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Stars add Jiri Hudler with a one-year, $2 million deal

AP
AP

The Dallas Stars have bolstered their forward group by signing Jiri Hudler to a one-year, $2 million deal as first reported by Sonny Sachdeva on Tuesday night.

Hudler, who will reunite with GM Jim Nill after their time in Detroit, posted 16 goals and 46 points in 72 games with the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers last season. Ten of those 46 points came via the power play, which means the Stars’ fourth-ranked power play just got even better.

“Jiri brings a combination of detail, discipline and skill,” said Nill. “He has a championship pedigree and adding him to our group of forwards solidifies our depth up front, giving our coaching staff a number of options and versatility.”

As Travis Yost of TSN detailed last month, Hudler isn’t just a winger who can score at even strength and chip in on the power play, he also makes his teammates better when they’re on the ice with him, even going back as far as 2010:

The Pittsburgh Penguins saw their shooting percentage spike 2.61 per cent with Sidney Crosby on the ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers saw their shooting percentage spike 2.48 per cent with Martin St. Louis on the ice, and many teams – including Detroit, Calgary, and Florida – saw their shooting percentage spike about 2.44 per cent with Hudler on the ice.

The signing of Hudler leaves the Stars $4.5 million under the cap ceiling with RFA Valeri Nichushkin still left to be signed. As far as progress there, Nill said he’s had good talks with the agent.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!