The Dallas Stars have traded defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Vladislav Kolyachonok.
Dallas announced the trade on social media on Thursday, which was likely made in an attempt to clear cap space and open the Stars up to make another move at a later point in the offseason.
Dumba is coming off just one season with the Stars after signing a two-year contract worth $7.5 million in the 2024 free agency period.
The veteran defenseman struggled for a large portion of last season, appearing in just 63 games and recording only 10 total points during the regular season.
Notably, Dumba was a healthy scratch for the Stars’ entire postseason run, despite multiple games in which the team could have used a different approach on the ice.
Now, Dallas is looking at a cleaner cap sheet for the remainder of the offseason, with the franchise now possessing roughly $1.95 million in cap space and the flexibility for another move.
In addition to the cap space, Dallas acquired a solid depth piece in Kolyachonok, who is not likely to see the ice frequently next season but could help the team in the event of injuries.
This trade comes as Dallas enters the 2025-26 season with massive expectations, having made multiple moves over the past few months to improve both the roster and coaching staff.
During the 2024-25 season, Dallas took a major swing by adding forward Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes.
However, this move did little to help the Stars get over the hump, as the team lost in the Western Conference Finals for a third consecutive season.
As a result, Dallas decided to shake up the coaching staff, firing head coach Pete DeBoer and later announcing the hiring of Glen Gulutzan, who returns to Dallas following over a decade of separation.
Additionally, the Stars have already traded forward Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken and may also consider trading forward Jason Robertson at a later date.
Expectations are high for a franchise that appears to be making all the necessary moves to compete in the near future.