Forward Colin Blackwell is staying in Dallas after signing a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Stars on the first day of NHL free agency. Meanwhile, the franchise allowed Mikael Granlund to sign a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.
The team announced the deal Monday, retaining a player who made a strong impression after joining the club for the 2024-25 season. Although Blackwell has bounced around between different teams in the past, with Dallas being his sixth NHL destination, he is now set to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
Blackwell became an important piece for the Stars during the 2024-25 regular season, collecting 11 assists and six goals across 63 total appearances.
This regular season performance was then followed up with a solid showing in the postseason, with Blackwell recording one goal across his 11 appearances, though he was not often asked to be one of the team’s main playmakers when on the ice.
Notably, Blackwell’s singular postseason goal came as a game-winner in Game 2 against the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the second player in franchise history to score an overtime goal in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game, according to The NHL.
Stars General Manager Jim Nill commented on the signing and said Blackwell has become a “valuable part” of the team’s depth, adding that “excited to have him back” for two more seasons.
“His versatility on the ice and reliability on the penalty kill makes him a valuable asset to our team, and we are looking forward to seeing him on the ice in the Victory Green this year,” he added, according to The NHL.
This signing comes amid multiple other moves made by the team on Monday, with Dallas also announcing the hiring of new Head Coach Glen Gulutzan.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Gulutzan is joining the Stars for his second stint with the franchise after spending the last 12 years with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.
Additionally, Granlund left Dallas in free agency, signing a contract with Anaheim at the start of the free agency period.
This departure likely comes as the Stars manage a strict salary cap, with the team needing to let multiple players leave in free agency to account for various roster additions made over the past two seasons.
Regardless, Dallas is expected to enter the 2025-26 season as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, with very few teams possessing the amount of overall talent as the Stars moving forward.