With expensive, veteran additions such as Alex Radulov and Marc Methot, the Dallas Stars increasingly look like a win-now team. Even so, they still have some players who are entering their early primes.
They locked up one of those hopefuls on Thursday, handing power forward Brett Ritchie to a two-year, $3.5 million contract. That marks a $1.75 million cap hit.
Ritchie, 24, became a full-time member of the Stars for the first season, generating 16 goals and 24 points in 78 games during the 2016-17 campaign. As the 44th pick of the 2011 NHL Draft, he’s the kind of big forward who could take another step forward next season.
Most importantly, Ritchie makes faces like these:
Seems like a keeper.