Another season ends for the Dallas Stars in the same fashion. Losing in the Western Conference for the third consecutive year has left more questions than answers. Stars fans are a mixed bag of feelings from sadness to anger about how the season concluded. Dropping four straight games to the Oilers in a 5-game series has many wondering how the Stars can get back and advance to the Stanley Cup Final next year. Limited cap space affords little flexibility to fill the roster and re-sign free agents next season. Fans took notice of decisions made in Game 5 by Head Coach Pete DeBoer and his post-game comments are leaving some to call for his employment termination. This latest loss leaves an offseason with many difficult decisions to make regarding the 2025-26 Stars.
Head Coach
Everything is magnified on the scope in the Conference Final. The rest of the league is watching you so all decisions are vigorously dissected. Pete DeBoer pulled the franchise goalie in an elimination game after allowing 2 goals on 2 shots. Casey DeSmith finished the season for the Stars as the goalie on record for the loss. DeBoer made post-game remarks about Jake Oettinger’s ability in playoff games against the Oilers. His comments are concerning fans about the possibility of him losing the locker room while some call for his firing over his decisions. Oettinger faced 503 shots over the playoffs, far more than anyone else. Benching your franchise goalie after 2 goals on 2 shots in an elimination game left many stunned in disbelief as the season withered away in Game 5. Six out of the last seven DeBoer teams ended their season in the Western Conference Final so he is looking to get past the third round with a different-looking Stars team next season if his job title doesn’t change. DeBoer has taken the Stars to the Western Conference Final three consecutive seasons so his being fired is unlikely. His job security may place him in the hot seat this season as he enters a contract year. The Stars need to perform better next season or a coaching change may occur.
Cap Space
Barely any rosters are left unchanged as the seasons progress. Expect a new lineup next year as the Stars are no different. Many unrestricted free agents are in need of a new contract. Players like Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadanov, Mikael Granlund, Matt Duchene, Colin Blackwell, Cody Ceci, and Brendan Smith are all in need of new contracts. Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist are restricted free agents. The Stars have short of $5,000,000 cap space available to play around with. Jim Nill must think long-term as offseason changes linger in importance over several years. Jason Robertson has 1 year left on his contract at $7.75m AAV. He’ll be a restricted free agent after next season who will presumably have a significant pay increase coming. Salary caps are increasing annually for the next several years so that helps but the problem is now. The Stars have no room to make a big splash in the offseason unless they make a major trade.
The situation remains the same regardless of what happens next. Losing another Western Conference Final is making fans restless. Winning the first game of the series built anticipation, like things actually changed. Four consecutive losses in dominating fashion sank the ship real quick as the Stars failed to prevent their own elimination. One more 3rd place finish to add to the accolades of good Stars teams that never went all the way. This is also the first time the Stars lost a series in less than six games since 2006. Winning the Stanley Cup is plausible with their championship window wide open. The Stars lost seven out of the last eight Conference Final games, all to the Oilers so changes are coming. It’s another long offseason for the Stars. Changes big or small are coming as they get ready for another season with title contentions starting in October.
Photo Credit: Dallas Stars X
