FRISCO, Tex. – The Dallas Stars have re-signed right wing Jere Lehtinen to a one-year contract for the 2009-10 season. The deal includes a $1.5 million base salary, and as much as $1 million more in incentives.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Jere Lehtinen back with our club next season," said Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. "He has been one of the cornerstones of this franchise for many years, and we feel he will continue to be a significant contributor going forward. Jere is a consummate professional on and off the ice, and we look forward to his healthy return next season."
Lehtinen, 36, skated in 48 games for Dallas last season, notching eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points with eight penalty minutes. He missed 34 games in 2008-09 due to injury, but skated in his 800th career NHL game on Feb. 23 vs. San Jose, becoming just the fifth Dallas Star to do so.
Dallas' fourth-round selection in the 1992 Entry Draft, Lehtinen has skated in 817 career NHL games, all with the Stars, registering 497 points (239 goals, 258 assists) and 202 penalty minutes. In 108 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, he has 49 points and was a member of the Stars' 1999 Stanley Cup championship club.
Lehtinen is one of just three players in NHL history to have won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward three times (also Bob Gainey, 4, and Guy Carbonneau, 3).