Dallas Stars have big questions to answer this summer

The Dallas Stars concluded their 2023-24 season on Sunday night with a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6. This marked their second consecutive Game 6 defeat in the Western Conference Final, despite being considered top contenders for the Stanley Cup throughout the year. While they managed to defeat past champions like the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, the Stars ultimately ran out of steam against the Oilers.

Looking ahead, the Stars have a promising future as they boast a strong young core in their prime, complemented by talented prospects and experienced depth players that position them well for sustained competitiveness. However, general manager Jim Nill and his team face several pressing decisions.

Dallas has a significant number of impending free agents, including seven unrestricted free agents like Matt Duchene, Joe Pavelski, Craig Smith, Chris Tanev, Jani Hakanpaa, Derrick Pouliot, and Scott Wedgewood. Additionally, they have four restricted free agents in Ty Dellandrea, Sam Steel, Thomas Harley, and Nils Lundkvist. Managing these contracts alongside players with only one year remaining on their deals such as Jamie Benn and Jake Oettinger, as well as potential considerations for buyouts or trades involving players like Ryan Suter or Radek Faksa adds further complexity.

Experts Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Seravalli highlight the challenges facing the Stars, emphasizing the need to make critical decisions regarding the future of veteran players like Pavelski and Duchene, as well as young talents such as Harley. With limited cap space at $15.9 million, Nill and the management team face tough choices on player contracts and roster composition moving forward.