Lyubushkin will join his fourth NHL team in three seasons after signing a two-year contract worth $6.5 million ($3.25M AAV) with Dallas on Monday. The 30-year-old shutdown defender will make a solid replacement for Chris Tanev after he posted no goals, eight points, 57 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus in 74 games played between Anaheim and Toronto in 2023-24.

After two seasons in New Jersey, Brendan Smith will be joining Dallas on a one-year, $1.0 million contract into the 2024-25 season. The 35-year-old defenseman is entering his 14th NHL season after posting his highest point totals (15) since 2015-16.

Dallas replaced Chris Tanev quickly on Monday by signing Matt Dumba to a two-year contract worth $7.5 million ($3,750,000 AAV). The 29-year-old appeared in 76 games between Arizona and Tampa Bay in 2023-24 and had four goals, 12 points, 88 PIMs and a -18 plus/minus.

Matt Duchene will return to Dallas after an incredibly successful first season with the Stars in 2023-24 after signing a one-year, $3.0 million on Monday. The 33-year-old just completed his 15th NHL season and had 25 goals and 65 points in 80 games played in 2023-24.

After not receiving a qualifying offer, the Stars signed Steel to a one-year deal to return to the bottom-6. The 25-year-old forward had a productive season for a fourth liner, scoring nine goals with 15 assists (24 points) in 77 games. Look for him to play a similar depth role and serve as a primary penalty killer in 2024-25.

Petrovic only appeared in one game for Dallas in 2023-24 but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Stars next season. The 32-year-old spent his majority of 2023-24 with the Texas Stars (AHL) and had five goals and 22 points in 70 games played.

Back spent the entire 2024 season in Texas (AHL), where he tallied seven goals and 29 assists (36 points). The 2018 third-round pick will likely start the 2025 season in the AHL again.

Pettersen was acquired from Calgary in a one-for-one deal in March 2024 and signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 to stay with Dallas on Monday. The 24-year-old forward has yet to make his NHL debut but had 11 goals and 38 points in 64 games played between Calgary (AHL) and Texas (AHL) last season.

Blumel completed his second season in North America with Texas (AHL) in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract to star with the Stars in 2024-25. The 24-year-old winger made his NHL debut and only NHL appearance in 2022-23 and had one goal in six games played. In 72 games with Texas (AHL) last season, he had 31 goals and 62 points.

After being exposed on both Panther goals in Game 1, Cody Ceci will head to the press box as a healthy scratch as Vincent Desharnais returns to the OIlers' lineup. The 30-year-old Ceci had been producing offensively in the playoffs with his two goals and four points in 17 games but has struggled mightily defensively as shown by his -7 plus/minus.

Oettinger allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Stars' loss in Edmonton in Game 4. Oettinger gave up seven goals in two games in Edmonton and now has a .912 SV% in the series and a .917 SV% across 17 postseason games. Oettinger and the Stars come into Game 5 as -117 home favourites.