What happened: Nashville acquired pending restricted free agent forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Dallas ahead of the free-agent market opening. The Predators sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick to the Stars in return. General manager Chris MacFarland framed Bourque, 24, as a quality two-way player who fits the profile Nashville is building around.
Why it matters: With a thin free-agent pool pushing teams toward the trade market, the Predators moved early to add a controllable young forward and a physical, minutes-eating veteran defenseman. For Dallas, shedding salary opens room to re-sign restricted free agent Jason Robertson, who is in line for a long-term, lucrative deal. The swap reshapes the middle of both rosters heading into the 2026-27 season.
By the numbers: Bourque is 24 and enters as a restricted free agent; Lyubushkin brings veteran experience on the back end. Robertson, the other Stars RFA in focus, led Dallas in scoring last season with 96 points on 45 goals and 51 assists.
What to watch: Watch whether the cleared cap space lets Dallas lock up Robertson long-term, and how Bourque and Lyubushkin slot into Nashville's lineup once free agency opens.