Dallas Stars: Wrapping Up A Busy First Day Of 2019 Free Agency
By Josh Clark
Andrej Sekera
To round out their July 1 in terms of major signings, let’s talk about another quality depth move that involves no risk and a potentially sizable reward. Let’s talk about Andrej Sekera.
"“I think my agent phoned me after I got bought out, probably an hour later, and told me Dallas might be interested and some other teams as well. But Dallas was very straightforward and they offered me a contract. It was a no-brainer for me to take. I know what kind of situation I was in the last few years, but now I am healthy, ready to roll, and I will do my best to help win as many games as possible.” –Sekera on signing with the Stars"
The Dallas Stars signed Sekera to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million (with $500,000 in potential bonuses attached). And, much like Corey Perry’s situation, he’s a veteran player coming off of an injury and buyout with something left to prove.
“He’s had two tough years,” Nill mentioned. “He blew his knee out the one year, and the next year at training camp he injured his Achilles tendon. Those are injuries that take about a year to recover from. He came back in February and started playing and then he played in the World Championships We saw him over there and he played really well.
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“Once again, just because of the cap situation, Edmonton made a decision that they have to move on. We’re fortunate that we’re getting another guy that wants to show that he still has something left in his game. We watched him in the World Championships and he’s skating better. We think he’s going to get even better just from time and training.”
Sekera is a bit of an NHL journeyman, having played with four different teams in his 13 years in the NHL. But in past seasons, he’s been a steady defender that moves the puck well and can play top minutes. As Montgomery noted, he was the top defenseman for both the Hurricanes and Oilers for a handful of years and knows how to provide stability.
“It makes us almost an all-European defense,” Montgomery added. “It adds to our quota of Europeans, which is important because we do have a significant group and a really important group to our core. So, that’s good. If he plays with Roman Polak, I don’t know if we’re ever going to understand what they’re talking about.
“But it’s important. What we like is his ability to move pucks and his ability that he has been a top-two and a top-four his whole career in the NHL. That’s something to know how to play those minutes in the NHL, manage your ice time, and excel.”
Sekera is a left-handed shot that knows how to play anywhere in the lineup and can log heavy minutes when necessary. Bringing him in with a relatively young defensive group (especially when considering the departure of Ben Lovejoy and Marc Methot) should only further balance out the blue line and help them capitalize a successful performance in 2018-19.
“A lot of young and talented guys on the back end and in the net,” he said of the Dallas defense. “This team was really dangerous last year and it will only get better this year as well. So, a couple of additions they made in the market will help the team and I’m just really fortunate to be a part of this group.”