The Dallas Stars have made a significant move by extending center Matt Duchene’s contract for four additional years, valued at $18 million, equating to $4.5 million per season. This agreement includes a no-movement clause through 2026-27, transitioning to a five-team approved trade list for the subsequent two seasons. Duchene’s contract breakdown includes a combination of base salaries and signing bonuses, peaking in the first two years before stabilizing.
Rather than exploring unrestricted free agency, Duchene has chosen to remain in Dallas, where he has made a notable impact as a key player over the last two seasons. There was speculation that, had he entered the market, Duchene could have secured a three-year deal averaging around $7 million per season. However, the 34-year-old opted to lock in a more secure financial future at a lower annual cost.
Duchene’s performance in the previous 2024-25 season was outstanding; he not only was the top scorer for the Stars but also reached the point-per-game milestone with an impressive 30 goals and 82 points across all 82 games. This success came after a strong first year with the Stars, where he scored 25 goals and accumulated 65 points.
While the Stars are benefiting from Duchene’s lower salary against the cap, they currently face a challenging roster situation, having just $455K in cap space with 17 players signed. To comply with the salary cap and field a full roster, they will likely need to trade players with higher salaries. Names such as Mason Marchment, Mathew Dumba, and Ilya Lyubushkin have surfaced in discussions as potential candidates for trades to gain more flexibility.
Duchene’s new contract aligns with the expiration of his prior buyout payments from the Nashville Predators, ensuring continued financial security even as he navigates the later stages of his career.
This move signifies the Stars’ commitment to maintaining a competitive roster while demonstrating Duchene’s loyalty to the team and his desire to contribute to their success moving forward. It sets a hopeful tone for Dallas as they work to strengthen their team dynamics while navigating the complexities of their salary cap situation.