Sam Steel has settled into a bottom-six role with the Dallas Stars extremely well over the last few seasons, and the 28-year-old was rewarded for it Monday.

The Stars signed Steel to a four-year, $14.8 million contract extension less than two weeks before the start of the 2026-27 NHL campaign, general manager Jim Nill announced.

“We couldn’t be happier to extend Sam,” Nill said in the official release. “His consistency during his time with our team, especially on the penalty kill, plus his versatility has made him a valuable asset to our organization, and we’re happy to be locking him up for the next four seasons.”

The contract carries a $3.7 million average annual value and begins in the 2027-28 season.

Originally selected 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2016 NHL Draft, Steel played four seasons in California before signing a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The Sherwood Park, Alberta native enjoyed a breakout year, playing alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello while establishing career highs across the board with 10 goals and 28 points in 65 regular-season games.

After the Wild declined to tender him a qualifying offer, Steel signed with the Stars as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2023. He recorded 24 points in 77 games during his first season in Dallas before returning on another one-year contract.

Article Continues Below

Steel increased his point total to 25 in 2024-25 and 33 in 2025-26 while helping the Stars reach two Western Conference Finals during his three seasons with the organization.

He now receives a well-deserved raise, along with the security of remaining in Dallas through the 2030-31 campaign.

The former Regina Pats forward is defensively sound, plays a smart two-way game and can kill penalties, take faceoffs and move higher in the lineup when necessary. He spent time alongside Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen in 2025-26.

Steel has managed 82 points in 229 regular-season games with the Stars, ranking ninth among Dallas forwards during that span, per the release. He has also logged more shorthanded ice time than any other Stars forward since joining the team.

Overall, Steel has recorded 175 points in 491 regular-season contests split between the Ducks, Wild and Stars.

Dallas opens its 2026-27 campaign against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 2.