The Stars have signed a one-year deal with free-agent forward Jiri Hudler for $2 million, according to Dallas GM Jim Nill.
Hudler, 32, has 417 points (161 goals, 256 assists) over 676 NHL games and is a skilled forward who can play on the power play or on the fourth line. He is familiar with Nill because he spent eight seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization and is taking less money to come to the Stars.
Hudler made $4 million last season, splitting time with Calgary and Florida. He had a combined 46 points (16 goals, 30 assists) in 72 games. That would have placed him fifth on the Stars, behind Patrick Sharp's 55 points and ahead of Ales Hemsky's 39.
Hudler brings a lot of the same aspects as Sharp, Hemsky and Patrick Eaves, meaning that in any given game the Stars could have four veteran forwards who are under 200 pounds and over 32 years of age. It also means that the battle for young forwards Brett Ritchie and Curtis McKenzie to earn ice time just got a whole lot tougher.
McKenzie, (6-2, 205 and 25) and Ritchie (6-3, 220, and 23) each have had solid AHL seasons and are pushing hard to get into the NHL lineup. If Dallas carries eight defensemen, as Nill has said they will, that leaves room for only 13 forward. Hudler gives them 14 once restricted free agent Valeri Nichushkin is signed.
Nill said the contract talks with Nichushkin are moving forward and that the negotiations have been friendly, so the guess is they should be done before training camp.
Nill has maintained that the team needs depth because of potential injuries and because the World Cup of Hockey will create a condensed schedule in the NHL this season.
Hudler has played in 83 playoff games (16 goals, 26 assists, 42 points). That puts him behind only Patrick Sharp (142 games) in postseason appearances for Stars forwards.
