nilk Lundkvist are all restricted free agents. The Stars will have approximately $10-15 million in cap space when the salary cap raises.
Re-Signing
Trade rumors died out about a potential Robertson move. The Stars don’t want a position where they cannot afford him. Odds of one of them leaving are likely, as their restricted free agent status is different. Other teams may offer-sheet these players while the Stars have a chance to match that offer and retain their services. If no matching occurs, the signing team must provide the Stars with a certain number of draft picks based on the money they signed for. Thomas Harley is an important player on the blue line, chewing through lots of ice time last season when Miro Heiskanen went down with an injury. Tens of millions of dollars are tied up in other players with long-term contracts on a no-movement clause. Next offseason may provide more fireworks as decisions are made on who stays.
Trading Matt Dumba and Mason Marchment shaved off much-needed cap space. The Stars are a hair under $2 million in available cap space, so another small value signing may provide more depth. Problems will arise with their cap situation after next season. Major moves are on the horizon to reach cap compliance for next offseason.
Photo Credit: Dallas Stars X
Tags: dallas stars Jason Robertson Mason Marchment Matt Duchene Matt Dumba nhl
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