Stars Ink Sheldon Souray for One Year

[caps05]

Frisco, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Sheldon Souray on a one-year contract worth $1.6 million.

Souray, 34, a veteran of 650 NHL games over 11 NHL seasons, has posted 262 career NHL points (96g, 166a) and 1,020 penalty minutes. He spent last season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring four goals and 15 assists for 19 points with 85 penalty minutes. Souray also played in six playoff games with Hershey, collecting two points (1g, 1a) and 16 penalty minutes.

“Sheldon Souray is a veteran defenseman that we are pleased to add to our hockey club," Nieuwendyk said. “We’re looking forward to his contributions next season.”

The Elk Point, Alberta, native skated in 37 games for the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10 after his season was cut short by two injuries (head and hand), recording 13 points (4g, 9a) and 65 penalty minutes. In 2008-09, Souray ranked second among NHL defensemen in power play goals with 12, tied-for-second in overall goals with 23 and tied-for-eighth in overall points with 53 points (30 assists). He also led the Oilers in shots (268) and power play goals and tied-for-first on the club in goals and game-winning goals (5).

The 6-4, 233-pound defenseman has scored 18 career game-winning goals, 47 power play goals and has four shorthanded tallies. He has netted 12-or-more goals in four NHL seasons and 35-or-more points in four of his 11 NHL seasons. Souray has played in 34 career playoff games, recording 10 points (3g, 7a) and 68 penalty minutes. He was drafted by New Jersey in the third round (71st overall) at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

[ThrowdownSJ408]

whoa nice! glad to see Dallas getting another tough guy!

[canuckfan]

Souray gets out of NHL cap purgatory and gets another chance in the bigs, at a pretty decent price for the Stars - I like the fact its for only one year. Interesting to see if he can stay healthy, and if so, what kind of numbers he can still put up....

[Viper207]

Low risk, high reward signing here. Much like Commodore in Detroit, if it works out, great. If it doesn't, no big deal, see ya pal.

[Loosey]

He is big, he is weird, and he is made of glass. But I think this is a decent steal here, the price is right, he is a bit of a liability but his shot is unreal, and he stands up for team mates.

Don't like Dallas, like this move. If he plays well again this year and keeps his mouth shut he could get a nice last decent payday before he calls it quits.

[Godly_goon]

1.65 million on a slap shot.... booming shot but a ****ty shoulder and wrist to keep him booming howies... don't expect much in dallas

[NYR36]

Good signing for the money.

Signing almost anyone to a 1 year contract is a good move in my books. Wash your hands clean if it was a mistake after the year.

[bengino]

he wasn't hurting financially after the buyout, but he's going in almost anonymity in Dallas, low risk and potential decent but not really high reward in my books.

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by bengino

he wasn't hurting financially after the buyout, but he's going in almost anonymity in Dallas, low risk and potential decent but not really high reward in my books.

That's the best thing for him.

In a hockey crazed market like Montreal or Edmonton, he just couldn't hold up to the pressure and constant ridicule from the press, whether it was about his play or his injuries. In Dallas, he might get mistaken for Dirk, but that's surely not for the hockey player formerly known as Sheldon Souray.

Good pickup for the Stars.