The Dallas Stars have gone through several changes this off-season, but there are some big changes needed for the team once the regular season begins in order to achieve the ultimate success of winning the Stanley Cup. Among those changes is the possibility of one or both of their former 100-point scorers to achieve that mark again. Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) and right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) look on as Jamie Benn’s goal against the Utah Hockey Club is under review during a 2025 game at the American Airlines Center. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c09787d1-fafa-43b7-bddd-8b6a2ecedff6.jpeg] Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) and right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) look on as Jamie Benn’s goal against the Utah Hockey Club is under review during a 2025 game at the American Airlines Center. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The first of those players, Jason Robertson, has been in the news quite a bit this summer as to whether Dallas can keep him based on their salary cap moving forward. Robertson needs a new contract after this season and some insiders have weighed in saying there is only a 50/50 chance he will be able to stay in victory green. For the Stars, the conversation wouldn't even be happening if Robertson had continued to be the player he was during his 100+ point season. He showed such an elite level of goal scoring that he has not quite found again, and as time goes by there are more and more questions as to whether that was a fluke or an expectation. Robertson has dealt with injuries along the way that have hampered him, and one can pretty safely say that it takes the forward a little bit of time to get back to playing up to his standards after recovering. Robertson has never been the best or fastest skater, but his play-making ability and scoring touch make him the elite player that he is regarded as. If he can reach that 100-point plateau again, it would be extremely beneficial for both Dallas and Robertson himself, although it would make it a bit more difficult for the Stars to fit his contract on the books moving forward. On the other hand, Mikko Rantanen has been a perennial 100-point scorer in Colorado alongside Nathan MacKinnon. He did not reach that mark last season amidst the two trades to Colorado and Dallas but still led the Stars in points at the end of the year, partly due to how many points he had already amassed with the Avalanche before the trades. Rantanen is making $12 million a year as one of the top players in the league, and has a bit more of an expectation to score at least 100 points for years to come. For Dallas to truly unlock their potential and cruise to a playoff berth, Rantanen needs to be that guy. The Stars lost a little bit of depth in their goal scoring, and Matt Duchene, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are only getting closer to 40 years old. Rantanen is being paid the big bucks and needs to put up the big numbers. Rantanen is also one of the best playoff scorers of all time, while Robertson has been anything but. It was a huge talking point about Robertson's game for the first several postseasons he was a part of, and he struggled mightily after returning (clearly not at 100 percent) this playoffs before finally showing up near the end. And ironically, the rest of his team went in hiding as he showed up. At the end of the day, the regular season is important in making sure Dallas locks into a good spot for the playoffs, but the run to the Stanley Cup is how careers are made or how careers fade. No 100 point season will make up for a top scorer drying up when it matters most, and the jury is somewhat still out on Robertson. This is a big year for Robertson, but Rantanen has the pressure of a big contract and high expectations to live up to. Both former 100 point scorers will be under the microscope in the upcoming season. Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Two Potential Stars to Possibly Represent Team Canada [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/latest-news/two-potential-stars-to-possibly-represent-team-canada/comment/ft6cOOpcunREm8Cjv8Np] Former Stars Defenseman Makes 10 Worst Contracts List [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/latest-news/former-stars-defenseman-makes-10-worst-contracts-list] How a New CBA Change Will Affect Stars Fans [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/latest-news/how-a-new-cba-change-will-affect-stars-fans] Insider: Stars Only Have 50 Percent Chance to Keep Forward [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/latest-news/insider-stars-only-have-50-percent-chance-to-keep-forward] * Follow Taylor on Twitter: @THN_taylor
