DALLAS, July 2 -- Free agent right wing Donald Audette signeda four-year contract with the Dallas Stars on Monday, a move that could signal the end of Brett Hull's tenure in Dallas.
The Stars, who recently signed center Pierre Turgeon, also pursued Audette at the trade deadline in March.
Audette, 31, played in 76 games last season for the Atlanta Thrashers and Buffalo Sabres, combining for 34 goals and 45 assists, both career highs.
The signing of Audette could make Hull expendable in Dallas. Hull scored a team-high 39 goals last season, but the Stars elected not to exercise a $7 million option last month, making him a free agent.
The feisty 5-8 Audette, who is joining his fourth NHL organization, has recorded 235 goals and 212 assists in 597 career games.
He was drafted by Buffalo in 1989 and played for the Sabres through the 1997-98 season. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 18, 1998 for a second-round draft pick before being acquired by the Thrashers in March 2000. He was dealt back to the Sabres at the trade deadline last year.
