“Mavrik Bourque is a quality, two-way player who will fit perfectly with what we are trying to build here in Nashville,” general manager Chris MacFarland said. “At just 24 years old, his age and style of play fits in with the type of players we are looking to bring in to help make us better.”
Bourque just completed his second full season with the Stars. The 24-year-old forward had 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 82 regular-season games and one goal in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. A first-round pick (No. 30) by Dallas at the 2020 NHL Draft, he has 66 points (31 goals, 35 assists) in 156 regular-season games and one goal in 10 playoff games.
He signed a one-year contract on June 20, 2025, and became a restricted free agent at noon ET Wednesday.
"We love Mavrik. Good player for us," Dallas general manager Jim Nill said. "His game’s really come along. MVP of the American League, and his game got better and better. Been a good, young player for us. Unfortunately, he’s a casualty of the cap world. You have to be cap compliant, and those decisions have to be made. He did a good job. His contract was coming up. He bet on himself last year, and where his contract was going, it was something that we wouldn’t be able to fit in. You can’t fit everybody in. It’s just part of the business.”
Lyubushkin, a defenseman, had nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 53 regular-season games for Dallas last season and one assist in two playoff games. The 32-year-old has 70 points (seven goals, 63 assists) in 486 regular-season games with the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Anaheim Ducks and Stars and eight assists in 30 playoff games.
He has one season remaining on a three-year, $9.75 million contract ($3.25 million average annual value) he signed with Dallas on July 1, 2024.
“Ilya Lyubushkin is a veteran defenseman with significant experience who can log minutes and be a physical presence in our own end,” MacFarland said. “We are excited to welcome both players to Nashville.”
Also Wednesday, Nashville signed forward Alexander Kerfoot to a two-year, $7 million contract ($3.5 million AAV). The 31-year-old had 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 34 regular-season games last season for the Utah Mammoth and one assist in six playoff games.
A fifth-round pick (No. 150) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft, Kerfoot has 305 points (105 goals, 200 assists) in 639 regular-season games with the Colorado Avalanche, Maple Leafs, Coyotes and Utah, and 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 54 playoff games.
