A look at Dallas Stars' pending free agents entering the offseason

Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene, front, reacts after scoring the winning goal as defenseman Chris Tanev follows in the second overtime of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver.(David Zalubowski / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

It is officially the offseason for the Dallas Stars.

After falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference finals, general manager Jim Nill and head coach Pete DeBoer now have to look ahead to the 2024-25 season, and the new roster the organization must construct as the chase for the team’s next Stanley Cup continues.

With the young core of Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson locked in for the next few years, questions remain around the supporting cast. Dallas is entering the offseason 18th out of the 32 NHL teams with just under $18.5 million in salary cap space next season.

Here is a look at how the roster stands heading into free agency, including which players could be hitting the open market:

Unrestricted free agents

Forwards: Joe Pavelski (39 years old), Matt Duchene (33), Craig Smith (34), Sam Steel (26)

Defensemen: Chris Tanev (34), Jani Hankanpaa (32) Goalies: Scott Wedgewood (31)

Was this playoff run the last hurrah of Joe Pavelski’s prolific NHL career? Is there enough salary cap space to retain Matt Duchene, one of last offseason’s top additions, or Chris Tanev, the big fish of this year’s trade deadline? The other UFAs potentially on their way out of Dallas also provided key production in depth roles.

Restricted free agents

Forwards: Ty Dellandrea (23) Defensemen: Nils Lundkvist (23), Thomas Harley (22)

A restricted free agent (RFA) is the status given to a player whose initial entry level contract has come to an end but has yet to reach unrestricted free agency status. (More on what restricted free agency entails here.)

In the case of the Stars, they have some decisions to make with some younger players. Is there room on the roster for Ty Dellandrea with the young crop of productive forwards on their way up from the AHL? Is the first-round draft pick Dallas traded away for Nils Lundkvist worth a further look at the d-man in victory green?

Meanwhile, Thomas Harley has become (outside of Miro Heiskanen) one of the team’s most heavily leaned upon blue-liners. It wouldn’t be a surprise if a new deal this offseason for Harley becomes a priority.

Notable pending AHL free agents

Matej Blumel, forward (restricted); Oskar Back, forward (restricted); Scott Reedy, forward (restricted); Fredrik Karlstrom, forward (restricted); Matt Murray, goalie (restricted); Jared Rosburg, defenseman (unrestricted); Gavin Bayreuther, defenseman (unrestricted); Derrick Pouliot, defenseman (unrestricted)

Under contract

Forwards (9)

Defensemen (3)

Goalies (1)

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