The Stars announced that they have signed forward Justin Hryckowian to a two-year extension. He’ll earn an average annual value of $950K for a total value of $1.9MM.
Hryckowian, 24, was an undrafted free agent signing out of Northeastern in 2024 and is in the back half of his two-year, entry-level contract. He was technically left off Dallas’ opening night roster for cap considerations, but was called up the following day and has stuck on the big league roster ever since. He’s made 42 out of 43 appearances for the Stars, scoring six goals while adding seven assists for 13 points. He’s averaged 12:04 per game with a -4 rating and leads Dallas forwards with 66 hits.
The 5’11” lefty only suited up in five NHL games last year but otherwise impressed as a rookie with AHL Texas. He played in 67 games for the Baby Stars, finishing second on the team in scoring with 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists). That was tops among first-year AHLers and earned him the Red Garrett Memorial Award as the league’s rookie of the year.
In college, he topped a point per game in his final two seasons at Northeastern and was named the best defensive forward in the Hockey East conference in 2023 and 2024. He may have slipped under the radar earlier in his development by not making the jump to college until his age-20 season, but he’s now well on his way to carving out a role for himself as a bottom-six NHL regular.
While Hryckowian has mostly skated on the left wing in Dallas, he can shift to center fairly easily and has won 56% of his faceoffs this season. Getting a responsible third or fourth-line piece who still has a little bit of untapped upside signed for six figures for multiple seasons is an expectedly shrewd move from three-time NHL general manager of the year Jim Nill.
Hryckowian would have had arbitration rights if he opted for restricted free agency this summer. Now, he’ll be able to walk straight to the open market as a UFA in 2028.