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.

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

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)

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a crowd of flag-waving New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.

Standing with his wife Masako and the rest of the royal family, he wished a happy new year to people lined up below the palace balcony, some shouting, “banzai" — Japanese for "long live.”

The annual New Year’s appearance by the emperor and his family draws huge crowds to the palace’s usually cloistered grounds in central Tokyo.

People stand in long lines, weathering the cold, for each of the five appearances during the day, as the imperial family remains relatively popular.

The emperor does not have political power but holds symbolic significance for Japan. He and his family are longtime advocates for peace, although World War II was fought in the name of Naruhito’s grandfather Hirohito.

In a statement released in advance, Naruhito noted that last year marked 80 years since the end of that war. He stressed the importance of the message of peace, given that war and strife continued in parts of the world.

“I deeply feel it’s important to continue with efforts among people for dialogue, trying to deepen mutual understanding, so we can build a world of peace,” he said in the statement.

In both the statement and comments Friday, he spoke about recent natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall and snow, and forest fires.

In 2024, the annual appearance was canceled because of a New Year’s Day quake in the Noto Peninsula, a coastal area in central Japan, which killed hundreds of people. In 2021 and 2022, it got canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Princess Aiko, the imperial couple's only child, appeared with her parents at this year’s greeting, as did other relatives. She is at the center of a national debate about rules allowing only men to inherit to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

The presence of Naruhito’s nephew, Hisahito, also drew attention, as he now takes part in adult imperial events and is a possible heir to the throne. He is second in line after his father, the emperor’s brother.

Akihito, Naruhito’s father and emperor emeritus who abdicated in 2019, was also there with his wife Michiko, the emperor’s mother.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama

Japan's Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, daughter and son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito greets well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)