Dallas Stars contract extensions will impact this team for years to come
By Greg Higgins
Earlier this week the Dallas Stars announced they signed forward Roope Hintz to an eight-year contract extension. This is huge news for the Dallas Stars and their fans for several reasons.
Big impacts from the Dallas Stars signing Roope Hintz and others to extensions
Roope Hintz was drafted in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Hitting the ice for the first time in the 2018-19 season, the Finish forward instantly became a fan favorite. At 6′-3″, the 210 pounder endured to the Dallas fan base with his ability to score and create shots for his teammates.
His goal production has steadily gone up. He started out with nine goals his rookie year, then 19, 15, and 37 last season. The 15 goals came in the covid-shortened year.
The thing that makes this signing so impressive for Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars is the timing of the signing. Last season, the Stars signed their star defenseman Miro Heiskanen to a long term deal worth $8.45 million a season. Prior to this season the Dallas Stars signed goalie Jake Oettinger to a three-year deal worth $12 million.
The big signing, though, came right before the season started for Dallas. Last year’s leading goal scorer for the Stars, Jason Robertson, was signed to a four year contract worth almost $8 million per season. With the way Robertson played last year, this was a no-brained. Add the way he’s started off this year and you wonder why it took so long to get him signed. Robertson leads the NHL in goals with 22 and he has a 17-game point streak. He’s second with 39 behind Connor McDavid.
The Robertson extension as well as Hintz’s means those two are locked up for the next four years. Last season we saw how dominating they can be when paired on the same line. Once again, this season, they’re doing the same thing. In 24 games this season, they have a combined 65 points and 30 goals.
When you look at this roster, you realize how Nill has set the team for several years. Robertson, Hintz, Heiskanen, and Oettinger are a great nucleus to build a team around. Start adding in other players like Mason Marchment (27 year old locked up for four years), Radek Faksa (28 year old locked up for three years) and Esa Lindell (28 year old locked up for three years) and you have a team you can build around.
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The Stars are a fun team to watch and these signings are only going to make them more fun over the next several years. I’m not sure what it takes to win General Manager of the year, but Jim Nill gets my vote.