The NHL offseason is officially underway with a new champion crowned. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Now all 32 teams hit the reset button in their attempt at becoming the next champion. The Dallas Stars fell six games short as they tried to win what the Panthers pulled off. Now just a short turnaround with the Entry Draft and Free Agency less than a week away. Jim Nill has his work cut out for him as he tries to shape next year’s team. Lots of cap space remains alongside a smaller selection of draft picks showcasing an important offseason. Who will be the new Stars players joining the mix?
NHL Draft
The Stars have the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft. The Stars traded up the last time they held pick #29 and selected Jake Oettinger in 2017. Each team is allotted seven rounds of picks each year but the Stars only have three this year. They’ll have to make do with what they have as various trades sent their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th round picks to other teams. Jim Nill gets an A+ on his recent draft performance, acquiring players like Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Jake Oettinger with picks outside of the top 20. The Entry Draft is Friday night at the Sphere in Las Vegas with three or more new Stars players joining the future.
Free Agency
Hockey ended Monday night with Free Agency being next week. The re-sign phase is already underway with some key players without contracts. Chris Tanev cemented his name in Stars lore despite only one goal in 38 games with the team. His expertise on the blue line providing a line of defense is something the Stars need next year. Signing him is crucial just like another player. Matt Duchene signed with the Stars after being bought out by the Nashville Predators. This signing paid off in dividends as he finished tied for 3rd on the team with 65 points. He scored the series-winning goal in double overtime of Game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche. Another year with Duchene will bolster the offense or the Stars could go in a different direction.
$16,246,259 is a lot of money to work with in cap space. There are plenty of affordable players possibly coming to the Stars in less than a week. Players in the $3-5 million range are a good fit for the budget of this team. Defensemen like Nikita Zadorov, Brett Pesce, and Shayne Gostisbehere are budget players who can make an impact for the price. Likewise, on the forward side, players like Tyler Toffoli, Martin Necas, and Anthony Duclair are available without a hefty price tag. Some new faces are likely joining the Stars next Monday.
Next Year
The Stars are entering next year as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Moving forward from back-to-back Conference Final losses in six games is pivotal. One Stanley Cup will last a lifetime now going on 26 years without one when they get their next chance. The 2024-2025 Stars will begin to take form over the next few days. Get ready for Free Agency on July 1st as new players will soon call Dallas home.
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