Stars Rumors: Dallas Forward Becoming Prime Offer Sheet Candidate

Monday, May 26, 2025

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer looks on during 2025 game.

Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque is emerging as one of the most intriguing restricted free agent (RFA) offer sheet candidates of this upcoming offseason. 

The 23-year-old center is coming off his first full NHL season and has shown flashes of the top-six potential that once made him a first-round pick. With the Stars tight against the cap and Bourque’s role still uncertain, rival teams are circling.

The Stars currently have just $4.5 million in cap space and several holes to fill. That financial squeeze puts them in a vulnerable position, especially if a team makes a calculated offer sheet in the $4–4.6 million AAV range—enough to land Bourque while only surrendering a second-round pick as compensation. Such a move could box Dallas into a corner, particularly since matching an offer sheet prevents them from trading the player for an entire year.

Why Bourque Is an Ideal Offer Sheet Target

Bourque’s upside is no secret. He was named AHL MVP in 2023-24 after tallying 77 points in 71 games for the Texas Stars and followed that with 25 points in 70 NHL games this season. Though he’s been a healthy scratch during the Stars’ playoff run, his playmaking ability and vision down the middle make him a highly appealing long-term piece for teams in need of center depth.

Critically, teams like the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers have been speculated as possible suitors. The Canucks, despite limitations due to lacking their 2026 third-round pick, still have the means to submit a second-tier offer sheet in the $2.34M–$4.68M window. 

For the Flyers, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic suggested Bourque could be a smart acquisition for a team seeking a younger center with upside but less risk than pursuing a player like Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi.

Will Dallas Match—or Let Him Walk?

The big question is whether the Stars can afford to match a mid-tier offer for Bourque. As Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report highlighted, the Stars’ cap situation, combined with several pending free agents like Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn, leaves them little flexibility. If a team offers Bourque a five-year deal around $4.5 million annually, Dallas could be forced to walk away—especially if they see Bourque as a future piece rather than an immediate impact player.

With his offensive ceiling still untapped and his current usage in Dallas limited, Mavrik Bourque stands out as one of the smartest offer sheet targets in years. Whether it’s Vancouver, Philadelphia, or another cap-rich team looking to make a bold play, don’t be surprised if Bourque becomes the next RFA to switch jerseys via offer sheet this summer.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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