Yet another season has passed that saw Pete DeBoer, and the Dallas Stars’ season end in the western conference finals.  For the regular season, there were signs of promise for the first 75 games.  Following a seven game skid to end the season, the Stars would find themselves back in the NHL’s final four after 13 games.  Only to be dispatched yet again before reaching the Stanley Cup finals.

Many questions face the Stars even with what should be a bright future still ahead. From coaching to the roster, and team toughness the Stars clearly need to address these three areas of their game if they’re to get over the hump.

Problems aside, we’re not going to pretend that the Stars had a bad season. Disappointing finish? Sure.  But a team that won 50 games, and finished better than 28 out of 32 teams is not a campaign that didn’t have any good times.

Good news first

Starting off with the best news of 2025; the signing of Mikko Rantanen, and extending Wyatt Johnston to further bolster the team’s core.  Two players who are in their 20s, and a couple of the best goal scorers for years to come.

Adding depth guys to the lineup like Mikael Granlund was another big highlight for a team who won 50 games two years in a row.  Nill showed that he was looking to keep up with teams around them like the Colorado Avalanche to not get left behind in the standings.

Pete DeBoer’s tenure

After three straight postseason exits in the western conference finals, and a controversial goalie pull, Pete DeBoer has been relieved of his coaching duties in Dallas.  For a team that wants to win the Cup right now, three straight final four losses are not acceptable.

While Stars fans can be mad about how DeBoer handled Oettinger in their last game together, it’s good to look on the plus side of his resume as DALLAS’ coach the last three years.  Playoff wins over rivals such as the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and dethroning the Vegas Golden Knights last season in a series that went the distance.  Plus DeBoer coached three games sevens with the Stars, and won all of them.  He already is undefeated thus far in a series that goes the full seven.

Right now it’s too early to tell who’s going to become Dallas’ next coach.  Texas Stars head coach Neil Graham might be seeing a promotion in the upcoming months.

The Captain

2025 might be the last time we see Jamie Benn wearing the C.  Benn has been the captain for the last 12 years, but after another solid regular season followed by postseason disappointment a change in leadership might be forthcoming.  There is speculation that Benn might have played his last season in Dallas, but that’s highly unlikely.

Benn still brings upside to the lineup.  In particular playing the enforcer role, and physical play which the team still lacks as we all saw yet again this postseason.  If Benn doesn’t retain the C, the Stars need the kind of guy who will get the Stars moving when they are playing like they’re just going through the motions.  Somebody who can go on a rant like Connor McDavid did last year.

Toughness, and consistent goal scoring

Last summer, Nill made an attempt to toughen up the Stars’ roster.  Signing Matt Dumba, Brendan Smith, and Illya Lybushkin.  Of these three, only Lybushkin saw playoff time.  However he was eventually healthy scratched in favor of Lian Bichsel and Alex Petrovic.  A couple guys from the minors who play a more physical game despite the lack of hits, and enforcing from anybody.

In regular season play, the Stars ranked third in goals for.  During the postseason, the goal scoring faded like a dream slowly after each round.  After game one of the western conference finals, the goal scoring nearly went extinct.  In the rgular season you’re able to get away with many short comings since all 31 teams travel so much, and you’re playing everybody.  Contender, or bottom feeder every other night.  As opposed to the leagues best four to seven straight times.

Photo credit: LM Otero/AP

The biggest problem with the Stars scoring goals in the playoffs isn’t something that will show up on paper.  While every team has guys playing through injuries, the Stars don’t work hard enough.  It’s a problem in leadership amongst the players, a lack of simple straight forward play making, and of course not being physical enough.

Featured photo: X app @BruceLevinePuck