After an injury-filled year for the Stars’ blue line, Dallas enters with the core of its defense back and at full strength for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Headlined by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, the Stars have some of the top young defensemen in the league.
Here is a look at the Dallas blue line ahead of the start to this season.
Returners: Lian Bichsel, Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Nils Lundkvist, Ilya Lyubushkin, Alexander Petrovic
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Additions: Vladislav Kolyachonok (trade)
Departures: Cody Ceci (free agency), Matt Dumba (trade)
Strengths
The Stars’ top three defensemen are among the best in the league and proved that last season. Heiskanen, Harley and Esa Lindell are reliable and each bring different skillsets that have served the Stars well in their time in Dallas.
Heiskanen, when healthy, remains one of the top defensemen in the world. His absence was felt down the stretch of the regular season and start of the postseason after he underwent knee surgery in February. Heiskanen has missed time in each of the last two seasons with injuries. His health is critical, as he is the Stars’ do-it-all defensemen with incredible defensive instincts and a strong offensive ability as well.
Harley had a breakout year in 2024-25, as the league discovered him when he made Team Canada at the last minute in the 4 Nations Face-Off. In a contract and Olympic year, he has a lot to play for. Plus, he’s the early choice to quarterback Dallas’ top power play unit under Glen Gulutzan. The 24-year-old is seeing his role grow each year.
Lindell is the veteran on the defense and the defensive stalwart. He leads Dallas’ penalty kill and eats impressive minutes, averaging 22:11 in the regular season and 23:32 in the playoffs. Lindell may be the most consistent player on the roster.
Weaknesses
The Stars’ defensive depth is inexperienced. While the Stars have had a solid top-four, their bottom two are often a question and could be again this year.
Dallas is in a better place than it was a year ago, now that it let Brendan Smith walk in free agency and traded Matt Dumba. It brought back veteran Ilya Lyubushkin, who was at his best on the penalty kill last year, but otherwise it will ask younger and less experienced defensemen to grow into larger roles.
Nils Lundkvist returns from season-ending shoulder surgery and will assume a larger role likely in the top four skating next to Harley. Lian Bichsel’s rookie year is behind him, and he will be the physical presence Dallas needs in the depth of the lineup.
Either Alexander Petrovic or Vladislav Kolyachonok will fill the seventh spot on the roster. Petrovic is an AHL veteran who has found himself on the Stars’ NHL roster the last two playoff runs and may have finally earned a permanent spot. Kolyachonok was brought in as a part of the Dumba trade and has yet to play more than 35 NHL games in a single season in his young NHL career.
The Stars need those defensemen to exceed expectations to fill the role of veteran Cody Ceci, whom they couldn’t retain in free agency.
Question: Could 2025-26 be a breakout year for Nils Lundkvist?
Fully healthy after a shoulder injury with a new coaching staff, Lundkvist could be poised for his best year yet in Dallas.
The young defenseman has had an up-and-down journey in his three seasons so far with the Stars, largely because Pete DeBoer didn’t trust him in critical scenarios late in the regular season and in the playoffs.
But Lundkvist had made major strides early last season before his injury.
Gulutzan said he sees a lot of potential in Lundkvist. With 44 points in 183 career NHL games, he has a new level to reach.
Skating alongside Harley could help him unlock a new level, as the two could rack up points with their joint offensive abilities.
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