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Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill speaks to a packed interview room during his end of season news conference at Comerica Center on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Frisco.<\/p>\n
El\u00edas Valverde II\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
The\u00a0NHL offseason has already been a hectic one for the Stars<\/a> \u2014 and now it really kicks into gear.<\/p>\n NHL free agency is set to begin on Wednesday and the Stars have a lot of plates spinning. A top defenseman vetoed a trade to Dallas<\/a> the night before free agency opened, a key decision has been made on\u00a0Mavrik Bourque<\/a> (he now plays for Nashville<\/a>), and, of course,\u00a0the Jason Robertson of it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Will Dallas be able to re-sign its top scorer long-term? Or is Robertson about to become one of the best trade chips in the league? Can Jim Nill find another star defenseman other than Zach Werenski \u2014 one who’s willing to come here?<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n It all starts Wednesday in what could be a franchise-altering free agency period for Nill and the Stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n Follow along with the team’s latest moves, targets and more below.<\/p>\n 2026 NHL free agency<\/p>\n – 7:30 p.m. (Wed.):\u00a0The Stars reunited with a familiar face Wednesday, signing forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year, $1 million deal<\/a>. He spent the last seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, last suiting up for Dallas in 2022-23.<\/p>\n – 3:55 p.m. (Wed.): Stars general manager Jim Nill told reporters conversations are ongoing with captain Jamie Benn about his playing future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Nill said they\u2019re still talking to Jamie Benn. No resolution there yet either.<\/p>\n \u2014 Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n – 3:27 p.m. (Wed.): Stars general manager Jim Nill told reporters there was no update on the Jason Robertson negotiations, and that Dallas still intends to try and re-sign him.<\/p>\n Jim Nill: “Really no update on Jason. I think everyone needs to understand this is July 1. The games don’t start until September.”<\/p>\n “The goal is to get him signed.”<\/p>\n \u2014 Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0– 2:33 p.m. (Wed.):\u00a0Defenseman Alexander Petrovic signed a two-year deal to return the Florida Panthers<\/a>, the team announced. Florida originally drafted the 34-year-old in 2010.<\/p>\n – 1:47 p.m. (Wed.): Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, who appeared in 11 regular season games for the Stars last season, signed a one-year deal with New Jersey, his agency announced.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n –\u00a01:35 p.m. (Wed.): The Stars brought back a depth piece Wednesday, re-signing forward\u00a0Arttu Hyry<\/a> to a two-year deal. The Stars also signed forward Artem Shlaine and goaltender Brandon Halverson to one-year, two-way contracts.\u00a0<\/p>\n –\u00a010:17 a.m. (Wed.): Roughly an hour before free agency opened, Dallas traded restricted free agent\u00a0Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators in exchange for draft compensation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Which Stars are\u00a0still\u00a0unrestricted free agents?<\/p>\n Forwards: Nathan Bastian (28 years old), Jamie Benn (36), Michael Bunting (30), Adam Erne (31)\u00a0<\/p>\n Defensemen:\u00a0Alexander Petrovic (signed w\/ FLA)\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Restricted free agents\u00a0<\/p>\n Forwards: Jason Robertson (26), Mavrik Bourque (traded), Arttu Hyry (re-signed)<\/p>\n RELATED: Explaining NHL offer sheets and how they can impact Stars’ extension with Jason Robertson<\/a><\/p>\n Potential trade targets<\/p>\n Dylan Larkin<\/p>\n Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan\u00a0Larkin also wants out of Detroit, where he has spent his entire 11-year NHL career, and according to reports, Dallas is among his destinations of choice.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Matthew Knies\u00a0<\/p>\n Several reports indicated the Stars were rather close to a deal that would\u2019ve brought Knies to Dallas.\u00a0<\/p>\n More on Stars trade targets…<\/a><\/p>\n Stars offseason moves<\/p>\n – Alexander Petrovic signs with Florida Panthers in free agency<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n –\u00a0Stars re-sign forward Arttu Hyry to two-year contract<\/a><\/p>\n – Stars trade Mavrik Bourque, Ilya Lyubushkin to Nashville for draft picks<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n