According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, former Minnesota winger Justin Fontaine has signed a professional try-out with the Dallas Stars. Fontaine had previously been signed to a PTO with the Florida Panthers, but he was released from it on Saturday.
An alumni of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Fontaine has spent the last three seasons as a bottom-six winger on the Wild and is trying to catch on somewhere for this season. An effective checker, Fontaine saw his offensive production fall off last year, scoring only five goals and sixteen points. If he were to his career high of 31, recorded just two years ago, he’d be a sought after asset for teams looking to fill our their forward group.
The Stars will kick the tires on the 28-year old, and see if he can contribute to their team this year. Look for Fontaine to sign an AHL deal somewhere if the Stars don’t bite, as it would be the second team to pass on the diminutive winger.