The Dallas Stars’ roster has already changed significantly this postseason. With Joe Pavelski’s confirmed retirement and numerous players becoming unrestricted free agents, the Stars’ lineup faces significant uncertainty in the following season. Another significant change has created even more vacancies that the team must fill before preseason.
Why the Chris Tanev deal raises more questions than answers.
Chris Tanev’s rights were recently disclosed as part of a deal involving the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. Dallas acquired Max Ellis’ expiring contract and the Leafs’ seventh-round choice in the 2026 draft. These components may not yield any results for the team and may not pay off anytime soon. Max Ellis plays largely on the right side, thus he won’t be directly filling the void left by Tanev’s impending leave. Sam Steel has been signed again, but as a center, he will not cover the team’s defensive voids. With recent adjustments, fans are left with more uncertainties than answers regarding next season’s line estimates.
The Stars’ moves make little sense early in the postseason.
Ellis is young and inexperienced in the NHL, having gone undrafted and most recently playing for the Toronto Marlies, thus GM Jim Nill may be playing a long game. It has paid off in the past, with draft picks such as Jake Oettinger, Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Logan Stankoven. Several more players in the pipeline have the potential to provide a successful future. However, the squad has shown to be a postseason contender in recent years, despite having nothing to show. Typically, the focus is on closing team gaps. Instead, the Stars appear to be in the process of rebuilding, especially since only one of the three picks in this year’s NHL draft was a defenseman.
Nill was already being questioned during this past season’s trade deadline due to the Stars’ lack of activity. Chris Tanev was the final consequence, and he significantly reinforced the defensive core. While the playoffs did not go the Stars’ way, there is little doubt that Tanev made a significant influence and put in a lot of effort throughout the process. Dallas has reopened defensive holes, and it’s unclear whether this decision will benefit them in the long run. While youth is crucial, leaving Tanev with the Maple Leafs could be more detrimental than useful to the Dallas Stars in the following season.
