Defenseman Alexander Petrovic is back in the NHL after being recalled by the Stars, per a team announcement today. It’s the first recall of the season for the 32-year-old, who went unclaimed on waivers during the preseason.
Now in his fourth year in the Stars organization after initially landing in Texas as a free agent in 2021, Petrovic played in one regular-season and seven playoff contests for Dallas last season – his first NHL action in five years. The former Florida second-round pick has transformed into a minor-league fixture, posting 20 goals and 49 assists for 69 points in 214 games with AHL Texas over the past four seasons.
In his past NHL minutes, Petrovic graded well as a physical bottom-pairing defender. The 6’5″, 208-lb right-shot defender has averaged nearly 200 hits per 82 games throughout his time in the NHL and has half-decent even-strength possession metrics (49.7 CF%, 48.4 xGF%) while averaging north of 16 minutes per game. He’s made 264 career NHL appearances since debuting in the 2012-13 season, all but 10 of which have come with the Panthers. He’s scored five goals with 45 assists for 50 points with a -11 rating.
Currently serving as an alternate captain with Texas, he’ll give the Stars extra insurance on the back end after Mathew Dumba sustained a lower-body injury in Saturday’s shutout win over the Islanders. Dumba is still day-to-day and appears unlikely to suit up in tonight’s contest against the Sharks.