(Frisco) Head coach Peter DeBoer failed to guide a third team to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season at the helm, but the Dallas Stars came close.

And the core of the Stars – both young and old – should be the same next season. The team has improved offensively over the past season, while maintaining its defensive identity and doing a good job on special teams.

“It’s promising to have done so well with a new coaching staff and a new system,” forward Tyler Seguin said Wednesday. We have a good group of players who believe in their abilities. »

“Expectations can only be higher,” added captain Jamie Benn.

The Stars went down in six games in the West Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. DeBoer had guided the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks to the Finals in his first campaigns with those teams.

The Stars will only have around $7.3 million in salary cap wiggle room this summer, but that’s a result of most of the big players in the squad being on long-term contracts.

That includes defenseman Miro Heiskanen, goaltender Jake Oettinger and forward Jason Robertson, all drafted in 2017. Roope Hintz, who scored 24 playoff points, is set to begin serving an eight-year contract extension signed last summer. Joe Pavelski, who is 38 years old, is also under contract for the next campaign. As for Benn and Seguin, they both have several more seasons left on their contracts.

“Everyone knows what to expect. We’re not starting from scratch, DeBoer stressed. I expect to see a hungry group. When you pass so close, it makes you want to come back and finish the job. »

Two players who could switch sides this summer are forwards Max Domi and Evgenii Dadonov, both acquired as the trade deadline approaches. They could claim full freelance this summer and the Stars are unlikely to offer them long-term contracts due to their salary situation.