2026-27 Player Profile: Nils Lundkvist

Name: Nils Lundkvist

Age: 26

Birthplace: Pitea, Sweden

Height/Weight: 6-1, 194

2025-26 regular season stats: 3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points, 16:29 avg. TOI in 52 games

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs stats: 0 goals, 2 assists, 16:45 avg. TOI in 4 games

Contract: Entering first year of two-year deal that averages $1.75 million

Performance evaluation: Lundkvist dove into his fourth season in Victory Green with exciting anticipation. After spending the first three years seemingly trapped in a storm of injuries, healthy scratches and up-and-down usage, the new coaching staff led by Glen Gulutzan provided the young Swede with a chance to reset. Unfortunately, that anticipation was quickly halted. Lundkvist burst out of the gate with a goal, two assists and five blocks in the first three games of the regular season. But in the fourth game, he suffered a lower-leg injury that sidelined him for the following 25 games. He missed another handful of games with illnesses on his way to a 52-game campaign. But when he was healthy and active, he was effective. His three goals were the second most in a season in his career and all came against Central Division opponents, with each tally either tying the game or putting the Stars in the lead. All 11 of his points were registered at even strength, while his plus-12 rating finished fourth on the team (and second among defensemen). His 16:29 average time on ice marked a career-high and was a sharp jump up from the 15:01 he logged in the season prior, and substantially higher than his 14:06 in 2023-24. Lundkvist spent the majority of the year playing next to Thomas Harley, and the two continued to form a sturdy second pairing. And after getting minimal postseason playing time in three seasons under Pete DeBoer, Lundkvist became a valuable cog on the Stars’ blue line in the first four games against the Wild. He posted two primary assists in Game 2 and a career-high 23:06 time on ice in Game 3. But in Game 4, he suffered a facial laceration from a skate blade after getting tied up with Michael McCarron, forcing him to miss the team’s final two playoff games.

Expectations for 2026-27: When the Stars traded two draft picks (including a first round selection) to the Rangers in exchange for Lundkvist in September 2022, the expectation was that he would be a regular contributor on the Dallas blue line. But as he enters his fifth season in Victory Green, we’re still waiting on the “regular” part to take effect. Now, that inconsistency has largely been due to coaching decisions and injuries. His time in Dallas started with a regular role, playing in 50 of the team’s first 57 games. But after logging his 60th game on March 25, he was shifted into the healthy scratch role for the final 28 games of the season (including 19 playoff games). In 2023-24, he played in 59 regular-season games as well as the team’s first 12 postseason contests, but averaged a meager 4:28 time on ice in those games before being benched and replaced by Alexander Petrovic for the final seven games of the run. Two seasons ago, a shoulder injury that required surgery caused him to miss the entire back half of the season and all of the playoffs. And last year’s fresh start under a new coaching staff was impeded by a leg injury that forced him to miss the first quarter of the year. With all that being said, there is very much still a runway for Lundkvist to become a consistent impact player. Due in part to a tight salary cap, the Stars may enter the regular season with just two right-handed defensemen on the roster, being Lundkvist and Tyler Myers. Dallas signed Lundkvist to a two-year extension just before the playoffs began in April, so it’s clear that the front office and coaches still believe in his potential. While he is the smallest Dallas defenseman, he’s an impressively smooth skater and a steady puck mover that can help the Stars drive play north. There’s still room for the 26-year-old to grow as a more consistent scorer and offensive producer, and that could come as early as this season. Lundkvist has a real chance to be a prime piece on the Stars blue line and have a nightly impact in 2026-27, so long as he can stay healthy and avoid long-term injuries.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Josh Clark is a writer for DallasStars.com. Follow him on X @Josh\_Clark02.