The NHL free agency frenzy revealed clear winners and losers as teams made strategic moves to bolster their rosters. The Florida Panthers emerged as a notable winner with GM Bill Zito successfully re-signing key players Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand, ensuring the core of their Stanley Cup-winning team remains intact. The Vegas Golden Knights made headlines by adding Mitch Marner, enhancing their offensive firepower alongside stars like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. Meanwhile, the New York Rangers improved their defensive line by acquiring Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings, despite losing K'Andre Miller in the process.

Conversely, teams like the Kings and the goaltending-needy franchises faced setbacks. The Kings lost crucial defenseman Gavrikov without adequate replacements, while potential goaltending options dwindled as top netminder Jake Allen re-signed with the New Jersey Devils. The Dallas Stars were also left in a lurch after failing to re-sign Mikael Granlund, who was a strong contributor following his mid-season acquisition.

Following another disappointing exit in the Western Conference finals, the Dallas Stars are shaking things up. After losing to the Edmonton Oilers for the second consecutive year, changes were deemed necessary. The team's struggles with scoring and defensive reliability led to the dismissal of head coach Pete DeBoer, marking a pivotal moment in their offseason strategy.

On the first day of NHL free agency, the Stars unveiled Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach, a familiar face from his earlier tenure in Dallas. Gulutzan's previous experience, especially his recent success with the Oilers' power play, is expected to revitalize the Stars' approach. Alongside him, Neil Graham, who coached the Texas Stars, joins as an assistant coach.

The Dallas Stars are shaping up for the 2025-26 NHL season as their roster nears completion, with a strategic vision laid out by GM Jim Nill. The team has made significant moves during free agency, reinforcing confidence in their lineup as they prepare for the season opener in October. Key players include Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Miro Heiskanen, with potential shuffling of forward lines to maximize performance.

As Dallas evaluates its roster, competition for the 13th forward spot is set to heat up during training camp, with names like Oskar Bäck and AHL players vying for a chance. The Stars are also exploring options to trade a defenseman, potentially clearing up to $3 million in cap space, which could lead to further adjustments to the lineup.

Mikael Granlund, a pivotal center for the Dallas Stars during their 2024-25 playoff campaign, has signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Granlund made a significant impact after joining the Stars from the San Jose Sharks, contributing notably during the postseason with 10 points in 18 games and scoring a hat trick against Winnipeg. His speed, versatility, and role as a penalty killer were essential to the Stars’ success, but salary cap constraints prevented an extension.

Despite mutual interest in keeping Granlund in Dallas, his $7 million annual salary with the Ducks illustrates the financial challenges teams face in retaining key players. The Stars now look to fill his void through free agency or trades as they prepare for the next season.

The Los Angeles Kings are making significant changes following four consecutive playoff exits in the first round. Highlighting their offseason efforts, they signed five free agents, including former Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry, to bolster their roster. Perry's one-year, $2.5 million deal is part of a strategy that also brought in Joel Armia, Cody Ceci, Brian Dumoulin, and Anton Forsberg. This shake-up comes with new General Manager Ken Holland at the helm, who aims to guide the Kings beyond the first round for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

Perry, at 40, had a standout season, scoring 19 goals for the Edmonton Oilers. His experience, combined with Armia's consistency, is expected to enhance the Kings' forward depth. The defense is fortified with Ceci and Dumoulin, both seasoned players who can contribute significantly. Forsberg adds goaltending depth alongside Darcy Kuemper, enhancing the Kings’ chances of a playoff resurgence.