Pending unrestricted free agent forward Matt Duchene re-signed with the Dallas Stars on Thursday on a four-year, $18 million contract.

Duchene, who would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1, recorded a team-leading 82 points (30 goals, career-high 52 assists) in 82 games last season. He added six points (one goal, five assists) in 18 playoff games for the Stars, who fell to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference finals.

“We are thrilled to have Matt back with our organization,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a team release. “As our team’s leading scorer last season, he helped to solidify our forward group while also providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community.

“The fit with Matt and our team has been seamless from the start, and we’re looking forward to continuing to pursue our shared goal of bringing a championship to Dallas.”

Duchene, 34, played on one-year, $3 million contracts in each of the last two seasons with Dallas.

He has totaled 891 points (371 goals, 520 assists) in 1,138 career games with the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators and Stars. He was selected by the Avalanche with the third overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.

–Field Level Media