The NHL's most potent offense has added another piece to its arsenal: The Dallas Stars have signed free-agent forward Jiri Hudler to a one-year deal that will pay him $2 million for the upcoming season.
Hudler, 32, had 16 goals last season with Calgary and Florida but is just two seasons removed from a 31-goal, 76-point campaign with Calgary.
The native of the Czech Republic was originally drafted by Detroit with the 58th pick in 2002 and won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008.
He is well-known to Dallas general manager Jim Nill who was a longtime executive with the Red Wings before taking the job in Dallas in April 2013.
The Stars won the Central Division last season and lost in the second round of the playoffs to the St. Louis Blues in a seven-game series. They defeated Minnesota in six games in the first round.
Hudler will provide depth scoring to a team that led the NHL last season with 3.23 goals per game. Dallas also had the fourth-ranked power play in the league; Hudler should provide depth for the Stars' power-play unit as well.
