Expectations for 2026-27: One of the big problems with the Stars being consistently good is players continue to get raises and the salary cap gets tighter and tighter. In the past three seasons, Dallas has lost Mason Marchment, Mikael Granlund, Evgenii Dadonov, Logan Stankoven, Chris Tanev, Cody Ceci and most recently Mavrik Bourque. That leaves some big holes in the lineup. But it also creates opportunities for a player like Sam Steel. Coming off the best season in his career, Steel has a chance to push his minutes and points even higher in the campaign ahead. The 28-year-old has a pedigree that could allow that to happen, but many fans believe that Steel is what he is at this point. He’s a speedy skater with a strong hockey sense, but does that mean he should ride alongside Johnston or Roope Hintz? It’s a big question this year, primarily because the coaching staff has limited choices. Could Justin Hryckowian or Joel Kiviranta play ahead of Steel? Possibly. But it sure seems like the versatile forward from Alberta could just as easily take some of those minutes. Bottom line, the Stars need Sam Steel to be good again…possibly even better than last season. If he does, this team has a chance to navigate a challenging season and remain a contender before the cap issues soften next summer.
