Dallas Stars Sign a Quartert of Minor Leaguers

The Dallas Stars are looking to shore up the D-Line for the Texas Stars down in Austin as players like Andrew Hutchinson and Scott Mcculoch have left the organization as players continue to look to move on the NHL.

The Stars have resigned defensemen Maxime Fortunus and Trevor Ludwig as Ludwig split time between Idaho and Texas last season but really did well in the playoffs while Fortunus was a great offensive defensemen as he scored 23 points (11G 12A) in 72 regular season games. In addition to the playoffs he was huge in the post season by scoring 9 points.

While another player from the time machine will make its return to the Dallas Organization as Brad Lukowich returns as he was one of the players that helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999 and was also a teammate of the recently retired Darryl Sydor on the Cup Winning Team with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In addition to the trio of defensemen, the organization also signed forward Raymond Sawada as he played a handful of games for the Dallas Stars as well this season.

NHL Player Profiles

Maxime Fortunus

Trevor Ludwig

Raymond Sawada

Brad Lukowich


From the Dallas Stars Press Release: http://stars.nhl.com/

The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defensemen Maxime Fortunus on a two year, two way contract through the 2011-2012 season and defensemen Trevor Ludwig and Brad Lukowich each to a one year two way contracts through the 2010-2011 season.

Fortunus, 26, made his NHL Debut with Dallas last season, recording four penalty minutes in 8 games. He spent the majority of the season with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL), skating in 72 games and recording 23 points (11G 12A).

The 6'1", 198 pound defensemen helped Texas reach the Calder Cup Finals in the clubs inaugural season in the AHL, playing 24 games and tallying nine points (2G 7A). The La Prairie, Quebec Native was originally signed as a free agent by Dallas on July 3, 2008.

Ludwig, 25, split time last season between the Idaho Steelhounds of the ECHL and the Texas Stars of the AHL. He finished the season with Texas, collecting 8 points (3G 5A) and 62 penalty minutes in 47 games.

The 6'0", 205 pound defensemen also appeared in 19 playoff games in Texas, recording one assist and 18 penalty minutes. The Rhinelander, Wisconsin native was the Dallas Stars sixth round pick (283rd overall) at the 2004 NHL Draft.

Lukowich, 33, has spent 653 career NHL Games and helped both the Dallas Stars (1999) and the Tampa Bay Lighting (2004) to win the Stanley Cup. Over his NHL Career he has accued 113 points (23G 90A) and 369 PIM. Lukowich has dressed in 71 career NHL Playoff Games notching six points (1G 5A) and 22 penalty minutes.

The 6'1", 200 pound defensemen played 224 games for the Dallas Stars from 1997-2002. Last season he split time with Vancouver and the Texas Stars, skating 13 games for the Canucks, collecting two points (1G 1A) and four PIM. The Cranbrook, BC Native appeared in 29 games with Texas, tallying 18 points (3G 15A) and 10 penalty minutes.

The Dallas Stars announced today that the club agreed to terms with right wing Raymond Sawada on a one year two way contract through the 2010-2011 season.

Sawada, 24, spent the majority of last season with the Texas Stars, appearing in 60 games and tallying 19 points (8G 11A) and had 92 penalty minutes. He also played five games for Dallas in 2009-2010 recording two shots. The 6'2", 207 pound right wing has played 122 AHL Games, collecting 49 points (16G 33A).

The Richmond, BC Native, was Dallas' second round selection (52nd overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.