The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2022-23 National Hockey League (NHL) season on July 22, the team reported.
Butcher, hailing from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was originally selected by Colorado in the fifth round (123rd overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Star’s General Manager Jim Nill announced on July 22. The deal comes with a $750K cap hit and a $300K minor league salary, according to CapFriendly.com.
While John Klingberg continues to be a free agent, his former team has continued to make moves to bolster their blueline. Will Butcher, a former Hobey Baker Award winner, has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Dallas.
Butcher has made several international appearances for Team USA, recently winning a bronze medal at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. He also took gold at the 2012 World U18 Championship, the Stars reported.
He is 27 years old and scored eight points in 37 regular-season games for Buffalo in 2021-22. The defenseman also had 32 blocked shots, 11 hits, and an average of 16 minutes and 29 seconds on ice per game. The five-year NHL veteran has appeared in 275 regular-season games for New Jersey and Buffalo, scoring 114 points, according to Hockeyreference.com.
The Stars also signed forward Riley Barber to a one-year, two-way contract through the 2022-23 season on July 14.
Barber, 28, will split the 2021-22 season between the Detroit Red Wings and the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). He appeared in four regular-season games for Detroit, recording two penalty minutes and four shots on goal, according to Hockeyreference.com.
The forward has played in 16 NHL regular-season games for Detroit, Montreal, and Washington, totaling 12 shots on goal, 19 hits, and four penalty minutes. Barber has 304 points in 364 AHL regular-season games with Grand Rapids, Laval, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Hershey. He made three Calder Cup Playoff appearances, all with Hershey, and has 15 points in 38 postseason games.
He led Grand Rapids in goals and was tied for second in points in 49 AHL regular-season games. With 15 power-play goals, he tied for second in the AHL, while his 28 goals tied for 14th in the League, the Stars reported.
Dallas starts the new hockey season on October 13 in Nashville before their home opener against the Predators on October 15.
