Dallas Stars Re-Sign RW Ray Sawada

by Brad Gardner on Jul 19, 2011 11:37 AM CDT in Dallas Stars News

The Dallas Stars announced today that they've agreed to terms with right wing Raymond Sawada on a one-year, two-way contract. Sawada is perhaps best known by Stars fans for being the unfortunate recipient of an illegal check to the head in that fateful February game in Boston that saw so many Dallas players injured. He would spend a month at the NHL recuperating his shoulder afterwards.

It's probably safe to say that the 2004 draft pick, now 26 years old, is not in the long term NHL level plans for the Stars but he's turned into a savvy veteran at the AHL level and a solid playoff performer. Should Dallas experience similar injury decimation next season (knock on wood) he can be recalled to provide some solid depth.

He has one NHL career point: a goal he scored in the 2008-2009 season.

Here's the release from the Stars...

The 6-2, 207-pound right wing from Richmond, B.C., appeared in 57 games last season for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL), posting career-highs in goals (11), assists (18) and points (29), with 91 penalty minutes. During the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs, Sawada appeared in six games, leading the team in assists with five and ranking second in points with six.

Sawada, 26, who appeared in one NHL game last season with Dallas, missed nine games during the 2010-11 season from Feb. 5 - Feb. 24 with a shoulder injury suffered against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 3.

Dallas' second round selection (52nd overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Sawada scored eight goals and 19 points with 92 penalty minutes with Texas during the 2009-10 campaign, helping the club reach the Calder Cup Finals. He skated in every playoff game for the club and collected eight points (3g, 5a) with 20 penalty minutes.

Prior to his professional career, Sawada played four seasons at Cornell University, scoring 76 points (31g, 45a) with 131 penalty minutes in 137 career games.

The Texas Stars also announced the addition of assistant coach Jeff Truitt yesterday. Read more on that here at Hundred Degree Hockey.

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Comments

WOW!

90 minutes after the post and no one has a comment. Have we all gone to sleep, or does the re-signing cause this much apathy? Given the excitement over the last month, I guess it’s good to see that we can be passive at times.

Unidentified, but reliable sources have informed the Times Herald that a St. Petersburg, Florida retirement community is negotiating with the Hicks Sports Group for the purchase of the Dallas Stars. "I don't believe it. Dickie Dunn wrote that. It's gotta be true. That's fantastic!"

by WhoMe? on Jul 19, 2011 1:08 PM CDT reply actions

Well...some of us just have to work.

As for Sawada, it’s nice to have some veteran farm hands in Austin to help the kids along.

"Our GM,
who art in the front office,
on Conn Smythe be thy name…"

by Angelou Del Angel on Jul 19, 2011 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

You want to come over and clean my house while I comment on DBD?

by Sugaa on Jul 19, 2011 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I remember a time when 6 comments on a story was a great damn day.

Link.

Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis
Proud member of the Joe Nieuwendyk support team.

by Brandon Worley on Jul 19, 2011 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Sad that at 26, he’s “a veteran to the kids in Austin.”

by Eric Palmer on Jul 19, 2011 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

News is still news.

During this boring hockey-less summer I don’t care what we talk about as long as it is about hockey.
On the plus side, I thought Sawada looked decent last year when called up until he got obliterated.

by T-rom on Jul 19, 2011 2:26 PM CDT reply actions

i really liked him in his call-ups with the big club the last few seasons

i guess he is what he is at this point in his career. but he played with some aggression, made some nice hits and showed some energy. all of which has been somewhat lacking the past 3 seasons.

by spatulacity on Jul 19, 2011 3:12 PM CDT reply actions

It's sad

Man, it’s sad to see the way his career has gone. It looked like he was going to be the next big thing after Neal made the big time… We all know that didn’t happen. Well, you can never have too much depth, and a guy like him is a good one to have around as a call up.

by Newt Goodler on Jul 19, 2011 4:11 PM CDT reply actions

I like watching sawada’s play down here in Austin. Very in your face kind of play. As far as NHL level, he’s just that of a deep depth player. If nothing else, I will atleast get to enjoy watching him one more year down here.

by C8all on Jul 19, 2011 10:11 PM CDT reply actions