The season is over for the Dallas Stars once again in the Western Conference Final, an extremely disappointing finish to their third straight advancement to the Final Four.
They were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers for the second consecutive season; despite taking a one-game series lead with an exciting 6-3 victory in Game 1, the Oilers rattled off four straight victories to send the Stars packing.
Edmonton moves on to their second consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final to take on the Florida Panthers, the first Cup Final rematch since the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins met in consecutive seasons in 2008 and 2009.
Which Key Dallas Players Could Depart This Summer?
Meanwhile, the offseason work for the Stars is now officially underway; there could be considerable changes to the roster for the team that hits the ice in the fall compared to the one that skated off the American Airlines Center ice in disappointment last week.
Who are the players that are eligible for new contracts, and what are the chances that they’re back for next season?
#1. Matt Duchene
Duchene is coming off his second campaign with the Stars, and he’s played roles in the success that they’ve enjoyed in the pair of regular seasons he’s spent with them as well as last season’s playoffs.
Unfortunately for Duchene, he only found the back of the net once in the 2025 postseason, and it was in the aforementioned Game 1 victory over the Oilers before they were ultimately defeated. He’s had reasonable cap hits of $3 million the last two seasons and had a productive 2024-25 season.
#2. Jamie Benn
The longtime team captain of the Stars is up for a new contract, as his eight-year, $76 million contract expires on July 1. His offensive output in the postseason was especially disappointing, as he scored only a single goal during the Stars’ third straight run to the Conference Final.
If he wants to continue his career with the Stars, he’ll have to accept a massive pay cut.
#3. Evgenii Dadonov
The 36-year-old Russian forward is eligible for unrestricted free agency starting July 1, having played the last two and a half seasons for the Stars since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens.
This season, he scored 20 goals with 20 assists; his contract also carried a reasonable cap hit of $2.25 million. Right now, it’s a toss-up on whether he’ll be back or not.
#4. Mikael Granlund
Acquired from the San Jose Sharks earlier this season for valuable forward depth with a capable offensive punch, Granlund scored several key goals for the Stars during the postseason, including his first-career playoff hat trick against the Winnipeg Jets.
His most recent contract carried a $5 million cap hit. He fit in nicely with the Stars, who could re-sign him, albeit at a slightly reduced salary.
#5. Cody Ceci
A mid-season acquisition from the San Jose Sharks (along with Granlund), Ceci is a reliable defender who didn’t cost much ($3.25 million cap hit).
With fellow defenseman Brendan Smith all but certainly coming off the Stars’ books, don’t be surprised to see him back with Dallas next season.
