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The Dallas Stars announced on Friday that they have re-signed goalkeeper Kari Lehtonen to a big contract extension which will pay him $29.5 million over the next five years.
Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk showed excitement with the move in the official press release from the Stars, put out after the signing on Friday:
Kari Lehtonen has worked extremely hard in his time with the Dallas Stars to establish himself as an elite goaltender in the NHL. We believe that his best days as a goaltender are ahead, and that his work ethic and leadership will help guide this team into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
Lehtonen won 32 games with a .922 save percentage and 2.33 goals-against average in 2012, the best season of the 28-year old's career. The 2012 season, assuming there is one, will be the fourth season with the stars for the 6'4, 217 pound netminder.
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