The Dallas Stars are in a tight crunch as they navigate the cap space following the recent extension of Matt Duchene. With just $455,000 left to fill five roster spots, the situation necessitated the trade of Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken, freeing up cap space but still leaving the Stars with barely enough to sign one minimum player. Heading into free agency on July 1, the Stars will have to be strategic about signing their restricted and unrestricted free agents.

As several key players like Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadonov, and Mikael Granlund face uncertain futures, general manager Jim Nill must consider trades and buyouts to rebuild the roster effectively. Potential buyout candidates include Matt Dumba, whose performance has not met expectations, and Ilya Lyubushkin, who offers valuable penalty-killing skills. With the NHL salary cap expected to rise significantly in the upcoming years, the decisions made now could shape the team's future.