DALLAS — The Dallas Stars have announced centre Matt Duchene will miss the next three months with a core injury, a significant blow for a side already struggling for offence. The 35-year-old led Dallas in scoring last season with 82 points and was third in goals with 30, and his absence comes as the Stars have slipped to 27th in the league for goals-for per game at 2.20 this season after ranking third-best at 3.42 from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
With Duchene moving to long-term injured reserve, general manager Jim Nill has $2.2 million in salary cap space available, meaning any blockbuster move for offensive help will require creativity. In the shorter term, the wire identifies current unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine as a low-risk, decent-reward option, noting his history of trouble staying healthy could be mitigated by a performance-bonus-laden contract that would still add scoring punch if he performs.
The need for an established, slightly younger scoring forward exists regardless of Duchene's injury. The end of the Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn era in Dallas is drawing closer, while the Jason Robertson saga could come to an end by or before this year's trade deadline, leaving Dallas with no shortage of long-term roster questions as they look to ease the transition from their ageing core by pursuing young talent.
Nill has been one of the NHL's best general managers but has his work cut out this season. Dallas took a significant step backward in the Stanley Cup play-offs last year, losing to the Minnesota Wild in the first round despite their recent regular-season successes. The Stars still have enough talent to be a play-off side, but their competitive bar is higher, and there is little likelihood Nill stands pat all season as he weighs when to make his big swing on the trade front.