Stars Sliding, Holes Exposed: How Dallas Can Navigate the NHL Trade Market to Right the Ship
On paper, the Dallas Stars look like a powerhouse. Second in the NHL standings, plenty of talent, and a core built for a deep playoff run.
But if you’ve been watching the games-and not just checking the standings-you know the picture isn’t nearly as pretty. The Stars have dropped eight of their last ten, and this isn’t just a rough patch.
It’s the kind of skid that forces a front office to reevaluate everything.
General manager Jim Nill is known for his patience, but this stretch is testing that reputation. The Stars are clearly in buying mode, but the flaws in the roster are no longer subtle-they’re flashing red.
And with the trade deadline inching closer, Nill has some tough decisions to make. The cap is tight, the prospect pool is thin, and injuries are looming large.
This is a high-stakes moment for a team that still believes it can contend.
Let’s break down what Dallas needs, who they could target, and how they might pull it off.
Priority No. 1: Fix the Right Side of the Blue Line
The most glaring issue? The right side of the defense.
Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell continue to do their jobs, but beyond them, the picture gets murky. Thomas Harley, the 24-year-old with top-four potential, has struggled to find stability at five-on-five.
Pairing him with depth guys like Ilya Lyubushkin or Nils Lundkvist hasn’t worked. If the Stars want to unlock Harley’s upside for the postseason, they need to get him a real partner.
Top Target: Rasmus Andersson
The name getting the most buzz right now is Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson. At 29, he checks all the boxes: right-handed, physical, plays tough minutes, and brings a steadying presence. He’s not just a plug-in-he’s a legit top-four defenseman who could stabilize Harley’s game and give the Stars a more balanced top four.
There are a few things working in Dallas’ favor here. Andersson is reportedly open to landing in Texas, and the lack of state income tax certainly doesn’t hurt when it comes to future contract talks. Calgary, meanwhile, is motivated to move him before the Olympic roster freeze to avoid any injury complications.
But-and this is a big but-the price is steep. We’re talking two first-round picks or a package that gets close to that value.
Dallas already moved its 2026 first-rounder, so a deal would likely involve the 2027 pick (possibly protected), a mid-rounder, and a top prospect like defenseman Lian Bichsel or forward Cameron Schmidt. That’s a big ask for a team with limited future assets, and Nill has to weigh short-term needs against long-term depth.
The Big Swing: Dougie Hamilton
If Nill wants to go bold, there’s a more creative-though far more complicated-option: Dougie Hamilton. The New Jersey Devils blueliner brings elite offensive upside and would be a dynamic addition to the Stars’ back end. He’s the kind of player who could change a playoff series with his puck movement and power-play impact.
But this isn’t a straightforward hockey trade. Hamilton carries a $9 million cap hit and has a 10-team no-trade list.
For Dallas to make this work, New Jersey would likely need to retain salary, and the Stars would have to treat Hamilton as a rental. The idea would be to flip him in the offseason to clear space for Jason Robertson’s upcoming extension.
It’s a high-wire act, and most insiders give it a low probability of happening-around 30%. Still, if the Stars want to swing for the fences, this is the kind of move that could pay off big… or blow up in their face.
The Safer Play: Connor Murphy
If Dallas wants to shore up the defense without mortgaging the future, Chicago’s Connor Murphy is a more conservative option. He’s not flashy, and he won’t drive offense, but he’s a steady veteran who can eat minutes and bring a physical edge. He’d cost less than Andersson or Hamilton, and he could help stabilize the back end without complicating the cap.
Injecting Life into the Forward Group
While the blue line is the priority, the Stars’ recent slump has also exposed a lack of energy up front-especially in the middle six. The offense has looked flat, and the team could use a jolt of physicality and grit.
The Physical Spark: Kiefer Sherwood
Enter Kiefer Sherwood. The Vancouver winger is one of the most physical players in the league, sitting second in hits and bringing relentless energy every shift.
He’s not just a bruiser, either-he’s on pace for 17 goals and 40 points. That kind of production from a physical forward is rare, and it’s exactly what Dallas could use right now.
Vancouver is in sell mode, and Sherwood is available. The catch?
He’s currently week-to-week with a minor injury, which complicates the timeline. The price tag is probably a second-round pick, though the Canucks could try to squeeze a first out of a desperate buyer.
The Hometown Option: Blake Coleman
Another name that keeps popping up is Blake Coleman. The Plano native brings playoff experience, two-way reliability, and a championship pedigree. He fits the mold of a player who can help in the postseason-and he’d be a fan favorite, no doubt.
But there’s a downside: he’s not a rental. Coleman is signed through 2026-27 at $4.9 million per year.
For a bottom-six forward, that’s a big commitment, especially with Robertson’s next deal looming. He’s also currently day-to-day with an upper-body injury, adding another wrinkle to any potential deal.
The Cap Crunch and the Seguin Wild Card
All of this trade talk comes with one major caveat: the salary cap. Right now, Dallas has about $3.3 million in space to work with. That limits what they can do-unless Tyler Seguin’s situation changes the equation.
Seguin is out with a torn ACL. If he’s ruled out for the rest of the season and moved to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) after the Olympic break, Dallas could free up significantly more cap space-potentially tripling their flexibility. That would open the door to bigger moves, but it’s still a waiting game.
Even with that potential boost, Nill is working with a shallow asset pool. The Stars have already dealt their 2026 and 2028 first-round picks, leaving the 2027 pick and a couple of top prospects as their only real trade chips. That puts pressure on every decision-there’s no room for error.
The Clock Is Ticking
The next few weeks will shape the Stars’ season-and maybe their next few seasons, too. Jim Nill has the motivation, and possibly the cap space, to make a move. But with limited assets and a roster that’s suddenly springing leaks, he’ll need to be precise.
Dallas doesn’t need a full overhaul. But if they want to stop this slide and gear up for a real playoff push, they need to plug the holes-and fast.