Jake Oettinger remains Dallas’ clear No. 1, Casey DeSmith is back in the backup chair, and the Stars will open 2026-27 chasing the breakthrough that has slipped away after three straight trips to the Western Conference Final.
Dallas Stars 2026-27 rink notebook
Dallas posted a 50-20-12 record last season, finishing second in the Central Division before its playoff run ended in the Western Conference First Round. Glen Gulutzan returns for his second season behind the bench with a roster built less around summer overhaul than getting its established core over the last hump.
The Stars have reached the Western Conference Final in 2023, 2024 and 2025, but the franchise has not lifted the Stanley Cup since 1999. Their task is straightforward: turn another deep, talented regular-season group into a club that can finish the job in spring.
Jason Robertson is again the offensive headliner after signing a one-year, $12 million deal on July 21. He led Dallas with 96 points, including 45 goals and 51 assists, across all 82 games last season. Four Stars finished with at least 63 points, and the top end remains loaded with Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene.
Lines and blue line
Tyler Seguin’s health is an early storyline. The 34-year-old has dealt with repeated injuries in recent seasons and may not be available when Dallas opens its schedule on Oct. 2. When he is in the lineup, Seguin still gives the Stars a useful top-six option and can complement a range of linemates.
The projected look has Robertson alongside Johnston and Rantanen, while Hintz centers Sam Steel and Seguin. Jamie Benn is slated on a line with Duchene and Justin Hryckowian, with Radek Faksa anchoring a fourth unit featuring Oskar Back and returning forward Joel Kiviranta.
| Projected forward lines | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jason Robertson | Wyatt Johnston | Mikko Rantanen |
| Sam Steel | Roope Hintz | Tyler Seguin |
| Justin Hryckowian | Matt Duchene | Jamie Benn |
| Oskar Back | Radek Faksa | Joel Kiviranta |
On defense, Miro Heiskanen is projected to play beside Esa Lindell. Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist form the second pair, while Lian Bichsel is expected alongside Tyler Myers.
| Projected defense pairs | |
|---|---|
| Esa Lindell | Miro Heiskanen |
| Thomas Harley | Nils Lundkvist |
| Lian Bichsel | Tyler Myers |
Goaltending notebook
Oettinger will carry the bulk of the crease work once again. He has made at least 53 starts in each of the past four seasons, and Dallas needs that steady regular-season workload to continue. DeSmith enters the final year of the three-year contract he signed on July 1, 2024, a deal carrying a $1 million average annual value.
Rémi Poirier is the organizational goalie to watch if injuries create an opening. The 24-year-old went 27-19-6 for Texas of the American Hockey League last season, posting a 2.61 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and two shutouts in 52 appearances. With DeSmith approaching the end of his deal, Dallas eventually needs an answer on whether Poirier can handle NHL backup duty in 2027-28.
After the horn
Dallas did not make major free-agent changes, but Kiviranta’s return gives the bottom six a familiar option. He signed for one year and $1 million on July 1 after playing 51 regular-season games and five playoff contests with the Colorado Avalanche last season. Injuries limited his impact in Colorado, but a healthy Kiviranta can supply secondary offense. He spent his first five NHL seasons with the Stars.
Arttu Hyry could be a roster surprise. The 25-year-old winger played five NHL games in 2024-25 and added 20 more last season. At 6-foot-3 and 211 pounds, he has the profile to develop into a dependable two-way presence similar to Faksa. His right-handed shot also stands out among Dallas’ potential bottom-six options. Defenseman Trey Taylor is another young player in the mix for attention.
Special teams and team defense leave Dallas with a strong foundation. The Stars ranked second in the NHL last season at 2.71 goals allowed per game, scored 3.33 goals per game to rank ninth, and owned the League’s second-best power play at 28.6 percent. Their penalty kill finished 13th at 80.3 percent, an area where there is room to tighten up.
Hintz is another pivotal health watch after a hamstring injury restricted him to 53 games last season and kept him out of the playoffs. He still recorded 19 power-play points and 126 shots on goal. A two-time 70-point player and three-time 30-goal scorer, Hintz brings pace and finishing when he is available, especially with Rantanen and Heiskanen as fellow Finnish teammates.
His skating data underlined that upside: Hintz produced 259 skating bursts above 20 mph, placing him in the 98th percentile among NHL forwards. His top speed was 23.61 mph, and he generated 70 high-danger shots on goal. He also reached 92.03 mph with his hardest shot and tied for eighth in the League with 33 bursts above 22 mph. His average fantasy draft position sits at 116.2, but the on-ice question is simply whether he can stay healthy enough to reclaim a major role in Dallas’ attack.
Next puck drop
The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29, with Dallas scheduled to start its season Oct. 2.
SEO Title: Dallas Stars 2026-27 Rink Notebook: Lines, Goaltending and Key Questions
SEO Description: A Dallas Stars 2026-27 preseason notebook covering projected lines, Oettinger’s workload, Seguin’s status, Kiviranta’s return and the Oct. 2 opener.
