The Dallas Stars remain firmly in the thick of the Central Division race, sitting second with a 27-13-9 record, but recent results have raised the urgency around their next move. Dallas has dropped three straight games, most recently a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday.
With their sights set on a deep playoff run, the Stars have been looking to add reinforcements. Dallas was previously in the mix to land defenseman Rasmus Andersson, but that chase ended when he was dealt to Vegas. Even so, the Stars remain active as they search for ways to upgrade the roster.
Golden Knights’ Rasmus Andersson Deal Turns Up Heat on Dallas Stars
The Vegas Golden Knights made the splash move Sunday, acquiring defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. In return, Calgary received veteran blueliner Zach Whitecloud, defensive prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional second-round selection in 2028. The Flames also agreed to retain 50 percent of Andersson’s remaining salary in the final year of his six-year, $27.3 million contract.
That deal effectively ended Dallas’ pursuit of one of its top targets. The Stars were among the final teams pushing for Andersson. Speaking after the move, NHL analyst Jeff Marek summed up the situation bluntly, saying, “As more sellers start to emerge it sure feels like the Dallas Stars need something big to shake things up.”
Before the trade, Andersson was enjoying a strong season in Calgary, posting 30 points in 48 games with a plus-3 rating. With his contract set to expire at season’s end, he was considered a near-ideal fit for a contender looking for a playoff-ready defenseman.
With Andersson no longer an option, Dallas remains active in the market for blue-line help and additional depth. The Stars have also been linked to Calgary in discussions involving forward Blake Coleman, suggesting the two teams could resume trade talks despite the missed opportunity.
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Cap flexibility could play a major role in Dallas’ next move. Stars’ Tyler Seguin suffered a torn ACL in December 2025. They were able to place his roughly $9.85 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve. That relief has given Dallas the financial room to pursue impactful additions. It includes names like Coleman or Nazem Kadri, as they gear up for a serious Stanley Cup push.
For now, the Stars will try to steady themselves on the ice as they prepare to face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
