The Dallas Stars' hidden advantage: depth scoring nobody talks about

The Dallas Stars may have lost Mason Marchment, but with Matt Duchene, Wyatt Johnston, and Mavrik Bourque ready to step up, their hidden advantage could be the depth scoring that nobody is talking about.

With names like Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen, and Roope Hintz driving headlines, the conversation rarely shifts to the second and third lines.

Yet Dallas has quietly built one of the league's most reliable supporting casts, and in a season where margins will be razor thin, that could be the hidden advantage that takes them over the top.

Mason Marchment's departure to Seattle raised questions about where that production would be replaced. He chipped in 40 points last season, along with grit and energy. But Jim Nill and the Stars appear confident that others are ready to step in and cover that ground.

How Matt Duchene and Dallas's depth can balance out Marchment's loss

Matt Duchene is at the heart of this conversation. After a 61-point season in 2024-25, he proved he still has the speed and creativity to drive secondary scoring. As NHL.com's Stars preview pointed out, Duchene's ability to play both center and wing makes him one of the most flexible weapons in the lineup.

Then there are the emerging forwards. Wyatt Johnston, coming off back-to-back steady years, is expected to shoulder more responsibility in the top nine. Mavrik Bourque is another name to watch as a former AHL scoring leader who now has a path to meaningful NHL minutes.

One analyst recently told The Hockey News:

"Dallas may not have Marchment anymore, but they've built enough layers in their forward group to absorb that loss and maybe even improve."

Personally, I think this is where the Stars quietly outpace their rivals. Everyone knows Robertson and Rantanen can score, but when Duchene, Johnston, and Bourque contribute at the same time, Dallas becomes nearly impossible to contain.