Expectations for 2025-26: At the very least, Petrovic will start 2025-26 with a much better path to steady playing time in the NHL. Yes, he’s probably still the seventh defenseman behind Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, Esa Lindell, Bichsel, Nils Lundkvist and Lyubushkin, but he doesn’t have to fight through Dumba, Smith and Ceci, who have each moved on to new teams. On paper, the right-handed Lyubushkin is probably ahead of Petrovic, and getting the right-handed Lundkvist back from a shoulder injury should fill another spot. But Petrovic is an easy player to slot in the lineup and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine certainly has a firm trust in him. He could end up taking on a role similar to the one Joel Hanley held for so long in Dallas, providing fresh legs and a more physical option when needed on a game-by-game basis through the season. But Petrovic’s journey is no doubt an interesting one. He was drafted 36th overall by Florida in 2010 and spent seven seasons in the Panthers organization, playing 254 NHL games. But he got caught in the minors and stayed there for most of the past five seasons. He seems to have now found a home in Dallas, and the guess is he will get a chance to prove he is an integral part of this team before the trade deadline when the usual chatter of adding more defensemen flares up. Could a player like Vladislav Kolyachonok jump up and take that spot? Sure, because Petrovic is still on a two-way contract. But the guess is he has earned some wiggle room with the coaches and he has the opportunity to build on his regular season resume for the first time in what will be five seasons with the organization.
