Stars sign C Hanzal to $14.5-million deal

The Dallas Stars signed center Martin Hanzal to a three-year, $14.25-million contract, the team announced on Saturday at the outset of free agency.

In addition, the Stars re-signed defenseman Patrik Nemeth to a one-year, $945,000 contract and signed forward Tyler Pitlick to a three-year, $3-million contract.

Hanzal, 30, split the 2016-17 season between the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild, combining for 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 71 regular-season games. In five Stanley Cup playoff games with Minnesota, he scored one goal and finished with a 57.3 percent faceoff percentage.

Hanzal, a veteran of 10 NHL seasons with Arizona and Minnesota, owns 326 points (121 goals, 205 assists) in 628 career regular-season games. He has advanced to the postseason four times during his career, recording 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 28 playoff games.

"Martin is a very detailed player who competes at high level," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. "He is one of the league's best centermen in the faceoff circle and his complete set of abilities will improve us in several facets of the game."

The 6-foot-6, 226-pound Hanzal, a native of Pisek, Czech Republic, was selected by Arizona in the first round (17th overall) of the 2005 NHL draft.

Nemeth, 25, posted three assists in a career-high 40 regular-season games for Dallas during the 2016-17 season.

Nemeth appeared in 108 career regular-season games over four seasons, all with Dallas, recording 14 assists. He also played in five Stanley Cup playoff games with Dallas, posting one shot, 17 hits and 10 blocked shots.

Pitlick, 25, posted 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 31 games for the Edmonton Oilers last season.

In parts of three NHL seasons, all with Edmonton, Pitlick recorded 14 points (11 goals, three assists) in 58 regular-season games.

The Stars also signed forward Brian Flynn to a one-year, two-way contract.

Flynn, 28, appeared in 51 games for the Montreal Canadiens in 2016-17, recording 10 points (six goals, four assists). He also appeared in one postseason game, recording two shots on goal.

Flynn, a five-year NHL veteran, has combined to play in 275 career regular-season games with the Buffalo Sabres and Canadiens, totaling 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists).

Dubnyk, Ryan, Coyle and Hanzal named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK -- UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone" has named Devan Dubnyk, Bobby Ryan. and the duo of Charlie Coyle and Martin Hanzal as their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL playoff games taking place on April 19, 2017.

FIRST STAR - DEVAN DUBNYK, G, MINNESOTA WILD

Dubnyk denied all 28 shots he faced to help the Wild stave off elimination and force Game 5 in their First Round series.

SECOND STAR - BOBBY RYAN, F, OTTAWA SENATORS

Ryan scored the only goal of the contest at 5:49 of the third period as the Senators took a 3-1 series lead. Ryan is second in Senators history to score a GWG in consecutive games of a playoff series (Daniel Alfredsson, 1997 CQF).

THIRD STAR(S) - CHARLIE COYLE and MARTIN HANZAL, F/D, MINNESOTA WILD

Coyle and Hanzal each scored to power the Wild to a 2-0 win over the Blues to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Report: Wild acquire Hanzal, White and pick from Coyotes for two picks and Downing

The Arizona Coyotes have traded forwards Martin Hanzal, Ryan White and a 4th-Round pick in 2017 to the Minnesota Wild for a 1st-Round pick in 2017, a 2nd-Round pick in 2018, a conditional 4th-Round pick in 2019 and minor leaguer Grayson Downing.

Hanzal, 30, has scored 16 goals and added 10 assists in 51 games with the Coyotes this season.

He scored 13 goals and tallied a career-high 41 points in 64 games with the club last season.

The Czech centre has spent his entire NHL career with the Coyotes franchise, since being drafted 17th overall by the team in 2005.

Hanzal is playing in the final season of a five-year, $15.5 million contract which includes a limited no-trade clause. His cap hit sits at $3.1 million.

Report: Coyotes getting asked about Hanzal

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

The Arizona Coyotes are reportedly getting asked about forward Martin Hanzal, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Hanzal has one year remaining on his contract after this season that will pay him $3.1 million. The 29-year-old is currently on pace to eclipse his previous career high of 40 points this season.

The Coyotes have also been linked to possibly trading forward Mikkel Boedker. His name has been linked to the New York Islanders.