In addition to acquiring Mikko Rantanen, the Dallas Stars make another pivotal move, signing Wyatt Johnston to a five-year extension. The 21-year-old centre has quickly developed into a key piece of the team’s core, making this deal a significant investment in the team’s future.
Wyatt Johnston and Dallas are completing a 5 x $8.4M extension
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025
Stars Sign Forward Wyatt Johnston to Five-Year Extension
The Stars’ former-first round pick Johnston has rapidly turned into a core piece of the organization. At just 21 years of age, Johnston has scored 23 goals and 59 points in 62 games this season. Only Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene have put up more points than the young centre. With Robertson needing a new contract soon, locking up Johnston is a big move for Dallas. In just his third NHL season, Johnston has developed into a near point-per-game player with the organization. Franchise stars like Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have been on the decline. With this, the extension for Johnston represents the next wave of Star’s forwards stepping up alongside Jason Robertson.
Shifting the Roster
With this extension and the Rantanen trade, Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill has changed the trajectory of the team in one day. Locking up Johnston was a key component when it came to acquiring Rantanen and what it would mean for the team, and locking him up for five more years at a relatively low-cap hit given his production and potential is a great move from the Stars GM.
The Stars traded fellow young star Logan Stankoven and two first round picks for Rantanen. He’ll be a core player for the team for the next nine years going forward. As such, Dallas prioritized setting up their future with the Johnston extension. With these moves, Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen have now been cemented as core forwards for this Stars team for the long-term.
Main photo by: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
