The Dallas Stars have extended defenseman Nils Lundkvist. His two-year, $3.5 million contract was confirmed today by Stars GM Jim Nill.
Lundkvist, 25, was selected 28th overall by the New York Rangers in 2018 and is tied for 13th among defensemen drafted that year in scoring. In addition, the native of Pitea, Sweden, is tied for fourth among all 2018 draftees with a plus-minus rating of plus-28. He has earned 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) in 235 regular-season games with both the Stars and the Rangers since his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season.
“We’re excited to lock up Nils for two more years,” said Nill. “He is a highly skilled defenseman with excellent mobility and vision. His ability to move the puck and create offense makes him a valuable piece for our team moving forward.”
In international play, the 6-1, 194-pound blueliner has won two bronze medals with Team Sweden at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship and 2020 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship. He also was named the 2020-21 Salming Trophy Winner for Swedish Defenseman of the Year.
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Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed defenseman Nils Lundkvist to a two-year contract extension, which begins in the 2026-27 season and runs through the 2027-2028 season. The two-year contract is worth $3.5 million and has an average annual value (AAV) of $1.75 million.
“We’re excited to lock up Nils for two more years,” said Nill. “He is a highly skilled defenseman with excellent mobility and vision. His ability to move the puck and create offense makes him a valuable piece for our team moving forward.”
Lundkvist, 25, has recorded 11 points (3-8—11) through 52 games played with the Stars this season, carrying a plus-minus rating of plus-12. His 11 regular-season points ranked fourth among Stars defensemen. This season, Lundkvist played in his 200th NHL game on Jan. 7 against the Washington Capitals and scored his third goal of the season on Feb. 2 against the Winnipeg Jets, which is the second-most of his career, trailing only the six goals he scored in 60 games in 2022-23.
On the international level, the six-foot-one, 194-pound defenseman has won two bronze medals with Team Sweden at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship and 2020 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, totaling 10 points (1-9—10) through 14 games. He also was named the 2020-21 Salming Trophy Winner for Swedish Defenseman of the Year.
Lundkvist, a native of Pitea, Sweden, has totaled 55 points (12-43—55) in 235 regular-season games with both Dallas and the New York Rangers since making his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season. Originally selected by the Rangers with the 28th-overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, he ranks tied for 13th among defensemen drafted that year in scoring while ranking tied for fourth among all 2018 draftees with a plus-minus rating of plus-28.