The Dallas Stars are bringing back a pair of restricted free agent forwards. The team has announced a five-year, 16.25MM extension with Radek Faksa. They have also revealed a new two-year, two-way contract with Joel L’Esperance, expected to be worth his qualifying offer of $725K at the NHL level.
There was some skepticism that Faksa would receive a long-term deal and significant raise this off-season, but that is exactly what he got. Playing on a $2.2MM AAV for the past three years, Faksa has failed to surpass his point total from the year prior to signing his previous extension. The 2019-20 campaign was especially disappointing, as Faksa recorded just 20 points after totaling 30 points or more in each of his three full NHL seasons. The two-way center also saw his defensive effectiveness slip this past season. Yet, none of this seems to matter. Faksa is still a useful player and Dallas was happy to keep him around, no matter the cost. Faksa is locked in to five more years with Dallas and will count for more than $1MM more against the cap with his new $3.25MM AAV.
While he’s a helpful two-way presence, handing Faksa a raise that his statistics don’t necessarily back up could come back to bite the Stars. The team still needs to re-sign RFA forwards Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz, both of whom absolutely proved that they are top-six players deserving of significant contracts. However, they only have about $6.66MM in cap space remaining and Gurianov and Hintz alone would not fill out the roster. The Stars likely needed to get creative with the cap this off-season anyhow, but the pressure is now on to figure out their roster – before Gurianov or Hintz receive an offer sheet.
L’Esperance could be an affordable option to take on a roster spot for the cap-strapped club. The young center has played in 21 games with Dallas over the past two seasons and has been a productive player for AHL Texas. While he has yet to make much of an offensive impact in the NHL, experience and affordability could lead to opportunity for L’Esperance.
Good Radek. Joel will help the Texas Stars
Faksa is an elite defensive center, solid to above average most nights on the dot against the other teams top line. His role on this team is not about points. His role is to play a heavy style of hockey against an opponents top line and pass the baton to the next line. The biggest loss for us in the postseason was not Ben Bishop or Stephen Johns or Taylor Fedun or Roop Hintz or Seguin playing with a torn labrum etc. The loss of Radek was the biggest reason the Lightnings top line was as effective as they were against the Stars. That and a cheap whistle against Benn in game 4 that cost the game and series. At the very least was the final nail in the coffin. Radek is worth every penny of that contract and honestly its still a discount. im surprised he didn’t get 4.5
No disagreement about my favorite Star.Get the young guys signed. Pray Bish hold’s up.Not sure about Stephen will see.The rest will fall into place. Bottom 6 will change IMO.Jankmark no real lost. Had a Blackhawk fan tell me he could score 20-25 goals playing with Toews& Kane.We could do that to.