Stars make key move that could open door for big things

Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) skates during the game between the Stars and the Kings at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Stars make key move that could open door for big trade-deadline addition

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Feb 27, 2026 7:26 PM ET

The Dallas Stars have been one of the NHL's best teams over the past six years and are once again a top contender for the Stanley Cup. Even though they have appeared in one Stanley Cup Final and three consecutive Western Conference Finals over that stretch, they are still searching for a championship with this core. The pressure is starting to mount.

Because of that, they figure to be buyers ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6. They reportedly made an important move and decision on Friday that could open the door for them to be big-time buyers.

Dallas Stars reportedly rule out Tyler Seguin for rest of season, opening salary cap space

The Stars reportedly filed paperwork on Friday declaring that veteran forward Tyler Seguin will not return during the regular season or playoffs, which would put them in a position to get salary cap savings that could be applied toward a big move over the next week.

Seguin has not played since Dec. 2, when he tore his ACL and underwent surgery. He was hoping to return for the playoffs, but that seems not to be in the cards for him.

There is word Dallas filed paperwork declaring Tyler Seguin out for the rest of the regular season & playoffs.

By doing this, Stars get full cap relief heading into trade deadline.

Feel for Seguin, who underwent surgery for a torn ACL. Wanted to return, but couldn’t.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 27, 2026

This is important because it means the Stars can replace Seguin's $9.8 million salary cap hit and make a major trade. In previous years, NHL teams were able to hide players on LTIR during the regular season, use that salary cap savings to add players that put them over the salary cap, and then bring the injured player back in the playoffs when the salary cap no longer applied.

Now teams have to be salary cap compliant in the playoffs, meaning they have to designate a player out for the remainder of the season and playoffs before utilizing LTIR and going over the salary cap.

This could open the door for a lot of options for the Stars, who are about as close to "Stanley Cup-or-bust" expectations as a team can be. Scoring depth, and especially with Seguin sidelined, and a right-shot defenseman are two of their biggest needs. While they would probably prefer to have Seguin given how good he has been for so many years, they definitely have options to significantly upgrade their roster over the next week.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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