Jiri Hudler Signs With Dallas Stars

Jiri Hudler has signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars worth $2 million. The deal was initially announced by Sonny Sachdeva of Todays Slapshot, who was informed of the deal by Hudler’s agent, Petr Svoboda.

Per Svoboda, Hudler's deal with #Stars is for one year, $2 million.#HudlerWatch #NHL #FreeAgency

— Sonny Sachdeva (@SachdevaSonny) August 24, 2016

The Dallas Stars took a huge step forward last season when they finished in first place in the Western Conference after finishing in 10th place in the 2014-15 season. Hudler will bring a veteran presence to the Stars’ lineup which could be highly beneficial to a team that has young stars like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and John Klingberg leading the charge of this franchise-resurgence.

Hudler saw a regression in his point total last season, finishing the year with 16 goals and 46 points in 72 games. While that stat-line isn’t awful, it’s a far-cry from his, 31 goals and 75 points in 76 games in the previous year. Hudler still has the potential to be a big-time player with the Stars, and while his point totals may or may not ever reach a point-per-game level again, he still has value.

A one-year deal at $2 million as reported by Sachdeva is the ultimate low-risk, high reward situation for the Stars who could use Hudler in a top-six role alongside either Tyler Seguin on the Stars’ top line or Jason Spezza on the Stars’ second line.