Nils Lundkvist

Lundkvist got shouldered aside on the Rangers' blue line last fall, but the Stars dealt their 2023 first-round pick to acquire him before the season. The early returns were solid -- 11 points in 35 games through December -- but he had just five points the rest of the way and lost his place in the lineup for good in late March. While still just 22 years old and a first-round pick himself from 2018, Lundkvist appears to again face an uphill battle to establish himself after Thomas Harley broke out for the Stars late in the season. Lundkvist's improvements will need to come primarily in his own zone, though he could also benefit from being more consistent on offense. He should challenge Colin Miller for a third-pairing role in 2023-24.