Mikko Rantanen’s Dallas debut reshapes the Stars’ Cup odds, pairing his two-way game with a thriving Oettinger-led net. Colorado’s return of Landeskog shores up a veteran core around MacKinnon and Makar, while Blackwood’s addition gives the Avalanche a reliable postseason floor. The Central remains a brutal gauntlet with Winnipeg, Chicago and Nashville in pursuit.

Gulutzan takes over in Dallas as Trotz and Tourigny loom in leadership roles elsewhere, Bedard’s Chicago era begins, and Utah’s young core signals a pipeline move. The projected finish stays Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg at the top, with a crowded chase behind them and fantasy implications across every line.

Dallas Stars closed the preseason with a 3-2 win over Colorado, riding Colin Blackwell’s late-goal heroics as Arttu Hyry opened the scoring and Jason Robertson tucked a power-play strike. Dallas finished 4-1 in the slate, and new coach Glen Gulutzan heads into the 2025-26 regular season with momentum, opening on the road vs. Winnipeg on Oct. 9.

Hyry’s output from the AHL pipeline hints at depth scoring, while Robertson’s early PP tally signals strong special-teams potential. Dallas’ mix of veterans and young players under Gulutzan’s system suggests a versatile, competitive lineup ready to test the opening schedule against the Jets.