The Dallas Stars have been one of the premier playoff contenders for much of the 2020s.
After beginning the decade with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, the team has made the playoffs five of the last six seasons, including three consecutive trips to the Western Conference Final from 2023 to 2025.
However, the team has failed to get over the hump to return to the Stanley Cup Final and finish what they started when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in 2020.
“We haven’t broken through quite to where we want to yet,” Stars forward Matt Duchene told Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com. “But just going to training camp every year, knowing that we are one of those teams that actually has a chance, because the whole league doesn’t feel like that, it’s something I do not take for granted. I don’t take it lightly.
“Especially at my age where you’re getting near the end of your career, you know there’s more behind you than ahead of you. So, it’s something you really, really value and appreciate and want to make the best of.”
The Stars finished last season second in the Central Division, despite having the third-best record in the NHL at 50-20-12. That placement put the Stars up against a strong Minnesota Wild team that ended up eliminating them in six games in the first round.
Despite the early exit, Duchene recognizes that his team always has a chance to break through and be the team that comes out on top in the end. He credits general manager Jim Nill for putting the Dallas in that position.
Nill is the only three-time winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year, taking home the trophy three consecutive seasons from 2023 to 2025. He is responsible for putting the core of the team together that has a good mix of veteran and young pieces.
After being hired in April of 2013, one of Nill’s first moves was making a trade for a young star in Tyler Seguin from the Boston Bruins to pair with future captain Jamie Benn. The pair, along with veteran centre Joe Pavelski, helped become the core of the Stars, culminating with their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2020.
As the core of his team got older, the 68-year-old manager didn’t let Dallas’ Stanley Cup window shut, constantly filling in with strong young players through the draft, including forwards Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Roope Hintz, defencemen Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Esa Lindell, and goaltender Jake Oettinger.
With Seguin and Benn still playing a large role as veterans on the team, Nill continued to supplement his core by signing Duchene in July of 2023 and then trading for superstar winger Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes in March of 2025.
Duchene recognizes the work that Nill has done to put his team in a position to be a Stanley Cup contender year after year, saying that it’s a large reason why he decided to join the team in 2023 and then extend his contract in 2025.
“He’s the heart and soul of our organization,” said Duchene. “We, to a man on that hockey team and that organization, we trust him. As long as he’s running the show and doing his thing, I know we’re going to be a team that can contend.
“There’s a reason I wanted to lock in last summer and there’s a reason I first decided to sign there. He was a big part of that. So I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this team.”
The Stars were one of the most active teams in the off-season after failing to reach the conference final for the first time in three seasons. Their activity largely centred around some of the young core of his team.
Robertson, who led the team in scoring two of the last three seasons, entered the off-season as a restricted free agent with the two sides having trouble agreeing to an extension.
The Stars reportedly granted permission for the Seattle Kraken to speak with Robertson about a contract, but the 27-year-old reportedly turned down an eight-year, roughly $120 million offer from Seattle, ending the idea of a sign-and-trade.
Dallas and Robertson eventually agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract to stay with the Stars for the 2026-27 campaign and he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next season.
As well, with rumours running rampant about 2026 Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski entertaining the idea of being traded away from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Stars reportedly offered a package that included Harley for the blueliner. However, when the trade was presented to Werenski, he allegedly invoked his no-trade clause.
Despite the publicity surrounding Nill’s tinkering around the Stars’ core, Duchene still believes in his GM and his ability to keep his team in contention for a Stanley Cup.
“Obviously there’s going to be different roster changes and tweaks here and there, which happens with every team over the years, whether you win the Cup or not,” said Duchene. “I just trust that [Nill] is going to be doing the right thing.
“Like I said about Jim, I think he’s done an amazing job putting this team together. At this point it’s fine tuning and then hopefully taking that next step.”
The Stars will open their preseason on Sept. 19 against the St. Louis Blues, with their regular season kicking off on Oct. 2 against the Blues.
