The Dallas Stars continued their early activity in NHL free agency by signing forwards Radek Dvorak and Vernon Fiddler to new deals.
Dvorak comes from Atlanta/Winnipeg and signs a one-year contract for $1.5. He played with the Panthers and Thrashers last season and scored 22 points in 66 games. Now, 34, Dvorak has evolved into a reliable two-way right sided forward.
Fiddler comes from Phoenix, where he filled a pure checking role. The Stars made more of a commitment to him, penning him to a three-year deal for $5.4 million. He’s 31 and plays center and left wing while averaging about ten goals and 26 points over the past five seasons. Mark Stepneski notes that he won 53.9% of his faceoffs last season, so that’s a nice added element.
It was believed that the Stars had to add $10 million to reach the NHL’s minimum salary level. With Adam Purdy’s deal, the Stars have spent $5.3 million so far on the first day of free agency on back-end-of-the-roster role players.