Is it Stanley Cup or bust for the Dallas Stars this season?
It is hard to find a more consistent team over the past decade than the Dallas Stars. With the exception of one season (the pandemic-shortened 2020-21), the Stars have made the playoffs in every year since 2018. Included in this run are four trips to the Western Conference Final and a Stanley Cup Final appearance versus the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20.
Despite not winning the Stanley Cup, it has been quite a successful stretch in Dallas for the lion’s share of GM Jim Nill’s tenure. The Stars lost out in the first round last year (after three consecutive trips to the Conference Final) to the Minnesota Wild, but the minor step back last season is one the Stars hope to be just a blip on the radar as they turn things around this year.
“The league is very good; our division is very good. Minnesota played very well and we were just OK [in the playoffs],” Stars assistant GM Rich Peverley told Daily Faceoff. “I think with injuries – missing Tyler Seguin, Roope Hintz and Nils Lundkvist – those are big players for us. That was part of it: not being healthy.
“You have to give credit to Minnesota, but for our group I think it’s important to come back refreshed. We were able to get more of a break [in the offseason] than we had in recent years, and hopefully we come back more motivated.”
As Peverley alluded to, the Central Division – and the league as a whole – has become very competitive over the last number of seasons. With parity being higher than ever before, the Stars, specifically, are one of the teams in the toughest spots contending with the likes of the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth – to say nothing of the teams outside of their own division while in the same conference.
It is no excuse, but with the playoffs being divisional through the first two rounds, the Stars know that their path will always be tough.
“We’re obviously in one of the tougher divisions in the league with some very good teams,” said Peverley. ‘’Even a team like Winnipeg could take a step forward again this season. Chicago is coming. Nashville is always a hard team to play against.
“It’s going to be a tough division again.”
One of the focal points of the Stars’ roster is Wyatt Johnston, who has emerged as the club’s top-line center over the last year or so. The 2023-first-round pick registered a career high in goals and points last season, with 45 and 86, respectively, while playing in all 82 regular-season games.
Johnston, 23, is entering just the second season of a five-year, $42-million contract he signed a little more than a year ago. With a skyrocketing salary cap, Johnston’s $8.4-million AAV could prove to be one of the best bargains in the NHL. He has four assists through four games this season.
“He’s a great player and earned what he got,” Peverley said. “Last year he – especially on the power play – became one of the best shooters in the league. That’s kind of what he is and we are really happy to have him. Continuing to grow his game is going to be big for him this year.”
Forward Tyler Seguin has been one of the faces of the franchise for the Stars since 2013 but has dealt with significant injuries since 2024. Playing just 47 combined regular-season games over the last two seasons, Seguin appears to be ready and healthy for the 2026-27 campaign; he has played in all four of the Stars’ games so far, though in more of a depth role.
“He looks good, recovered well,” Peverley said, adding that Seguin looks motivated and healthy while also citing the importance of his play to the Stars. Peverley and Seguin have known each other for years, as the duo were Stanley Cup-winning teammates with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and ultimately were traded to the Stars in the same deal back in 2013.
Seguin is no longer a front-line piece for the Stars, playing on the wing in the bottom six. But between his veteran presence and offensive pedigree, his return to the lineup will only bolster an already-deep forward group for the Stars.
Speaking of forwards, arguably the most-dangerous forward the Stars have is left wing Jason Robertson. Robertson, 27, has become a perennial 80-plus point player for the Stars and is a two-time 40-goal scorer.
Much was made of Robertson’s contract negotiations last summer, culminating in a one-year, $12-million deal. Murky future aside, Robertson continues to be a crucial piece for the Stars if they are to continue being a Stanley Cup contender.
“He’s obviously one of the premier shooters in the league,’’ said Peverley. “He’s a great, important player for us who is extremely dangerous on the power play. His two-way game has really improved; he’s become a lot better defensively over the years and takes a lot of pride in that part of his game. He’s one of the key pieces for us, and we’re excited to have him back.”
In a somewhat-suspiring move, the Stars brought back Glen Gulutzan for his second tour of duty as head coach last summer. After three years of Pete DeBoer, it took some time to get adjusted to a new system for the Stars’ group of players. But Peverley feels like already having a full season under Gulutzan will be good for the Stars.
“A new year with the same coach is important,” said Peverley. “The first year with a new head coach is always different; systems, minor tweaks on how the bench is run. I think Gulutzan has done a good job – we were a hard team to play against last year. The guys being more comfortable with the coach after another year is very important.”
After three trips to the Western Conference Final, last year was certainly a step back. One has to ask what the goal is for the Stars this season – could it be described as ‘Cup or bust?’ “
“Hopefully we’re in the conversation of trying to win a Cup,” Peverley said. “Once you’re in the playoffs, anyone can win, and that’s what our goal is. The way the playoffs are formatted, you have to play hard teams all the time and right away. We want to be one of the top teams all the time – that’s our goal. We’ll see where the chips fall, but hopefully we’re in the conversation (of Cup contention) until the very end.”
In such a competitive division, the Stars will need to keep pace with their compatriots to stay in the playoff race – let alone Stanley Cup contention. They have started the season off 2-2 (coming off of a convincing 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night) while the Winnipeg Jets, Avalanche, Mammoth and Wild are off to hot starts. Dallas will need to keep pace with the rest of the club in the Central if they want to avoid falling behind the eight ball early in the season.
But with a roster as talented and deep as the Stars’, they are not likely to be an easy out the rest of the way.
_____
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF GEAR
Daily Faceoff has new merch. Rep the game you love with premium Nation Gear x Levelwear tees, hoodies, hats and layers — designed for hockey fans on game day and every day. The home for hockey fans.
SHOP DAILY FACEOFF → nationgear.ca
_____