Halfway Mark Review of the Dallas Stars Pt. 1

2025-04-04

Offseason:

  • As is tradition with any of the Stars teams that GM Tang has been at the helm for, there is never a dull time. Tang is always looking for trades and has not been still since taking over the team. Tang has completed 40 trades in the 3 years that he has been at the helm. Some good, some bad, some forgetable. This offseason was no different.
    • Deal 1 (Basically)
      • Stars Recieve:
        • Mikael Backlund
        • Matias Macelli
        • Nikolaj Ehlers
      • Stars Lose:
        • Sidney Crosby
    • Deal 2 
      • Stars Recieve:
        • Anthony Mantha
        • Micahel Carcone
        • Colin Delia
      • Stars Lose:
        • Cam Atkinson
        • Travis Hamonic
        • Casey DeSmith
        • '26 3rd, 4th
    • Deal 3
      • Stars Recieve
        • Kevin Lankinen
      • Stars Lose
        • Mikael Backlund
    • Free Agents:
      • Marc Andre Fluery: 2 years $6.5, Million
      • Marc Giordano: 2 years, $3.5 Million
      • Andreas Englund: 2 years, $1.5 Million
      • Riley Nash: 2 years, $1.125 Million

 

  • Looking back through the offseason, it was not a great summer for the Stars GM. "I had a lot of potential deals on the table that just fell through. It led to waiting too long in free agency and too many offers that were too timid. Essentially we have been fighting to make pieces work since the end of free agency and I think the beginning of our season showed that." The Stars were able to add to their top six in Ehlers who has been struggling as of late, but has been picked up by Mantha. "We made a couple moves that shored up our top 6 wingers as well as shed some cap for free agency. We didn't use that money in FA but we have benefitted from the depth.
  • Last season outside of the Stars big 4 (Kap, Pasta, Elias, Kadri), the next top scoring forwards were Zuccarello (57), Sturrm (31) and then Sidney Crosby (16 in 17 games). There was not a lot of depth. This year through 42 games, the top line of Kap, Elias, Pasta are all cooking with 50+ points. The Stars are the only team with 3 scorers in the top 10. But the depth is what is more crucial. Mantha, Ehlers, Maccelli all have 20+ points already, with most of Mantha's coming as part of the 3rd line. 

The offseason wasn't what the Dallas Stars' faithful were hoping for, but as the season has rolled on it has become more fruitful. Offseason Grade: C.