Stars, Antoine Roussel avoid arbitration; agree to 4-year, $8 million contract
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The Dallas Stars and super-pest Antoine Roussel have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to terms on a a four-year contract, according to a report from ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. TVA's Renaud Lavoie is reporting that the contract will pay Roussel $8 million over the next four seasons, for an averaged annual value of $2 million per season.
LeBrun has the breakdown on Roussel's contract, which is modestly back-loaded:
Roussel 4-yr deal: 1.6-1.8-2.2-2.4
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 22, 2014
Roussel, 24, has scored 21 goals in 120 games over the past two seasons, while playing a limited, defensively calibrated role and logging major minutes on the penalty-kill. The ace agitator has managed to drive play, draw a tonne of penalties, and has scored goals at an astounding rate for a bottom-six piece.
Roussel's side was reportedly looking for a salary award in excess of $2 million at salary arbitration, while the Stars countered with a $1.15 million valuation.