National Hockey League star Matt Duchene said he was never interested in testing free agency this summer.
The 34-year-old centre signed a four-year $18 million extension with the Dallas Stars June 19, returning to the team he led in scoring last season with 30 goals and 52 assists in 82 regular season games and six points in 18 playoff appearances. The deal carries an average annual value of $4.5 million, with a full no movement clause through the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons and modified trade clause for the final two years.
His one-year $3 million contract, signed last summer, was due to expire June 30.
“It’s a relief for sure and it’s nice to be able to truly settle in,” Duchene told The Highlander in a June 22 email. “Not many 34-year-olds get four-year deals with as much trade protection as I got, so it shows the faith the organization has in me as a person and player.
“I don’t want that to ever feel misplaced. I want to honour that faith and trust they put in me by continuing to improve as a player and helping the Stars to win a cup,” he added.
The Haliburton native has been a key cog as the Stars have gone to back-to-back Western Conference finals, losing out to the Edmonton Oilers in each of the past two seasons.
After seeing team management shoot for the stars last spring, acquiring and signing superstar Mikko Rantanen to a long-term deal before tying down top restricted free agent Wyatt Johnston, Duchene believes the team has what it takes to go again come fall.
“The organization is second to none, with a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup every year,” he said. “We’re very close… I think we are a great defensive team, but we need to score more as it gets closer to the end [of the season]. We’ve dried up the last two years at the wrong times. Hopefully we can get there.”
In his 16th pro season, Duchene recorded his second-highest points tally and was a difference maker for the team, particularly early on when younger stars Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz were struggling.
Number 95 believes he’s playing the best hockey of his career on his fifth NHL team, following stints in Nashville, Ottawa, Columbus and Colorado.
“I think as you get older, you get smarter and more experienced. As long as you keep the physical part of your game where it needs to be, you should only get better,” Duchene said. “Also, I’ve been put in a great position to succeed… with so much talent around me.”
Knowing that, off-ice, his family – wife Ashley, and children Beau, Jaymes, and Ellie – are happy and settled has also helped.
“We absolutely love the city of Dallas; it has welcomed us with open arms. We are around like-minded people with great family and Christian values… so chasing more money at free agency to go somewhere where all these things may not be present made no sense to us,” he continued. “Dallas checks all the boxes.”
Duchene said part of the summer will be spent back home in the Highlands as he recharges his batteries following a gruelling year. This was only the second time he’s played a full 82-game regular season schedule. With playoffs, he featured in 101 games.
He’s looking forward to swapping his hockey stick for a golf club next month as the Matt Duchene Charity Golf Classic returns to Blairhampton Golf Club. The fundraiser, benefitting Haliburton Highlands Health Services, is taking place July 18.
“To have great health care in our community is so important. Being able to contribute the way we have has been incredible – my dad (Vince) and the board have hit it out of the park the last few years, and we hope for a similar result this year,” Duchene said.
The 2024 event raised a record $222,000, supporting the purchase of new CPR assist devices, bladder scanners and ice machines for the Haliburton hospital and room upgrades at Highland Wood and Hyland Crest long-term care homes.
Duchene said he’s always loved the idea of playing at the top-level until he was 40, but admitted, with this contract taking him to 38, it might be his final NHL deal.
“After this, I’ll reassess and see where my game is at and how things with my family look.”
