Dallas Stars Make Big trade to Start the Offseason

just days after the Florida Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup the offseason flurry is in full throttle, and as a result of the Panthers winning, teams that came up just short this past season are already making moves.

One of those teams is the Dallas Stars who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Edmonton Oilers. The Stars will have a tough road to climb as they are in a tough salary cap situation which makes their six-game series loss to the Oilers sting that much more.

The Dallas Stars attempt to reload for the 2025-2026 season began with bringing back Matt Duchene on a 4-year, $18 million contract extension. This move also meant that the Dallas Stars would have to make some deals to make some room around the salary cap.

As a result, the first big trade of the offseason occurred involving the Dallas Stars and the Seattle Kraken. In the trade the Seattle Kraken received forward Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars in exchange for the Kraken's 4th round draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft as well as the Krakens 3rd round pick in 2026.

Mason Marchment scored 22 goals along with 25 assists in 62 games this past season, but in 18 playoff games could only muster a goal and 4 assists. Mason Marchment should help improve a Seattle Kraken team that missed the playoffs this past season.

The Seattle Kraken trade for Mason Marchment is a low-risk high reward type deal we could look for the Washington Capitals to make this offseason. Marchment is in the final year of a 4-year $18 million contract similar to what the Stars extension to Matt Duchene.

Mason Marchment will be paid $4.5 million this upcoming season before becoming a free agent for the 2026-2027 season.

The Washington Capitals do have some draft capital that they could potentially part with in a move similar to what the Kraken gave to the Stars. The Capitals 3rd round pick is 93rd overall, their 4th round pick in the draft is 123rd overall in the 5th round the Capitals have the 155th overall pick.

Just a few potential mid round draft picks the Washington Capitals could potentially part with and use as trade bait to improve the roster and make a run at the cup next season.