The Dallas Stars rolled the dice on Sunday, and Remi Poirier ended up the piece New Jersey grabbed off the table.
Dallas placed the 24-year-old goaltender on waivers after a strong preseason, and the Devils claimed him before he could win the backup job behind Jake Oettinger. That decision closes the door, at least for now, on a player the Stars had hoped might grow into their long-term No. 2.
Poirier had done plenty to make the conversation interesting. In the preseason battle, he and Casey DeSmith each started two games, with the competition for the backup spot fully underway.
Poirier allowed just one goal on 36 shots across his two starts, finishing with 35 saves and a shutout win over the Minnesota Wild. DeSmith, meanwhile, stopped 56 of 58 shots and gave up only two goals.
Even with that showing, Dallas chose to move on, and New Jersey moved quickly.
That’s a real loss for the Stars, considering Poirier had built a steady résumé in the AHL with the Texas Stars. He helped carry the club to a 27-19-8 record while posting a 2.61 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage over 52 starts. His numbers had improved over the last two seasons, and with DeSmith entering the final year of his current contract, Poirier looked like a candidate to push for the job this season or next.
Instead, he’s headed to a Devils team that may have more room for him. New Jersey does not have a clear-cut No. 1 in goal, with 36-year-old Jake Allen and 25-year-old Nico Daws sitting atop the depth chart. If Poirier can carry his preseason momentum into the regular season, he could get his first real NHL opportunity there.
In Other News...
Stars Win May Have Just Created A Wild Problem To Watch
Minnesota wrapped up its preseason with a loss to Dallas, but the bigger concern coming out of that game was less about the final score and more about what happened on the blue line. The Wild are now in the stretch run before opening night, with two regular-season games left to get ready, and they have already started sorting through special teams work and defensive pairings in case their lineup has to absorb an early-season adjustment.
Brock Fabers status is the piece everyone is watching after he was hurt in the final preseason game and then stayed out of the next two practices. John Hynes said Faber was home resting, and the club was expecting a further update Tuesday, leaving Minnesota to prepare without knowing yet whether one of its key defensemen will be available when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Final Forward Decisions Say A Lot About This Veteran Push
The opening night roster says plenty about where this Stars group believes it is headed. Dallas went with 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, keeping the blue line and crease intact while leaning into a familiar core up front. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are still part of the plan, a sign the Stars are continuing to build around veterans who know the standards in this room.
There is also a bit of movement around the edges of the forward group, and that part of the roster has its own intrigue. Joel Kiviranta is back in Dallas after three seasons with Colorado, giving the club another familiar face as it tries to balance experience, depth and fit on the wing. The final forward decisions hint at a team trying to stay in win-now mode without straying too far from the identity that has carried it this far. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Opening Roster Sets The Tone For Dallas New Season
Jim Nills first roster of the 2026-27 season gives a clear look at how Dallas plans to open camp, with 21 active players spread across 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. It is a group built to reflect both continuity and turnover, mixing returning pieces from last season with recent additions as the Stars settle into a new year.
The deeper significance is in how much of the roster is still homegrown, with 11 players drafted by the club among the opening group. For Dallas, that speaks to the long-running structure Nill has built, even as the team also manages the early-season injury picture and waits to see how the rest of the roster comes together. [Read more 🡒]