Stars, Goligoski Agree to Terms on Four-Year Deal

[Thrillhouse]

Frisco, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Alex Goligoski (gall-ih-gah-ski) on a four-year contract extension worth $18.4 million (averaging $4.6 million per season). His current contract expires this summer. The new deal puts Goligoski under contract with the Stars through the 2015-16 season.

“We’re very pleased that we were able to sign Alex to this extension,” said Stars owner Tom Gaglardi. “We are committed to building a winner here in Dallas and that starts with re-signing your key players and maintaining a solid foundation for your roster.”

Added Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk, “Alex Goligoski is one of our core players and we are very pleased to get him under contract during the prime of his career. Alex is a character person and one of the anchors of our blue-line. He’s a big part of our hockey club.”

Goligoski, 26, is in his fourth NHL season and his second with the Stars. He has played in 236 career games, scoring 33 goals and 87 assists for 120 points and a +28 plus/minus rating. The 5-11, 181-pound defenseman leads Dallas in overall time-on-ice per-game (22:34), as well as power play time-on-ice per-game (3:38) this season. Goligoski has logged over 20 minutes of ice-time per-game in 54 of his 59 contests as a member of the Dallas Stars since coming to the team via a trade with Pittsburgh on Feb. 21, 2011.

Pittsburgh’s second round selection (61st overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Goligoski was a member of the Penguin’s 2009 Stanley Cup Championship team. A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., he played three seasons at the University of Minnesota (2004-07), scoring 25 goals and 73 assists for 98 points in 117 games. The 5-11, 180-pound defenseman was named First-Team All-American, First-Team All-WCHA, and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2006-07.

[FightingIsGood]

Good for GoGo, but I make that deal for Neal and Niskanen every time with the way they have played this season.

[thepolishkid88]

I love GoGo, he was my favorite Pen when he was here and right up there with Godard on my all time favorites, but that deal is absurd.

To put this into context Paul Martin makes $5 million, Michalek makes the same amount, and the absolute steal Letang makes $4 million. I think every Pens fan will make that trade every day of the week.