Seeing Stars
The Dallas Stars consistently make impressive moves and go deep in the playoffs. Jim Nill has won the GM of the Year Award three years in a row. The Stars have made the Western Conference Final each of the past three seasons.
Once again, Dallas is a Stanley Cup contender. The Stars (38-14-9) have won 10 straight games and are second in both the NHL and Central Division standings, six points behind the Avalanche.
They acquired defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday for a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in 2029. The 36-year-old fills a need on the right side.
On Thursday, they acquired forward Michael Bunting from the Nashville Predators for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Dallas’ next game will be Friday against … Colorado. The Stars defeated the Avalanche in seven games in the Western Conference First Round last season and might have go through them again this season.
Oil changes
The big question remains for the Edmonton Oilers: Can they surround Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with a strong enough supporting cast to win the Stanley Cup?
Edmonton lost to Florida in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons — in seven games in 2024, in six games in 2025. Draisaitl signed an eight-year, $112 million contract Sept. 3, 2024, committing through 2032-33. Then McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million contract extension Oct. 6, committing through 2027-28 and putting the team on notice.
McDavid and Draisaitl once again are among the best in the NHL. McDavid leads the League with 105 points (35 goals, 70 assists) in 62 games. Draisaitl is fourth with 90 points (33 goals, 57 assists) in 59 games. But they need help.
The Oilers (30-24-8) are third in the Pacific Division. They’re four points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights and three behind the second-place Anaheim Ducks. But they’re only one point ahead of the Seattle Kraken, who hold the second wild card in the West, and four ahead of the Sharks, the first team below the cut line.
They acquired forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday for forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, after acquiring defenseman Connor Murphy from the Blackhawks for a second-round pick in 2028 on Monday.
Falling Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t had success in the playoffs in the past nine seasons, failing to advance past the second round. But now Toronto could fail to qualify for the playoffs altogether for the first time in a decade.
The Maple Leafs (27-24-11) are seventh in the Atlantic and eight points behind the Bruins, who hold the second wild card in the East.
They scratched defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forwards Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann from their 4-3 overtime loss at the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Ekman-Larsson is signed through 2027-28, but Laughton and McMann are pending UFAs, as are forward Calle Jarnkrok and defenseman Troy Stecher.
The Big Four of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly was broken up July 1, when Toronto traded Marner to Vegas and he signed an eight-year, $96 million contract. How big will the changes be now?
