Stars give Goligoski 4-year deal

DALLAS, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Defenseman Alex Goligoski signed a four-year contract extension with the Dallas Stars Monday worth $18.4 million.

"Alex Goligoski is one of our core players and we are very pleased to get him under contract during the prime of his career," said Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk, who kept Goligoski from becoming a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

"Alex is a character person and one of the anchors of our blue line. He's a big part of our hockey club."

Goligoski, 26, has 33 goals and 87 assists in 236 games in the NHL. He playing his first full season with the Stars, who obtained the Minnesota native from Pittsburgh in a trade last February that sent James Neal to the Penguins.