Coming off an 82-point regular season, Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene signed a four-year contract extension on Thursday. The deal, worth a total of $18 million, carries a $4.5 million average annual value (cap hit). Duchene, 34, will likely retire a Star.
Duchene had an excellent campaign from October to April. He dressed in all 82 regular season matches. The veteran racked up 32 goals (eight on the power play) and 50 assists. It marked the top production season of his 1,138-game regular season NHL career.
However, Duchene had a disappoint playoff run. In 18 postseason tilts, he had just six points (one goal, five assists). Additionally, he posted a playoff career worst minus-16 traditional plus-minus stat. He scored the game-winning tally on the power play in Game One of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers. However, he went pointless over the remaining four games and was minus-seven overall.
Several weeks ago, the veteran player indicated a desire to remain with the Stars if a new deal could be worked out. On Thursday, it became a reality.
