Duchene expressed on locker clean out day that he not only wanted to stay in Dallas, but he wanted more stability of a long-term deal.

Matt Duchene signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Dallas Stars on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $4.5 million.

The Predators bought out Duchene's contract when Barry Trotz was hired in 2023. That deal has paid him significantly over the last two years and will continue through 2026. Duchene is due $6.55 million in 2025-26, which downgrades to $1.55 million for the final three years of the buyout.