Jim Nill has finalized his first acquisition as General Manager of the Dallas Stars, inking defenceman Sergei Gonchar to a 2 year, $10 million deal. The rights to negotiate with Gonchar (who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5th) were acquired by the Stars in a trade with the Ottawa Senators yesterday. The Stars gave up a conditional 6th round draft pick for the right to speak to Gonchar. In signing the defenceman, the conditions have been fulfilled and Ottawa will get the pick.
Gonchar, 39 years old, has spent the last three seasons with the Ottawa Senators. This season may have been his best in Ottawa as his minutes and responsibilities were much increased due to the abscence of Erik Karlsson. He scored 3 goals and 27 points in 45 games for Ottawa. Gonchar’s play was a major reason why the Senators were able to overcome their long list of injuries, and still make the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Gonchar adds much needed punch to the Dallas Blueline. Alex Goligoski led the Stars defence corps with 27 points last season, however no other defender scored more than 13. Gonchar should also help the Stars PP which finished 18th in the NHL with a 17.0 % Success Rate. His leadership will also help a Stars team that will be breaking in defencemen such as Jamie Oleksiak, Joe Morrow, and Kevin Connaughton over the next couple of years.
The return of Karlsson from injury made Gonchar expendable in Ottawa. The team had told the veteran blueliner that he would not be brought back next season, due to the money he was looking for. A season filled with injuries has allowed the Senators to develop defenders such as Eric Gryba and Patrick Wiercoch. Wiercoch who had 19 points this season is likely to fill in a lot of the PP time either with Karlsson, or on the second unit if the Sens decide to play four forwards on the first unit.
Gonchar will be joining his 5th NHL team, after stops in Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, and of course Ottawa. He was a member of the 2009 Pittsburgh team that won the Stanley Cup. He has 775 career points in 1177 career NHL games.
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