Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced Monday the club’s 21-player roster for the 2025-26 NHL season opener, featuring 12 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. Nill confirmed that forwards Oskar Bäck and Jamie Benn will open the campaign on injured reserve, while Luke Krys, Kyle McDonald, and Chase Wheatcroft have been designated as Injured Non-Roster players.
Nine players drafted by the Stars, including first-round selections, make up the roster. Wyatt Johnston (23rd overall, 2021), Mavrik Bourque (30th overall, 2020), Thomas Harley (18th overall, 2019), Miro Heiskanen (third overall, 2017), Jake Oettinger (26th overall, 2017), and Radek Faksa (13th overall, 2012).
Dallas Stars’ opening night roster revealed.
The Dallas Stars have just announced their Opening Night Roster*.
*This is not to be confused with their season-opening lineup on Thursday at Winnipeg. Should be some more roster transactions tomorrow.#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/b4fcvpHH9r
— Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) October 6, 2025
The Stars will start their season without key veteran Jamie Benn, who sustained an injury during a preseason game against the Minnesota Wild. Benn took a hit late in the third period, and after the play, General Manager Jim Nill confirmed that Benn skated to the bench and informed the staff that he wasn’t feeling well. The team doctor conducted an evaluation and discovered a small hole in his lung. Benn was subsequently taken to Parkland Hospital, where he underwent surgery. His timeline for returning to the team is uncertain, but he is expected to make a full recovery and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
The Stars have a new coach at the helm this season. Glen Gulutzan comes from working as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers for seven seasons, ending in 2025, where he helped lead the team to the Stanley Cup Finals twice. He has since become the head coach of the Dallas Stars, his second time in that role with the team. “We definitely have the talent here,” said Gulutzan. “Now, we have to go do it on the ice.”
The Stars will play Winnipeg on Thursday, October 9, for their first game of the regular season. Their first home game will be against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, October 14.
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