Uncover why a physical defenseman could be your secret weapon and which veteran star is primed for a massive rebound as Dallas chases a deep postseason run.
Puck drop is nearly here, and with training camps opening across the league, it's officially fantasy draft season. It's been a busy offseason, full of blockbuster trades, big-name signings and roster overhauls that are only just starting to settle.
We're going team by team to help you prepare, flagging a sleeper worth stashing, a breakout candidate ready to take off, and a bust that might not be worth the price you'll pay to draft him. Next up: the Dallas Stars.
Dallas finished last season 50-20-12 for 112 points, second in the Central Division, marking the franchise's third straight 50-win season. Despite the strong regular season, the year ended earlier than expected, with the Stars losing in six games to the Minnesota Wild in the first round, their first failure to reach the conference finals since 2021-22 after three consecutive runs to the Western Conference Final.
The offseason's biggest storyline centered on Jason Robertson, who put together a career year in a contract situation, tying for the team lead with 44 goals and finishing with a team-high 94 points. Robertson ultimately signed a one-year, $12 million deal as a restricted free agent, buying both sides time before a long-term extension gets sorted out.
With Robertson back alongside a core that includes Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger, Dallas heads into the season looking to prove last spring's early exit was the exception rather than a sign of decline.
Sleeper: Lian Bichsel
If you play in a league that counts hits, the 22-year-old Swiss product will be the ace up your sleeve. Even outside of that format, the former 18th overall pick projects to be one of the most overlooked players at the defense position.
He steadily raised his scoring production before an injury cut his season short, on pace for just under 15 points, and with a full offseason to get healthy, there's real potential for Bichsel to develop into a Jacob Trouba-type defenseman, someone who posts consistent plus ratings, chips in offense in the range of 20 to 30 points, and adds serious value in categories like hits.
Despite missing 32 games last season, he still finished top 16 in the league with 139 hits, and a full healthy season could see him lead the NHL outright. In hit-counting leagues, Bichsel is a potential league-winner; in standard formats, he's a low-cost, capable depth defenseman worth stashing, and possibly even available on the waiver wire.
Breakout: Tyler Seguin
Injuries have derailed Seguin's recent seasons, costing him 131 games over the past three years. But when healthy, he carries easy 50-point upside over a full slate, and arguably more, after racking up 21 points in just 20 games during the 2024-25 season before going down.
Now 34 and entering the final year of the eight-year deal he signed in 2018, Seguin has real incentive to prove he can stay on the ice, especially if he wants a new contract to keep him in Dallas for the next two to three seasons. In a best-case scenario, a fully healthy Seguin could finish with 60 to 70 points.
He's currently going as late as 289th overall and is largely undrafted in most leagues, making him a name worth monitoring on the waiver wire, particularly if he opens the season healthy.
Bust: Matt Duchene
It's hard to find a true bust candidate on a Stanley Cup contender like the Stars, but the 35-year-old veteran, coming off a down year, presents a reasonable case. Duchene's production slipped noticeably, falling from a point-per-game 82-point season in 2024-25 to just 45 points in 57 games last year.
Advances in training have allowed plenty of players to remain effective well into their late 30s, but Duchene's bigger concern is usage as he's shifted from a top-six role to the middle and bottom six, now centering the third line. The move gives Dallas much-needed lineup depth, an area that hurt them against teams like Colorado and Minnesota last season, but it likely limits Duchene's minutes and, with them, his fantasy reliability.
Drafters picking in his range would be better served looking at names like Gabriel Landeskog, JJ Peterka or, depending on where he falls, Sam Bennett, all of whom offer a stronger fantasy case.
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