The Dallas Stars and NHL are less than 24 hours from the trade deadline on Friday at 3 pm ET.

Let’s ramble and empty the notebook on thoughts, rumors, and more ahead of the big day.

The needs

To me, the Stars are in the middle ground of this trade deadline. They don’t absolutely need to add to contend for a Stanley Cup.

They expect Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen to return around the start of the playoffs. Those are two significant upgrades to the forwards and defense. Significant. Especially if they can get up to speed and be at least 75% of the players they were before their injuries.

But Dallas is also not loaded and incredible deep either.

Even with Heiskanen and Seguin back, they still feel one injury away from a player needing to move up into a spot they don’t excel in, relying heavily on young players, or using an American Hockey League call-up. We saw it recently and we certainly saw it last spring. I know the injury issues still ring fresh in the minds of fans of this franchise.

I believe Dallas can upgrade both sides of its game.

Adding a depth defenseman feels like an easy move to sure up the blue line and provide some security when it is needed most. The big move would have been Seth Jones, but that didn’t happen because the price seemed too high — the Florida Panthers sent Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jones.

What’s left is a few bottom-pairing options, which may be exactly what Dallas needs right now — nobody seems super confident relying on Brendan Smith or Matt Dumba for long stretches.

On the flip side, adding a forward that could potentially move players like Logan Stankoven, Evgenii Dadonov, or Oskar Bäck down the lineup or into the role of an extra sounds like a move general manager would make if his franchise was truly as “all in” as they have been adamant about.

The potential moves

We have talked over and over about potential options that could fit this team. So I won’t go too much into it here.

What I will say is that I believe Dallas is in the market for a depth defenseman like Henri Jokiharju or David Savard. Jokiharju is my pick in this category, without a doubt. I think the big, right-shot defenseman provides exactly what they need, and adding another Finn is always, always a good idea in this town.

Defense could look like this with the move:

• Lindell – Heiskanen
• Harley – Lyubushkin
• Bichsel – Jokiharju
• Ceci, Dumba/Smith

Not too shabby, eh?

Up front, I believe the Stars are either going to stand pat or add a big piece. That may sound like a large window, but the important takeaway is that they probably won’t add another depth forward. It just doesn’t seem like something that moves the needle for this group. They have plenty of role forwards who can move to the fourth line and kill penalties.

If they make a move up front, I feel it will be a big piece — the Mikko Rantanens and Brad Marchands of the world. Remember that thing I said about being “all in” just a moment ago?

An add like that changes the group drastically. Take Rantanen for example.

If you are reading this on Friday, the Stars are currently in negotiations with Rantanen’s camp. It is reported that Carolina and Dallas have reached a deal on a trade, but it is contingent on Rantanen signing an extension in Dallas… which is proving to be a sticking point.

If they find a way to add the pending unrestricted free agent winger, the forward lines could look like this in April:

• Robertson – Hintz – Rantanen 
• Marchment – Duchene – Seguin 
• Benn – Johnston – Granlund
• Dadonov- Steel – Bourque 
• Blackwell, Stankoven, Bäck

How much deeper does that all of a sudden look?

And obviously, a player like Marchand or Rantanen also brings offense, championship experience, leadership, size (or the ability to play like a big and very, very annoying forward), and forces opponents to prepare for another weapon.

Even if the Stars have zero injuries in the playoffs — laughable, I know — they have seen plenty of key names go ice cold in the biggest games. What happens if Jason Robertson is not producing like he is now? Or what if Seguin starts slow and Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene follow suit? That is where the additional threats come into play.

It makes me feel a lot better knowing that Stankoven, Sam Steel, Bäck, Colin Blackwell, etc… — all players who have made impacts but are not adding a ton of offense, even for a fourth line — are in roles where they can have the most success.

If Dallas goes into a Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights with Steel or Stankoven on their top line, they probably are not in a good spot. Probably. Again, nothing against those players. But Steel is the perfect bottom-six, and Stankoven has yet to find offensive consistency in the NHL.

What could go the other way?

The Stars have a first-round pick in 2026 and 2027. They have some AHL players absolutely lighting it up, like Matěj Blümel. And of course, they have the big three names who Nill has been adamant about keeping: Stankoven, Mavrik Bourque, and Lian Bichsel.

I believe Nill stands true to that. Unless…

The only way I could see Stankoven or Bourque being part of a deal is if it is for a big-time player who truly gives this team a better chance at winning a Cup right now. Remember that thing about being “all in?”

Realistically, it seems that the less surprising names and/or picks and prospects are the only pieces Nill is willing to offer.

Okay, ramble over.

The deadline at DLLS

This will be the first NHL trade deadline at DLLS Stars! And we cannot freaking wait.

Not only will we have a live show at 1 pm — one that will carry over past the deadline if necessary — but Owen and I will be at practice, I’ll be in the press conference room working with the other Stars media, I’ll be there to talk to Jim Nill when the deadline passes, and I will be checking in with the boys and show throughout all of it!

Here is what deadline Friday looks like with the DLLS crew:

• 10:20 am – Edmonton Radio with Kevin Karius (Sam)
• 11:30 am – Stars practice in Frisco (Sam, Owen)
• 1 pm – DLLS Stars show (Owen, Luds, Sean, Sam) — DLLS Sports YouTube
• 2 pm – NHL trade deadline (Sam) — one of the most fun days of the year working with the Dallas media in Frisco, digging around, and following all the deals around the league
• 2:15 pm (estimated) – Jim Nill press conference (Sam)
• 2:30 pm and beyond – you finally know what this team looks like for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Any questions? Feel free to ask on Twitter (@samnestler or @DLLS_Stars), in the DieHard discord, or at the rink!

And if you are not already a DLLS Sports DieHard… why not?