Dallas Stars young forward finally gets a real second chance under new coach

The Dallas Stars are preparing for training camp, and one of the most intriguing names, Mavrik Bourque, isn't a newcomer but a player looking to finally break through.

Mavrik Bourque enters the 2025-26 season with a chance to redefine his place, and the presence of Glen Gulutzan behind the bench creates a unique situation.

This is not about redemption from failure. Instead, it is about opportunity meeting timing. Bourque has the skill, the background, and the recognition from his AHL dominance, but his first NHL season under Pete DeBoer did not show the full picture.

That is why Craig Ludwig described it on the DLLS podcast as a "second chance at a first impression." The words fit perfectly for a young forward who could benefit from a reset in Dallas.

Mavrik Bourque has talent and Glen Gulutzan's system could unlock it

Bourque's AHL résumé is elite. He captured both the Les Cunningham Award as MVP and the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as scoring champion with Texas. His production, alongside Logan Stankoven, showed exactly why Dallas believed in him as a first-round pick.

Yet at the NHL level, his minutes were limited. He often played in the bottom six and admitted he felt more worried about avoiding mistakes than creating offense.

"I didn't feel like I was playing to be productive, I felt like I was playing to not mess up," Bourque told DLLS when reflecting on last year.

It didn't help that DeBoer relied heavily on veterans during the playoff run, leaving Bourque scratched most nights.

"I didn't feel like the coach trusted me," he admitted in frustration.

That honesty now becomes part of his motivation.

A fresh start with Gulutzan could be critical. The Stars lack proven options on the left side, and Bourque's preference to play center or even off-wing gives him flexibility. As noted in The Hockey News, his vision and responsibility down the middle remain his strongest traits.

If he takes advantage of camp, Bourque could earn more meaningful ice time and become the kind of secondary scorer Dallas needs. Even NHL.com highlighted the Stars' need for depth scoring, which puts Bourque directly in the spotlight.

I think this is the kind of season where Bourque finally forces his way into the conversation, even if it takes patience from the coaching staff.

The Stars are stacked, but there is room for a determined young forward to grab a role. Bourque's second chance might be the best chance of his career.