Jeff Woywitka Highlights

FRISCO, Tex. – Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the club has signed defenseman Jeff Woywitka to a two-year contract worth $1.3 million ($600,000 for the 2009-10 season, and $700,000 for 2010-11).

“We are pleased to welcome Jeff Woywitka to the Stars organization,” said Nieuwendyk. “He’s gained some solid experience the last few years with St. Louis and we feel he brings valuable depth and stability to our defensive corps.”

Woywitka, 25, skated in 65 games with the St. Louis Blues last season, registering three goals and 15 assists for 18 points and 57 penalty minutes, all personal highs at the NHL level. He appeared in four Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Blues this past spring. He has skated in 152 career NHL games, all with St. Louis, recording 35 points (6 goals, 29 assists) and 106 PIM.

Originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round (No. 27 overall) in the 2001 Entry Draft, Woywitka notched seven assists in seven games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) in 2008-09. The season prior, he led Peoria in plus/minus (+15), tied for first amongst Peoria defenseman in goals (10) and was second in assists (20) and points (30) among club blue-liners.

The 6-3, 217-pound defenseman played four seasons with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League from 1999-2003, and was a member of Red Deer’s Memorial Cup championship club in 2001. The native of Vermilion, Alta., was honored in 2002-03 with the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s best defenseman.