What's Different in NHL Free Agency This Season? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTg1MDUwOTQ2MzA4ODc1NjA5/usatsi_16066490.jpg] After a long tenure in Minnesota, Ryan Suter is going to another team familiar with the "Stars" moniker. As originally reported by The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta [https://twitter.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/1420111271542853633] on Tuesday, Suter has signed a four-year deal worth $3.5-million annually. Dallas marks Suter's third NHL team since 2005-06 and a fresh start after the remainder of his four-year contract was bought out by Minnesota earlier this month. Suter was carrying a $7,538,461 cap hit at the time of the buyout. Suter becomes a veteran replacement for Sami Vatanen, who had a nine-game stint with Dallas after getting picked off waivers from New Jersey. Suter is still an asset worth taking a chance on: despite getting bought out by Minnesota, it was mainly due to his big salary and the length of the term still needed for a team looking to blow things up. The Stars already have a strong top four in the way of Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, John Klingberg and Andrej Sekera, as well as prospect Thomas Harley in the system. At 36, Suter obviously is bound to continue regressing, and this contract might not look so pretty after the first year. But with three goalies under contract, at least six defenders and nearly the entire forward core, the Stars look to have close to what should be the roster for the 2021-22 season. Dallas missed the post-season last year, but could a healthy Ben Bishop change things up? What other trade avenues will the team explore? Don't expect THAT quiet of a summer from the Texas-based outfit.
