The Dallas Stars have signed forward Oskar Back to a one-year NHL contract worth $775,000. Back, 24, recently completed his NHL entry-level contract with the Stars, which had a cap hit of $851,000. According to PuckPedia, his qualifying offer was $813,750.
Back has spent the last three years playing for the AHL’s Texas Stars, where he scored seven goals and 36 points in 59 games last season—his best performance yet, following seasons of 25 and 27 points. He also contributed five points in each of the past two playoff runs with Texas.
Drafted 75th overall by the Stars in 2018, Back previously played three years with Farjestad in the SHL, achieving a career-best 14 points in 52 games during the 2020-21 season. He has also represented Sweden in various international tournaments, including the 2017 and 2018 U-18 World Championships and the 2019 and 2020 World Juniors.
Back is considered a depth forward and could be called up in case of injuries but will likely continue playing in the AHL full-time. Known for his solid playmaking and defensive skills, Back stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds.
According to CapFriendly, the Stars have $16.246 million in projected cap space for the 2024-25 season. Several players, including Joe Pavelski, who is not expected to play in 2024-25, and upcoming UFAs Matt Duchene, Craig Smith, Jani Hakanpaa, Derrick Pouliot, Scott Wedgewood, and Chris Tanev, will impact the team’s cap space. In the minors, Nicholas Caamano, Frederik Karlstrom, and Scott Reedy will become Group 6 UFAs, while Gavin Bayreuther and Alex Petrovic will be standard UFAs. Restricted free agents Sam Steel, Thomas Harley, Nils Lundkvist, and Matt Murray are also seeking new contracts for the 2024-25 season.
The Stars, who lost in six games to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final earlier this year, are expected to contend for the Stanley Cup in the 2024-25 season.
Leave a Reply