Dallas ships their 2020 first-round pick to a division rival after a career-best 41-point season, bolting Nashville’s middle-six following the young forward's long-awaited NHL breakthrough.
Just an hour before free agency opened up, the Dallas Stars made a significant roster move, trading breakout forward Mavrik Bourque and defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick as well as the Vegas Golden Knights' 2028 third-round pick, according to multiple reports.
The deal serves a dual purpose for the Stars, moving a young forward they could not afford to keep while simultaneously shedding a defensive contract that had become difficult to justify. Lyubushkin carried a cap hit of $3.25 million going into the final year of his deal next season and with it freed up, Dallas frees up meaningful space that could now be redirected toward retaining restricted free agent Jason Robertson.
Lyubushkin finished the 2025-26 regular season with one goal and eight assists for nine points across 53 games, numbers that reflect his role as a physical, defensive-minded presence rather than an offensive contributor. He finished among the team leaders with 68 hits and 90 blocked shots over those 53 appearances.
Make Sure You Bookmark THN's Dallas Stars Site For The Latest News, Exclusive Interviews, Breakdowns, And So Much More.
The more notable piece of the deal from a pure hockey standpoint is Bourque as the 23-year-old came off a genuine breakout campaign in 2025-26, posting 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points in what was easily the most productive season of his young career.
Dallas selected Bourque 30th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, and he spent several seasons developing before finally making his full mark at the NHL level this past year. His 41-point season validated long-held belief within the organization that he had legitimate top-six upside, making the decision to include him in this deal a telling indicator of just how tight the Stars' cap picture had become and how determined Dallas is to get a Robertson extension done.
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.
