The Dallas Stars moved one step closer to finalizing their lineup for next season by locking up their most important outstanding restricted free agent, signing Radek Faksa to a three-year, $6.6 million contract extension.
At 23, Faksa has cemented himself as an important piece of the Stars middle six. He generally plays center (though where exactly he will fit in a lineup that now has eight players who can play center will have to wait until September training camp) and brings a hard forechecking style to both even strength and the penalty kill.
In his career, he has 45 points in 125 games while playing in relatively difficult minutes, and he upped his game in the 2015-16 playoffs with five points and two game-winning goals in 13 total games.
Also, he sometimes does this:
Faksa’s signing, at a $2.2 million cap hit per season, brings the Stars to the edge of next season’s $75 million salary cap, with $74.23 million in cap dollars committed to 23 players. Including Julius Honka’s $812,000 contract, they’re actually just over with 14 forwards, eight defenseman and two goalies. That does not include Jamie Oleksiak’s contract, as he is still an RFA.
Still, they can only carry 23 into the season so it will work itself out to some extent, and teams are allowed to be over the cap in the offseason so it’s not a worry right now.
The good news, if there is such a thing, is the relatively tight salary cap situation may (finally!) force their hand with regards to the too many defensemen, not enough ice time situation. Huzzah.
Here is the official release from the team on Faksa’s signing:
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has re-signed center Radek Faksa to a three-year, $6.6-million contract.
Faksa, 23, posted 33 points (12-21=33) in 80 games for Dallas during the 2016-17 regular season, his first full season in the NHL. On the season, he finished fourth on the team with 101 hits and his 33 points were tied for fifth. He finished second amongst team forwards with 62 blocked shots, which were tied for 21st amongst all League forwards.
In his career, Faksa has played 125 regular-season games over two seasons with Dallas. In total, he has posted 45 points (17-28=45). He also appeared in 13 games for the Stars during the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tallying five points (3-2=5) and two game-winning goals.
“We’re thrilled to have Radek locked in for the next three seasons as he is an important part of what we’re building here,” said Nill. “He has proven to be a trustworthy, 200-foot player and we fully expect him to continue growing in all areas of his game.”
Faksa has competed internationally for the Czech Republic at the 2016 World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of Vitkov, Czech Republic was originally selected by Dallas in the first round (13th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.