Stars sign Brenden Dillon; Sergei Gonchar out

Defenseman Brenden Dillon and the Dallas Stars came to terms on Thursday and the timing was perfect.

He agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract on the day that the Stars announced that defenseman Sergei Gonchar would miss three to five weeks with a fractured ankle.

Dillon, 23, who made $900,000 last season, had missed training camp while his contract was negotiated. His signing follows forward Cody Eakin's deal (two years, $3.8 million) by three days and brings everyone in the fold.

Dillon set career highs with six goals, 11 assists, 17 points and 86 penalty minutes. He led the Stars with 186 hits and was second with 149 blocked shots.

"Over the last few seasons, he's learned to use (his) size and strength to his advantage, helping him evolve into a solid shut-down defenseman," Stars general manager Jim Nill said of Dillon. "Brenden is an important part of our group and we expect him to keep growing into the player we know he can become."