Stars GM Jim Nill made the first trade of his tenure with the team, acquiring the rights to Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar for a conditional sixth-round pick in the upcoming draft.
In the event the Stars sign Gonchar to a contract for the 2013-14 season prior to the start of the draft in Newark, N.J., on June 30, Dallas will transfer its sixth-round selection to Ottawa.
The 39-year-old Russian has scored 217 goals and 558 assists for 775 points in 1,177 regular-season games with the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Senators. He's tops among active NHL defensemen in goals, assists and points, and ranks among the top-20 all-time in all three categories.
Gonchar has 22 goals, 68 assists and 90 points in 135 playoff games and was a member of the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup championship team.
