DALLAS — The Dallas Stars are keeping one of their most consistent offensive weapons in the fold.
On Thursday, the club announced it has signed veteran forward Matt Duchene to a four-year, $18 million contract extension, ensuring that the 34-year-old will remain a key piece of the Stars’ top-six through the 2028-29 season.
Duchene, who originally joined the Stars ahead of the 2023-24 season on a one-year, $3 million deal, finished his first campaign in Dallas as a point-per-game player, tallying 30 goals and 52 assists across 82 games. He followed that performance with six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in 16 playoff games, helping the Stars make a deep postseason push.
The former third overall pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2009 has thrived since arriving in Texas, producing 55 goals and 147 points over the past two seasons. His 82-point output last year ranked second among all potential unrestricted free agents this offseason, underscoring his continued impact well into his 30s.
“We are thrilled to have Matt back with our organization,” said Stars General Manager Jim Nill in a team statement. “As our team’s leading scorer last season, he helped solidify our forward group while also providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community.”
“The fit with Matt and our team has been seamless from the start,” Nill added. “We’re looking forward to continuing to pursue our shared goal of bringing a championship to Dallas.”
Veteran Presence with a Scoring Touch
Duchene’s arrival in Dallas came after he was bought out by the Nashville Predators in 2023. The Stars pounced on the opportunity, and the deal quickly became one of the league’s best value contracts.
Now, after back-to-back one-year stints, the Stars are rewarding the Ontario native with long-term security as they aim to remain perennial contenders in the Western Conference.
A veteran of 1,138 NHL games, Duchene has accumulated 371 goals and 891 career points over 16 seasons. Beyond his time with Dallas, Nashville, and Colorado, he also had stops with Ottawa and Columbus.
International Pedigree
In addition to his NHL success, Duchene boasts a strong international resume. He won Olympic gold with Team Canada in 2014, competed at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and represented Canada in three IIHF World Championships.
As Dallas continues to build around its established core, Duchene’s renewed presence gives the Stars a proven top-line playmaker and respected locker room voice entering the next phase of their championship pursuit.
