Dallas Signs Backman to One-Year Deal

Jun 9, 2016

FRISCO, Texas - Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed defenseman Mattias Backman to a one-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Backman, 23, registered 32 points (8-24=32) in 69 regular-season games with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL). The defensemen shared first on the Stars and 23rd in the AHL with a +18 plus/minus rating in his first full season in the AHL. Backman also ranked third among club defensemen in goals, assists and points. During the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, the defenseman posted two assists (0-2=2) and four shots on goal in four games.

Backman has earned 36 points (8-28=36) in 90 career AHL contests with the Texas Stars and Grand Rapids Griffins. The defenseman has appeared in 16 career games in the Calder Cup Playoffs, registering nine points (1-8=9) and 18 shots on goal. Backman also won a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship with Team Sweden, skating alongside current Dallas Stars John Klingberg and Patrik Nemeth.

The 6-3, 185-pound native of Linkoping, Sweden was originally selected by Detroit in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. He was acquired by Dallas along with Mattias Janmark and a second-round selection in the 2015 NHL Draft from Detroit in exchange for Erik Cole and a third-round selection in the 2015 NHL Draft on March 1, 2015.