Off-Season Prospects for the Dallas Stars and UFAs Tanev and Duchene
A week has passed since the Dallas Stars were ousted from the Western Conference final by the Edmonton Oilers, and now the team must look ahead to the off-season.
The Stars are projected to have $16.246 million in cap space for the next season, with 13 active roster players currently under contract. Key unrestricted free agents (UFAs) for the Stars include forwards Joe Pavelski and Matt Duchene, along with defenseman Chris Tanev.
Pavelski hinted that the playoff loss might have been his final game. While he hasn’t formally announced his retirement, the 39-year-old struggled in the postseason, managing only four points in 19 games despite a solid regular season with 27 goals and 67 points.
The future of Duchene and Tanev, both pending UFAs, will be closely watched. Duchene, 33, joined the Stars on a one-year, $3-million deal after being bought out by the Nashville Predators last summer. Tanev, 34, was brought in from the Calgary Flames before the trade deadline.
Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News highlighted how well Duchene and Tanev integrated with the team, playing significant roles in their playoff run. Re-signing them may be a priority for the Stars’ management. Both players have expressed interest in returning.
Duchene appreciated the support from his teammates in Dallas following his buyout from the Predators and noted that money isn’t his main concern in free agency. Tanev was equally pleased with his experience in Dallas, both personally and professionally, and his strong playoff performance has increased his market value.
He had been linked to the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Ottawa Senators before his trade, with the Senators reportedly still interested if he becomes a free agent on July 1.
Retaining both players will be challenging due to cap space limitations. Even if Duchene and Tanev are willing to accept below-market deals, the Stars may need to make a cost-cutting trade to create sufficient room.
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