Matt Duchene commits to Dallas Stars with new four-year, $18 million deal
Image Via Twitter (Matt Duchene commits to Dallas Stars with new four-year, $18 million deal)
This deal epitomizes loyalty and ambition: forward Matt Duchene has signed a four-year contract for just short of $18 million with the Dallas Stars. Instead of testing the waters of free agency on July 1, this 34-year-old veteran chose to extend his tenure with the organization, being the top point-getter for the team in the recent NHL season.
His continued presence stabilizes the offensive core and only adds strength to its championship aspirations.
Matt Duchene commands the superior role in the Dallas Stars through his leadership and experience
What a fascinatingly late-blooming affair for Duchene in Dallas! Duchene single-handedly created the offensive core of the Stars in 2017-18 with 82 points in 82 games, including 30 goals and 52 assists. However, his contribution diminished in the playoffs while the tall-tale leather drove him six points in 18 games.
Yet his handling and other intangible characteristics kept on counting. Having been present all season, much of the time, he found his way onto the ice, creating plays for the Dallas Stars, who reached the third round of the playoffs for the second year running to punish and humble on the mark.
Since Matt Duchene has been a part of five NHL teams (Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and currently thinking of joining the Stars), he brings along tons and tons of experience: 891 points in 1,138 regular-season matches.
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His versatility as a player-as both a scoring threat and a setup man, allowed him to blend seamlessly into Dallas's setup, adding scoring and some leadership to the table.
General Manager Jim Nill stated that the new partnership was almost assured to succeed because of Duchene's immediate contributions both on and off the ice. Duchene's staying power within the Stars' long-term plans was cemented by his influence within the locker room and in the community beyond his numbers.
With the choice to pursue a new contract and stay, Duchene demonstrates that his ambitions go beyond himself and are motivated by the prevention of seeing his team compete for a Stanley Cup.
With the baggage of age slightly coming in the way, there is growing urgency for Duchene to chase that title. When Duchene said there was "more behind than ahead," he was conveying the view that the decision to remain in Dallas was steeped in both the emotional and strategic.
For Duchene, this is no longer just about the personal wins, it's all about winning as a team.
Also Read: Matt Duchene gets honest about uncertain future with Dallas Stars
The new contract of Deuxne with the Dallas Stars points to much more than a mere business transaction, it is rather a pledge toward unfinished business shared by both parties. With his skill, leadership, and belief in the team, the Stars will be able to utilize momentum from the last couple of seasons as a stepping stone toward NHL glory.
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