The Dallas Stars missed out on winning the Stanley Cup in what appeared to be Joe Pavelski's final attempt. Will pending NHL UFAs Matt Duchene and Chris Tanev stay?
Joe Pavelski and Dallas Stars players react on the bench during the third period of Game 6 of the Western Conference final.It's been over a week since the Dallas Stars were eliminated from the Western Conference final by the Edmonton Oilers.
Now that the dust has settled, it's time to look at what could be in store for this club during the summer.
The Stars enter the off-season with a projected cap space of $16.246 million for next season with 13 active roster players under contract. Their notable UFAs include forwards Joe Pavelski and Matt Duchene and defenseman Chris Tanev.
Pavelski indicated he'd played his final game following the Stars' playoff elimination. He didn't officially announce his retirement, but it was clear that the 39-year-old forward struggled during this post-season. The 18-year NHL veteran had 27 goals and 67 points during the regular season but just four points in 19 playoff games.
The fates of Duchene and Tanev will draw considerable interest, given their pending UFA status. Duchene, 33, was signed to a one-year, $3-million contract following his buyout from the Nashville Predators last summer. The 34-year-old Tanev was acquired from the Calgary Flames before the trade deadline.
Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News pointed out how well Duchene and Tanev quickly meshed with the Stars this season, playing crucial roles in their march to the Western Conference final. She believes re-signing them could be management's priority.
Both players are keen to return to Dallas next season.
Duchene told Assimakopoulos that his Stars teammates have helped him cope with the ongoing emotions of being bought out by the Predators. On Monday, he indicated that money was not his top priority entering free agency.
Meanwhile, Tanev was impressed by how well he was treated by the organization, adding that he and his family enjoyed their time in Dallas.
Tanev's performance during the playoffs helped his free-agent value. He was linked to the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators before his trade to Dallas in February.
The Senators appear keen to revisit their interest in Tanev. A Postmedia report claimed they could make a push for the gritty defenseman if he tests the open market on July 1.
Finding sufficient cap space to retain both players will be challenging. Even if they agree to accept less than market value, a cost-cutting trade might have to be made.
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