"I always was confident that it would get done," the 26-year-old center said. "I preferred it to be done before the season, and the timing that it all happened couldn't have been better. If it didn't get done, I wasn't going any other way. Being a Dallas Star was my No. 1 priority and I just prepared all summer, getting ready for a good year, being the best at camp for my teammates. I feel good and I'm happy it's all done.
"It's crazy how long it took and how fast it came together, but I'm happy to be a Dallas Star the rest of my career."
Seguin will play the final season of a six-year, $34.5 million contract ($5.75 million annually) he signed with the Boston Bruins on Sept. 11, 2012. He could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2019 but instead signed with Dallas through the 2026-27 NHL season.
"Tyler is a world-class player and has become a leader for this franchise," general manager Jim Nill said. "We're ecstatic that he has dedicated himself to the city of Dallas and the Stars organization for the next nine years. In his time here, he has not only become an elite player, but he has done tremendous work in the community. Being able to get this done before the season starts shows how committed he is to this group, and how important winning is to him."
Seguin had 78 points, including an NHL career-high 40 goals, last season. He has 384 points (173 goals, 211 assists) in 387 games in the past five seasons and is tied for second in goals with Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins during that span. Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is first with 236.
Seguin was traded to Dallas from Boston on July 4, 2013. He was the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, behind Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers. Hall was traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 29, 2016.
"Right when I touched down from Boston, I instantly had chemistry with [forward] Jamie Benn, who was our captain," Seguin said. "The city, the organization, the people here. That was the biggest thing, was the people. I do believe we have something special here with the relationships, not only with teammates but with staff, with people in the front office, with ownership. It's just a family and somewhere I felt comfortable, at home and at ease with right when I touched down. It made this decision pretty easy."
Dallas (42-32-8) finished three points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for a second straight season and third time in the past four seasons.
Seguin said there is an added level of anticipation after the Stars hired Jim Montgomery as coach on May 4 to replace Ken Hitchcock, who retired. Montgomery, 48, coached the past five seasons at the University of Denver and won the NCAA Division I championship in 2017.
"It's excitement for sure," Seguin said. "We've had some great coaches in here and I've personally had great coaches. But at the end of the day, we haven't had this kind of coach, a younger guy, a player's coach if you want to call it that ... and is going to change things up. I think everyone's excited for that and looking forward to a fresh, new year."
The Stars begin training camp at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, on Friday and open the regular season at home against the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 4.
