From Finnish "yin and yang" stalwarts to a towering physical bottom pair, discover how advanced metrics and chemistry shape the blue line projections for Dallas’ future championship window.
With training camp on the horizon, speculation about how the Dallas Stars will line up in 2026-27 has already started to take shape, and fans are eager to see what head coach Glen Gulutzan settles on once the puck actually drops.
Nothing is set in stone this early, but both Daily Faceoff and PuckPedia have released early lineup projections for the Stars, and the two outlets line up in some notable ways when it comes to the blue line.
With that in mind, here's a closer look at the projected top six defensemen, and a dive into MoneyPuck's numbers to see just how well these pairings actually performed together last season, and how likely they are to stick come opening night.
First Pairing: Esa Lindell & Miro Heiskanen
There is little doubt who Dallas' top defense pairing will be next season after the Finnish duo played nearly 1,022 minutes together last season over 77 games, the seventh most minutes played together by a defense pairing. The duo had a plus-14 rating on the season, recording 48 goals but also allowing 34 goals when playing together.
They were a lethal duo, with Heiskanen serving as an offensive weapon, recording 63 points in 77 games, while Lindell served as the elite defender of the pair, finishing with a plus 30 rating in 82 games. The two are the perfect yin and yang together and figure to continue anchoring the Stars' blue line.
Second Pairing: Thomas Harley & Nils Lundkvist
The two former first round picks have both developed into solid NHL defenders and are now a strong second pairing. They played together for 541 minutes over 51 games last season and were another effective pairing for the Stars, securing a plus-ten rating with 27 goals while allowing just 17 goals against.
Make Sure You Bookmark THN's Dallas Stars Site For The Latest News, Exclusive Interviews, Breakdowns, And So Much More.
The duo finished with the sixth best goals against per 60 minute average of any defense pair that played 500 or more minutes together, at 1.89, ranking ahead of the Stars' top pairing.
Third Pairing: Lian Bichsel & Tyler Myers
While they haven't played much together as a pairing, the two towering defensemen could come together to form one of the most physically imposing pairings in recent memory, with each ranking near the top of the league in hits annually.
Last season, the duo played together for just 147 minutes over 14 games and finished at an even rating, which isn't bad for a bottom pairing, recording six goals but also allowing six against.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
