Stars have proven young scorers and could make another deep playoff run after 2 West finals

Last season: 52-21-9, lost to Edmonton in Game 6 of Western Conference Final.

COACH: Pete DeBoer (612-421-146 over 17 seasons with 5 teams, 2 Stanley Cup appearances, 7 conference finals).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 10 at Nashville.

DEPARTURES: F Joe Pavelski, F Radek Faksa, C Ty Dellandrea, D Ryan Suter, D Chris Tanev, D Jani Hakanpaa, G Scott Wedgewood.

ADDITIONS: D Matt Dumba, G Casey DeSmith, D Ilya Lyubushkin.

GOALIES: Jake Oettinger (35-14-4, 2.72 GAA, 0.905 save percentage) and DeSmith (12-9-6, 2.89, 8.95 with Vancouver)

BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 11-1.

The Stars went to the Western Conference Final in each of DeBoer's first two seasons, and were the top seed before losing Game 6 loss at Edmonton last spring. Captain Jamie Benn is 35 and in the final season of his contract. Benn was one of their eight 20-goal scorers last season, and the only one not back is 40-year-old Joe Pavelski, who retired after 18 seasons without winning a Stanley Cup. Their top goal scorer last season was 21-year-old Wyatt Johnston, and 25-year-old Jason Robertson has been the top overall scorer each of the past two seasons. With Oettinger in net, the Stars should be set up for another deep postseason run .

The good: The expected top line of Robertson (29 goals, 51 assists), Johnston (32, 33) and Roope Hintz (30, 35) combined for 210 points last season. Johnston should be a consistent top-liner following Pavelski's retirement. Robertson missing much of training camp after surgery July 30 to remove a cyst from his foot isn't much of a concern. When he missed most of camp two years ago because of a contract holdout that led to a $31 million, four-year deal, he went on to score 109 points (46 goals, 63 assists).

The not-so-good: Defensive depth was an issue, especially in the playoffs, even before the departures in free agency. Miro Heiskanen is among the NHL's best two-way defensemen at 25 and is still signed for four more seasons, while Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley just got new contracts. Beyond them, Dumba, Lyubushkin and Smith are veterans who could potentially benefit from fresh starts with a new team. After a lot of success with young scorers, the Stars may now take an extensive look at a young defenseman: 20-year-old Lian Bichsel, their first-round draft pick in 2021.

Young forwards Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque will get the opportunity to have prominent roles. The 21-year-old Stankoven is still considered a rookie even though he played 43 games for the Stars after his NHL debut in late February, his 24 in the regular season being one short of the cutoff to maintain his rookie status before his 19 in the playoffs. Bourque, their 2020 first-round pick, made his NHL debut with one regular-season game and one in the playoffs.

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Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) reaches out to glove a shot under pressure from Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) in the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

FILE - Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, May 5, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade, File)

FILE - Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) in the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Linesman Bryan Pancich (94) holds Dallas Stars' Matt Dumba (3) back after a brief scuffle with Minnesota Wild players in the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) gloves a shot from the Minnesota Wild in the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Oliver Kylington, left, fights for control of the puck with Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston, right, in the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) controls the puck in front of Minnesota Wild left wing Liam Ohgren (28) in the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel is congratulated as he passes the team box after he scored the winning goal as time ran out in an NHL preseason hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Last season: 34-35-13, missed playoffs.

COACH: Dan Bylsma (320-190-55 in 8 seasons with Pittsburgh and Buffalo, 1 Stanley Cup title), hired May 28.

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 8 vs. St. Louis.

DEPARTURES: F Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, G Chris Driedger, D Brian Dumoulin, D Justin Schultz, F Kailer Yamamoto, F Tomáš Tatar, coach Dave Hakstol.

ADDITIONS: Bylsma, F Chandler Stephenson, D Brandon Montour, D Josh Mahura.

GOALIES: Joey Daccord (19-18-11, 2.46 GAA, 0.916 save percentage) and Philipp Grubauer (14-16-2, 2.85 GAA, 0.899).

BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 66-1.

The organization underwent its first significant shake up following a disappointing third season with the firing of coach Dave Hakstol and the decision to hire former Stanley Cup champion coach Dan Bylsma. His task will be to bring some punch to an offense that regressed badly last season. His coaching staff includes Jessica Campbell, the first woman to work as an assistant coach on an NHL bench. The Kraken signed center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour to big contracts in the hope of adding some offense to a team that last year was strong defensively and received terrific goaltending from the combo of Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer. Seattle will need Jared McCann to continue his evolution into a top scorer, could use a rebound season from Matty Beniers and should see the full-time arrival of top prospect Shane Wright. The Western Conference is loaded but Seattle could content for a playoff spot if others in the Pacific Division regress.

The good: Montour and Stephenson are the kinds of upgrades Seattle needed, even if their seven-year contracts worth nearly $94 million become anchors later on. Montour gives the Kraken a second points scorer on the blue line along with Vince Dunn without sacrificing one of their strengths last season limiting high-danger scoring chances. Stephenson’s arrival also means McCann can play on the wing instead of center and keeps Beniers from having to match up against other top center lines.

The not-so-good: There is regression to the norm and then there is plummeting. Seattle’s shooting percentage in its playoff season was 11.6%, second in the league. Last season, the Kraken shot 9.1%. The offense must improve. Hakstol’s system was stagnant and Seattle was too inconsistent on the power play. The new additions should help but Seattle must get better seasons from Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde and something from the fourth line for the offense to improve.

Given a chance to be a regular starter, Daccord become a fan favorite letting his personality show during a terrific season. Seattle needs more of that – the good goaltending and a little bit of excitement on the ice. Montour should be an immediate boost on the blue line and former first-round pick Wright has a chance to become a regular in the lineup after a strong season playing for Bylsma at Coachella Valley in the AHL.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, left, and Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright, right, battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goald during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Kraken's Jared McCann (19) and Edmonton Oilers' Ben Gleason (6) battle for the puck during first-period preseason NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Seattle Kraken's Matty Beniers, right, tries to tip the puck past Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) during first-period preseason NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)