The Dallas Stars enter the offseason after an unexpectedly short season, falling in six games to the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Heading into their longest offseason since 2022, the Stars will have some decisions to make about about key players on the roster who are free agents this summer.
Advertisement
While most of the Stars’ core is under contract for years to come, here is a look at which players would need to re-sign this offseason.
Unrestricted free agents
Forwards: Nathan Bastian (28 years old), Jamie Benn (36), Michael Bunting (30), Adam Erne (31)
Defensemen: Kyle Capobianco (28), Alexander Petrovic (34)
For the second offseason in a row, Stars captain Jamie Benn will have to weigh his retirement. Last offseason, the longest tenured captain signed a one-year contract worth $1 million with the potential for $3 million in performance bonuses, which Benn earned $2 million of this year. But after another underwhelming postseason performance, could he hang up his skates for good? Or will he try once more to land his name on the Stanley Cup before retirement?
Advertisement
In addition to Benn, the Stars have to decide whether to extend a few other depth players.
Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) shakes hands with Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno (17) following Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in St. Paul, Minnesota, April 30, 2026. The Stars lost the game. 5-2, and the series. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)Restricted free agents
Forwards: Mavrik Bourque (24), Arttu Hyry (25), Jason Robertson (26)
Defensemen: None
A restricted free agent (RFA) is the status given to a player whose initial entry level contract has come to an end but has yet to reach unrestricted free agency status.
If the Stars make a qualifying offer by June 29, they retain the player’s negotiating rights, meaning they have the right of first refusal to match any offer sheet that the player receives from another team.
Robertson’s qualifying offer is $9.3 million, but the Stars will likely try to extend him long-term and are expected to need to pay him around $12 million a year to keep him.
Advertisement
RELATED: After first-round exit, Stars have three serious issues that need to be addressed
Under contract
Forwards (10)
Oskar Bäck – 26 years old, one year left
Colin Blackwell – 33 years old, one year left
Matt Duchene – 35 years old, three years left
Radek Faksa – 32 years old, two years left
Justin Hryckowian – 25 years old, two years left
Wyatt Johnston – 22 years old, four years left
Mikko Rantanen – 29 years old, seven years left
Tyler Seguin – 34 years old, one year left
Sam Steel – 28 years old, one year left
Defensemen (7)
Lian Bichsel – 21 years old, one year left
Thomas Harley – 24 years old, eight years left
Advertisement
Miro Heiskanen – 26 years old, three years left
Nils Lundkvist – 25 years old, two years left
Ilya Lyubushkin – 32 years old, one year left
Tyler Myers – 36 years old, one year left
Goalies (2)
Jake Oettinger – 27 years old, seven years left
Casey DeSmith – 34 years old, one year left