Dallas Stars fans won't believe where analysts are ranking them now

The Dallas Stars enter 2025-26 with high expectations, and shocking new power rankings from ESPN and BetMGM place them among the NHL's top contenders for the Stanley Cup.

The Dallas Stars haven't lifted the Stanley Cup since 1999, but as the 2025-26 season approaches, national analysts are starting to put them firmly among the NHL's elite. After three straight Western Conference Final appearances, preseason projections now suggest Dallas is closer than ever to finally breaking through.

ESPN's most recent power rankings place the Stars at No. 3, trailing only Florida and Edmonton, with the team's Cup odds set at +1000. Analysts highlighted the addition of Mikko Rantanen and the stability of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Jake Oettinger as reasons for the team's top-tier status. ESPN's full rankings noted that Dallas's mix of depth and star power could make them one of the hardest outs in the league.

Why Dallas is climbing preseason projections ahead of 2025-26

The respect isn't limited to one outlet. BetMGM also released updated rankings, slotting Dallas at No. 6 among all NHL teams.

They placed the Stars just behind the Avalanche and Golden Knights, but still firmly in the top group. BetMGM's breakdown emphasized that the Stars' balance of veterans like Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene with emerging names like Wyatt Johnston gives them an edge most rivals can't match.

One Western Conference analyst summed it up simply:

"Dallas has been knocking on the door for years. If Rantanen meshes with Robertson and Hintz the way people think, they'll be the team to beat."

Personally, I think these rankings reflect just how far Dallas has come. For a franchise once seen as a "near-miss" team, being projected this high shows that the Stars aren't just contenders, they're starting to be viewed as favorites.