Dallas Stars Face Dumba Dilemma Amidst Cap Space Concerns
The Stars' offseason will be marked by uncertainty, with the futures of Dumba, Marchment, and other players hanging in the balance. As the team navigates the challenges of the salary cap, they will need to make strategic decisions to build a competitive roster and achieve their goals.
The Dallas Stars are facing a challenging offseason, with tough decisions to create cap space potentially affecting four players, including Matt Dumba, who may be traded due to the emergence of prospect Lian Bichsel.
The team's tight salary cap situation, with just under $5 million to sign six players, has put pressure on the management to make some difficult choices. Trading defenseman Matt Dumba, who has a $3.75 million cap hit and hasn't met expectations, is one of the options being considered. Additionally, forward Mason Marchment, with an expiring contract and a $4.5 million cap hit, is also a likely candidate for a trade.
The Stars' coaching staff, including coach Pete DeBoer, has acknowledged the team's shortcomings, citing a lack of scoring and a reliance on their rush game, which dried up in the playoffs. The team's general manager, Jim Nill, will address the media at a future date to discuss the team's future, which will depend on the decisions made by Nill and the players' individual plans.
The team's core players, including Heiskanen, Seguin, and Oettinger, are under contract, while players like Benn, Duchene, and Robertson are on the last year of their deals or are unrestricted free agents. The Stars' future will be shaped by the decisions made in the coming weeks, with the goal of creating a more balanced and competitive team.
As the Stars look to bounce back from their Western Conference Final loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the team's management will need to make some tough decisions to create cap space and build a stronger roster for the upcoming season.