Stars sign defenseman Andrej Sekera to a two-year contract

FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nillannounced today that the club has signed defenseman Andrej Sekera to a two-year contract, which will run through the 2021-22 season. The two-year contract is worth $3,000,000 and has an average annual value (AAV) of $1,500,000.

Sekera, 34, registered eight points (2-6=8) in 57 regular-season games in his first season with Dallas in 2019-20. He finished the season ranked second on the Stars with a +9 plus/minus rating. Sekera also ranked third on the team with 2:13 average shorthanded time on ice per game and ranked fourth with 75 blocked shots during the regular season. Additionally, Sekera appeared in all 27 of the Stars' games during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, earning one assist (0-1=1) and ranking third on the team with 38 blocked shots.

The defenseman has appeared in 764 career regular-season games over parts of 14 seasons for Buffalo, Carolina, Los Angeles, Edmonton and Dallas, while he's recorded 244 career points (47-197=244). Sekera has also made four trips to the playoffs in his NHL career, skating in 46 games and adding five points (2-3=5).

"Andrej did an outstanding job coming in and immediately making a difference on our back end last season," said Nill. "With his intelligence and experience, we look forward to Andrej continuing to play an impactful role in our defense corps."

Internationally, the blueliner has represented Slovakia at several international tournaments including two Winter Olympic Games (2010, 2014), eight World Championships (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019) and one World Jr. Championship (2005). Sekera has captained three out of the last four World Championship teams for Slovakia (2016, 2018, 2019) and he helped the country to a silver medal in 2012. He also played for Team Europe in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

The 6-foot, 195-pound native of Bojnice, Slovakia was originally selected by Buffalo in the third round (71st overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.