Stars season preview: Set for Cup run with familiar cast, high-powered offense

The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the Dallas Stars.

Last season: 50-20-12, second in Central Division; lost in Western Conference First Round

Coach: Glen Gulutzan (second season)

Biggest challenge

The Stars once again have plenty of talent. Now they need to break through after so many seasons of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs and getting close to the Stanley Cup Final (2023, 2024 and 2025, when they advanced to the Western Conference Final). They'll once again bring plenty of firepower. Forward Jason Robertson, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract on July 21, led the Stars last season with 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games. Four players had 63 points or more last season. The Stars didn't add too much during free agency, so it's about a familiar group putting it all together to bring a Cup back to Dallas for the first time since 1999.

How they make playoffs

Jake Oettinger has long been a consistent regular-season goaltender and that needs to remain, since he'll continue to take on most of the starts (he's started 53 or more games in each of the past four seasons). A healthy Tyler Seguin would also help. The 34-year-old has sustained several injuries the past few seasons but when he's healthy, he's still a good top-six forward and great complement to any linemate. Seguin may not be ready for the Stars' season opener on Oct. 2, but whenever he does come back, it's a plus. The Stars are pretty good on the penalty kill but could be better; they were at 80.3 percent last season, 13th in the NHL. They also need to stay consistent in other categories, as they were one of the League's best in goals-against per game (second, 2.71), goals for (ninth, 3.33) and power-play percentage (second, 28.6) last season.

Most intriguing addition

Joel Kiviranta is certainly a familiar addition for the Stars. The forward, who signed a one-year, $1 million contract to return to Dallas on July 1, played his first five NHL seasons with the Stars. Injuries were costly for Kiviranta last season, when he played 51 regular-season games and five playoff games with the Colorado Avalanche. If he's healthy, he could add some supplemental scoring. 

Biggest potential surprise

Forward Arttu Hyry and defenseman Trey Taylor could both go here, but we'll lean toward Hyry for now. The 25-year-old has had a taste of the NHL (five games with the Stars in 2024-25 and 20 games last season). If he's with the Stars this season, he would add secondary scoring. Hyry (6-foot-3, 211 pounds) could be the Stars' next Radek Faksa, the two-way center who's currently in his second stint with the Stars after playing for the St. Louis Blues in 2024-25. Hyry is also one of the few right-handed shots the Stars would have in their bottom six, so that helps his cause.

Ready to contribute

Remi Poirier could factor into the Stars' season, depending on how their health goes at goaltender. The 24-year-old was 27-19-6 with a 2.61 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and two shutouts in 52 games with Texas in the American Hockey League last season. Oettinger will get most of the starts and the Stars also have Casey DeSmith as their backup. DeSmith is going into the final season of the three-year, $3 million contract ($1 million average annual value) he signed with the Stars on July 1, 2024. At some point, the Stars need to see if Poirier is ready to be their backup goaltender next season. No time like the present, right?

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Roope Hintz, F: Dallas has three players projected by NHL.com/Fantasy to exceed 90 points this season in Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen, and Hintz usually brings even-strength exposure to one or two of those players when healthy. Hintz, who was limited by a hamstring injury last regular season and also did not play in the playoffs, had 19 points on the power play, and 126 shots on goal in 53 games last season. He is a two-time 70-point producer and three-time 30-goal scorer. Per NHL EDGE stats, Hintz ranked highly among forwards in 20-plus mph speed bursts (259; 98th percentile), max skating speed (23.61 mph; 96th percentile), high-danger shots on goal (70; 91st percentile) and hardest shot (92.03 mph; 90th percentile) last season despite missing significant time; he was also tied for eighth in the League in 22-plus mph speed bursts (33). Hintz, who has proven chemistry with fellow Finland-born players on the Stars in Rantanen and defenseman Miro Heiskanen, is a fantasy bounce-back candidate who's worth prioritizing if he continues to slip in drafts (average draft position: 116.2). -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Jason Robertson -- Wyatt Johnston -- Mikko Rantanen

Sam Steel -- Roope Hintz -- Tyler Seguin

Justin Hryckowian -- Matt Duchene -- Jamie Benn

Oskar Back -- Radek Faksa -- Joel Kiviranta

Esa Lindell -- Miro Heiskanen

Thomas Harley -- Nils Lundkvist

Lian Bichsel -- Tyler Myers

Jake Oettinger

Casey DeSmith