The Dallas Stars, parent club of the AHL’s Texas Stars, announced on Monday that the club has signed centers Aaron Gagnon and Travis Morin to one-year, two-way contracts. This puts them under contract through the 2010-11 season.
Gagnon, 24, made his NHL debut with Dallas last season, recording two shots in two games with the Stars. He spent the majority of 2009-10 with Texas, skating in 78 games and pacing the club in goals (27) and points (58). The Quesnel, B.C., native also played 24 playoff games with Texas, collecting 12 points (8g, 4a) as the Stars reached the Calder Cup Finals.
The 5-foot-11, 186-pound center has appeared in 164 career AHL games and has scored 35 goals and 43 assists with a plus-24 rating. Gagnon was originally drafted by Phoenix in the eighth round (240th overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was signed as a free agent by Dallas on Feb. 2, 2007.
Morin, 26, skated in 80 games with the Texas Stars last season, tying for the club lead in assists (31) and totaling 52 points. He also posted four goals and 12 assists in 24 games. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native also played five games with Hershey over the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, totaling one assist.
Morin spent two-plus seasons with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, playing in 147 games and collecting 175 points (62g, 113a).
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound center spent four years at Minnesota State University–Mankato appearing in 151 games and tallying 133 points (58g, 75a). Morin was originally drafted in the ninth round (263rd overall) at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by Washington.
