Mar 11, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski (33) skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Blackhawks 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Coyotes have traded their fifth-round draft pick in this month's draft to the Dallas Stars for the negotiating rights to pending free agent defenseman Alex Goligoski.
The Coyotes can negotiate with Goligoski until July 1. If a new contract isn't reached with Goligoski before that date, the 30-year-old defenseman would become an unrestricted free agent.
Goglioski, 5-feet-11 and 185 pounds, played in all 82 games for the Stars, recording five goals, 32 assists, 34 penalty minutes and a plus-minus rating of plus-21. Goligoski was second among all Stars' defensemen in points. He also played in 13 playoff games with the Stars, registering four goals and three assists.
He was in the final season of a four-year contract worth $18.4 million.
Coyotes general manager John Chayka told Craig Morgan of ArizonaSports.com that he's confident in the team's ability to sign him. "In our position, we thought it was worth a fifth-round pick to have that window," Chakya said. "It's more about the confidence in what we have to sell here with a team that is young and poised to break out."
He has played in 562 NHL games in his career with Pittsburgh and Dallas and recorded 55 goals and 222 assists.
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