A waiver claim from this past season is sticking with his new team. The Dallas Stars announced Monday afternoon that the team has signed forward Marian Studenic to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Financial terms are currently unavailable.
The Slovak forward was a fifth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils just five years ago, but he’s already got a handful of NHL experience under his belt at 23. That experience caused him to lose his waiver exemption this season, and after just one goal in 17 games in New Jersey (but 10 points in 13 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets), the Devils lost him on waivers to Dallas when attempting to return him to Utica in February.
Studenic fared better in Texas, scoring a goal and two assists in 16 regular-season games and six points in four games spent in AHL Texas on a conditioning stint. He played in four of Dallas’ seven first-round playoff games as well without registering a point.
Whether Studenic actually plays for Dallas on this contract remains to be seen. The two-way nature of the deal shows a lack of confidence for him to play consistently in an NHL role. If Studenic fails to lock down a spot in training camp or disappoints early in the season, he’ll find himself right back on waivers where another team could pick him up.