Dallas Stars Sign G Richard Bachman To One-Way Contract

The Dallas Stars announced Thursday afternoon that they have signed RFA's Richard Bachman and Colton Sceviour to one-year deals. Bachman's contract is a one way deal that will see him earn $625,000 next season.

The Stars now have goaltender Christopher Nihlstorp on a two-way deal ($1 million NHL salary) and Richard Bachman at $625K. Many will look at the timing of this news and say that Nihlstorp has been relegated to AHL duty along with Jack Campbell, but the impression given at camp this week is that the competition is very much open.

Capgeek seems to be indicating that Nihlstorp is not waiver eligible, meaning the Stars could send him to Texas without fear of him being claimed. One-way or two-way deals seem to have no bearing on waiver eligibility, meaning Bachman may still be waiver exempt. We're double checking on this. CBA buffs sound off in the comments.

The Stars could trade one when the time comes to make a decision, as the guess is that neither is eager to go to the AHL level, where another battle for playing time would ensue. One thing is for certain: Joe Nieuwendyk likes competition at this position and he's going to get it, possibly at the AHL and NHL levels.

Meanhwhile Sceviour had a favorable training camp in Dallas last season and a good year in Cedar Park, becoming one of the best forwards on the team and a leader. Many feel he deserves a chance to grab a roster spot on the NHL club in training camp, but the ranks are getting a bit crowded, and like Nihlstorp, he may suffer from an abbreviated training camp in a lockout situation.

This signing leaves Jamie Benn, Philip Larsen and Mark Fistric as the unresolved RFA's for Dallas.

The full release from the Stars is after the jump...

Frisco, TX - The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has signed goaltender Richard Bachman (BAWK-mahn) to a one-year, one-way contract for the 2012-13 season worth $625,000. The club also signed forward Colton Sceviour (SEE-vee-yuhr) to a one-year, two-way deal for the 2012-13 campaign.

Bachman, 24, posted an 8-5-1 record with a 2.77 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 18 games with Dallas last season. Bachman earned a win in his NHL debut on Dec. 10, 2011 at Los Angeles, and recorded his first career NHL shutout on Dec. 12, 2011 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Bachman became the first rookie goaltender in Dallas Stars history to win his first three NHL starts, and the first to start seven consecutive games. He was also the first goaltender in Dallas Stars history, and the third in franchise history, to shutout the Rangers (also Gilles Meloche and Gump Worsley).

Bachman represented the United States for the first time in his career at the 2012 IIHF World Championships, stopping 17 of 19 shots en-route to a win over Kazakhstan in his only appearance at the tournament.

Originally drafted in the fourth round (No. 120 overall) by Dallas in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Bachman spent two seasons at Colorado College before making his professional debut with the Idaho Steelheads, Dallas Stars' ECHL affiliate, during the 2009-10 season. Bachman was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team in 2009-10 and finished as runner-up for the ECHL Goaltender of the Year award.

Prior to his tenure as backup goaltender last season for the Stars, Bachman spent two partial seasons and one full season (2010-11) with the Texas Stars, Dallas' affiliate in the American Hockey League. In 78 career games with Texas, Bachman posted a 39-29-6 record with a 2.37 GAA and nine shutouts.

Sceviour, 23, has spent the last three seasons with the Texas Stars, and appeared in one NHL game with Dallas during the 2010-11 season. Last season with Texas, Sceviour finished third on the team with 53 points (21 goals, 32 assists) in 75 games played.

The 5-foot-11, 201 pound native of Red Deer, Alberta, was drafted by Dallas in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) during the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. During his three year tenure with Texas, Sceviour has recorded 125 points (46 goals, 79 assists) in 232 games played. Sceviour has also added two goals and seven assists for nine points during 30 career AHL playoff games for Texas.

Prior to his time in the AHL, Sceviour spent five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winter Hawks and the Lethbridge Hurricanes.