After spending two seasons in the KHL, 2013 first-round pick Valeri Nichushkin has signed a two-year, $5.9 million deal with the Dallas Stars.

Stars general manager Jim Nill said last July he expected Nichushkin to return for the 2018-19 season after completing his two-year deal with CSKA Moscow. Nill elected to protect Nichushkin in last year's Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft.

 

Nichushkin, 22, was selected 10th overall in the 2013 draft by the Stars. He scored nine goals and added 20 assists with the team in 79 games during the 2015-16 season.

He scored 16 goals and posted 27 points in 50 with CSKA Moscow this season. Though he was considered a likely candidate to play for Russia in the Olympics, Nichushkin was one of five Russian hockey players barred from the tournament by the IOC. No reason was given by the IOC at the time.

The right winger scored 14 goals and recorded 20 assists as a rookie with the Stars in 2013-14. He played in only eight games during the 2014-15 campaign due to hip surgery.