Matt Duchene reportedly signing with Stars

A day after getting bought out by the Nashville Predators, Matt Duchene has signed a one-year contract worth $3 million with the Stars, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

Duchene had three years remaining on his contract with the Predators before the club bought out the final year of his $8 million deal.

Duchene registered 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points in 71 games during the 2022-23 regular season. The year prior, Duchene notched a career-high 43 goals and 86 points.

The Haliburton, Ontario, product was initially drafted third overall in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche after scoring 31 goals and 79 points in 57 games with the Brampton Batallion of the Ontario Hockey League. Duchene made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season, recording 24 goals and 55 points in 81 games; where he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after leading all rookies in goals and points, Duchene was a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

The two-time NHL all-star and Olympic gold medalist has appeared in 976 games throughout his 15-year career, collecting 316 goals and 428 assists for 744 points with the Avalanche, Senators, Blue Jackets and Predators.

Duchene joins a loaded offensive group that includes Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Tyler Seguin and Joe Pavelski, as well as top defenseman Miro Heiskanen and goaltender Jake Oettinger. The Stars lost out to the Vegas Golden Knights in the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but look ready to bounce back big in 2023-24. The Stars have $2.207 million in cap space after signing Thomas Harley and Craig Smith to deals earlier in the day.