Dallas (AFP) — French left wing Antoine Roussel has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars, the team announced Tuesday.

The deal, worth a reported $8 million, avoids a salary arbitration hearing between Roussel and the club.

The 24-year-old from Roubaix, who moved to Canada at age 16, had a career-best campaign last season with 14 goals and assists on 15 others over 81 games.

Roussel also ranked third in the NHL with 209 penalty minutes.

“Since coming into the NHL, Antoine has been a very effective and hard player for opposing teams to compete against,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said.

“His skill combined with his competitive grit create energy for our club that impacts our whole lineup.”

In his NHL career, Roussel has compiled 21 goals and set up 22 others over 120 games.

Roussel scored six goals and set up five others for France in their eighth-place finish at this year’s World Championships.

AFP Photo / Thearon W. Henderson

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