The Dallas Stars have inked defenseman Brendan Smith to a new contract, securing him for the upcoming season with a one-year deal worth $1 million.
Smith, who previously played under a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devils carrying a $1.1 million cap hit, will see a slight reduction of $100,000 in his new deal. Specifics such as no-move or no-trade clauses, as well as signing bonuses, have not been disclosed at this time.
This contract represents approximately 1.14% of the 2024-25 NHL salary cap. Smith joins fellow defensemen Conor Timmins, Travis Hamonic, and Kyle Burroughs with matching cap hits.
Despite being 35 years old, Smith delivered one of his most productive seasons in the NHL recently, tallying 5 goals and 10 assists for a total of 15 points across 63 games. This performance equaled his career-high goal tally achieved in the 2013-14 and 2020-21 seasons, while his 15 points rank as his second-highest season total, following his 19-point performance in the 2013-14 campaign.
Originally selected 27th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 NHL Draft, Smith debuted in the NHL during the 2011-12 season and spent six seasons in Detroit before being traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. Following five years with the Rangers, he entered free agency and subsequently played a season with the Carolina Hurricanes before joining the Devils on his previous two-year contract.
Smith’s signing is part of the Stars’ active first day in free agency, where they also re-signed Matt Duchene and added Matt Dumba, Casey DeSmith, and Ilya Lyubushkin to their roster. Following these moves, the Stars maintain approximately $6 million in projected salary cap space, with defenseman Thomas Harley being their lone restricted free agent awaiting a new contract.
