It seems no matter how great of a job Jim Nill does at the helm of the Dallas Stars‘ front office, the team is destined to crumble in the biggest moments of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and let it all go to waste. It’s become a yearly, painful tradition in the NHL in Dallas. After Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers eliminated Mikko Rantanen and company in the Western Conference Final—just like last year, minus Rantanen’s presence—the Stars wasted no time cutting ties with a veteran on the roster.
The Stars‘ dry-spell in the 21st century is now a 25-year skid, with the team’s last—and lone—Stanley Cup triumph taking place in the 1998-99 NHL campaign. Since, everything has been bigger in Texas, including the letdowns on the ice of American Airlines Center.
This year felt different to so many fans, which makes the five-game elimination by Edmonton all the more difficult to swallow and come to terms with. Riding historic performances from Rantanen, the Stars knocked out the Avalanche and Jets in the earlier rounds, but the 28-year-old Finnish forward’s magic touch vanished without warning and disappeared without a trace when the Oilers stood on the other side of the ice.
Edmonton is off to its second consecutive Stanley Cup Final, vying to avenge last season’s loss against the Florida Panthers—McDavid‘s revenge plan is looking unstoppable as his hunger for silverware drives him into a level of play not many teams can keep on check in a seven-game series.
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on January 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Meanwhile, Dallas is shuffling the deck and aiming to deal a new hand as the 2025–26 NHL season approaches. It’s a painful process, but the team isn’t dwelling on the past—opting instead to rip off the band-aid and confront its scars. On that note, the Stars are already embracing the early tremors in their roster, parting ways with one veteran.
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As reported by PuckPedia, the Stars have placed Alex Petrovic on waivers shortly after the elimination at the hands of McDavid and the Oilers. The 33-year-old blueliner had one year remaining in his contract and appeared in 17 postseason games this campaign, registering just one goal and an assist.
Jamie Benn on his future
Though falling short of the endgoal has become a lingering issue for Stars captain Jamie Benn in his 16-year career in Dallas, this year hit different as he faces a contract situation.
For the first time in his NHL career, Benn is heading into the summer without a contract signed by the Stars. However, he is not planning on moving anywhere if the organization is happy to take him once again.
Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars at Honda Center on February 04, 2025 in Anaheim, California.
“I don’t see myself going anywhere else,” Benn admitted, via NHL.com. “This is all I know. Hopefully we can figure something out. I’m going into the summer planning on playing next year. Prepare like I do every summer like I’m going to play.”
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While Benn remains a beloved figure in Dallas, many fans may view an extension as an extension of a core that has yet to deliver the organization’s first Stanley Cup since 1999. Benn is often deployed on the fourth line and recorded just three points in 18 playoff games this year.
