Duchene keeping faith in Stars, Nill after early playoff exit

HALIBURTON, Ontario -- Matt Duchene has no doubts the Dallas Stars will rebound from an unusual early Stanley Cup Playoff exit last spring, as long as general manager Jim Nill continues to run the show.

Nill is the only person to win the NHL’s Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award in three consecutive seasons, accomplishing the feat in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. According to Duchene, the 68-year-old continues to prove why he is worthy of such high accolades.

“He's the heart and soul of our organization, and we, to a man on that hockey team and in that organization, we trust him,” the Stars center said. “And so, as long as he's running the show and doing his thing, I know we're going to be a team that can contend.

“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. And I just trust that he's always going to be doing the right thing.”

Which was a factor in Duchene’s decision to sign a four-year, $18 million contract ($4.25 million average annual value) with the Stars on June 19, 2025.

“There’s a reason I wanted to lock in long-term last summer,” the 35-year-old said. “And there’s a reason I first decided to sign there (in 2023). He was a big part of that. So I couldn’t be happier to be part of that team.”

Even if one of the NHL’s most talented rosters hasn’t been able to quench its Stanley Cup aspirations.

The Stars’ skilled core just hasn’t found a way to get over its postseason hump. After being eliminated in the Western Conference Final three consecutive times, Dallas lost to the Minnesota Wild in the first round last season, dropping three straight games after taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

“We haven't broken through quite to where we want to yet,” Duchene said. “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.”

He’s doing just that, thanks in part to Nill.

The foundation of the Stars remains intact, with forwards Mavrik Bourque, Michael Bunting and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin being the only significant departures. The key offseason transaction: re-signing forward Jason Robertson, a 96-point scorer (45 goals, 51 assists) in 2025-26, to a one-year, $12 million contract on July 21, ending the trade speculation that had surrounded him.

“He’s an unbelievable goal-scorer,” Duchene said. “And I just want our team to take a step forward.

“It’s a really cool core. It’s like we have three tiers. There’s veterans like myself and Jamie (Benn) and Tyler (Seguin) who are older but still in good places in our careers. Then there’s the guys who are in their prime, the Miro Heiskanens and Roope Hintzes and Esa Lindells. And then young guys like Jason and Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley. And Jake Oettinger’s part of that too.

“That’s the cool part. Most teams might have a big four to lead them. On the other hand, we have six, seven, eight, nine guys driving our team. That’s really special. And that’s what it takes. If you look at the teams that have won the past few years, that’s what they have. And I think that’s where it starts.

“Like I said about Jim, I think he's just done an amazing job putting this team together. At this point it’s fine tuning at this point, and then hopefully taking that next step.”

Duchene spends a good chunk of the summer with his family on a picturesque lake near his hometown of Haliburton. It is here, about 130 miles north of Toronto, where he grew up, at times during the spring wearing a full bug hat complete with a mesh mask to fend off the swarms of black flies while taking shots on the driveway as a boy.

Matt’s father Vince grew up in the area as a friend of Bernie Nicholls and his brothers, who are from the nearby village of West Guilford. Matt credits Bernie, who had 1,209 points (475 goals, 734 assists) with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks from 1981-99, as providing inspiration for his own NHL dreams.

Now, in the midst of his own impressive NHL career that’s featured 936 points (387 goals, 549 assists) in 1,195 career games with the Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators, Duchene has never forgotten his roots.

To that end, the annual Matt Duchene Charity Golf Classic at Blairhampton Golf Club in nearby Minden last month raised $314,592.50, almost $100,000 more than last year. Proceeds from the event go to the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation.

“It's huge,” he said. “I'm so proud of my community. Everybody knows where I'm from because I talk about it all the time. And to be able to be a part of something like this event that has such a positive effect on our town is awesome.”

Much like he hopes the 2026-27 season will be for the Stars.