It was a busy Friday afternoon for Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill, who made his fourth player transaction in the last two days.
Less than half an hour after the team announced an extension for defenseman Nils Lundkvist, Dallas also signed forward Mavrik Bourque to a one-year contract worth $950,000.
“Mavrik is a dynamic and highly skilled player whose vision and hockey IQ stand out every time he is on the ice,” said Nill in a statement. “His ability to create plays and elevate the game is something we value deeply in such a young player. We are excited to have him back and confident he’ll continue to make a significant impact for our team.”
Bourque’s entry-level contract was to expire this summer with the 23-year-old set to become a restricted free agent. Many saw him as a popular candidate for an offer sheet by another team, but Nill locked up Bourque for another year before that could even be a possibility.
He also received a slight raise, as his entry-level deal held a $894,000 cap hit annually.
Bourque made his NHL debut for the Stars late in the 2023-24 season before earning a permanent spot on the roster out of training camp last fall. In his rookie year, he appeared in 73 regular-season games, recording 25 points (11 goals and 14 assists).
Bourque took on a reduced role in the playoffs, appearing in just three games and not registering a point.
But the Quebec native has long been thought of as a key part of Dallas’ future. He was the Stars’ first-round draft pick in the 2020 NHL draft, led the AHL in scoring in the 2023-24 season and was named the league’s MVP that year.
His transition to the NHL landed him in a bottom-six role for most of the season and led to some inconsistencies in his game. But the Stars still feel there’s promise in his development when given more time and opportunity to show his full potential.
After the extension of fellow restricted free agent Nils Lundkvist, the Stars are left with $2.76 million to sign four players.
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