Bill Guerin
The forward who signed a five-year deal with Dallas but was bought out after a 40-point season.
Bill Guerin played for the Dallas Stars from 2002 to 2006 after signing a five-year contract as a free agent on July 3, 2002. He performed below expectations with the Stars, and after a disappointing 2005–06 season in which he recorded just 40 points, Dallas bought out the remainder of his contract. The Stars had to pay two-thirds of the remaining salary on his contract spread over twice as many years; this meant $6.7 million over one year became $4.4 million over two years. Despite numerous criticisms of his play during his time as a Star, Guerin received a standing ovation from the Dallas fans in recognition of his status as a longtime fan favorite when he was named to the 2007 All-Star Game hosted by the Stars while playing for St. Louis.
- Role
- Forward
- Tenure
- 2002–2006
- Status
- Retired Legend
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Guerin's tenure with the Stars began with high expectations after a 41-goal season with Boston in 2001–02. He signed a five-year contract with Dallas on July 3, 2002, but performed below expectations throughout his time there. The 2005–06 season was particularly disappointing, as he recorded just 40 points. Dallas bought out the remainder of his contract, paying two-thirds of the remaining salary spread over twice as many years: $6.7 million over one year became $4.4 million over two years. Despite the criticism of his play, Guerin remained a fan favorite. When he was named to the 2007 All-Star Game as a member of the St. Louis Blues—hosted by the Stars in Dallas—he received a standing ovation from the Dallas crowd.
In Their Own Story
The 2005–06 season ended with Guerin recording just 40 points for the Dallas Stars, far below the production expected from a player who had scored 41 goals just four seasons earlier. The Stars decided to buy out the remainder of his contract, a move that converted $6.7 million owed over one year into $4.4 million paid over two years. Despite the disappointment on the ice, Guerin's connection with Dallas fans endured. When he returned to Dallas as a member of the St. Louis Blues for the 2007 All-Star Game, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, recognizing his status as a longtime fan favorite despite the criticisms of his play during his Stars tenure.
Reader's Guide
Bill Guerin joined the Dallas Stars on July 3, 2002, signing a five-year contract after a 41-goal season with the Boston Bruins. He played for the Stars from 2002 through the 2005–06 season, but his performance fell below expectations. In his final season with Dallas, he recorded just 40 points. The Stars bought out the remainder of his contract, paying $4.4 million over two years instead of $6.7 million over one year. Despite the on-ice struggles, Guerin remained a fan favorite. When he was named to the 2007 NHL All-Star Game as a member of the St. Louis Blues—hosted by the Stars in Dallas—he received a standing ovation from the Dallas crowd in recognition of his status as a longtime fan favorite.
Did You Know?
- Guerin signed a five-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 3, 2002, after a 41-goal season with Boston.
- In his final season with Dallas (2005–06), Guerin recorded just 40 points.
- The Stars bought out Guerin's contract, converting $6.7 million over one year into $4.4 million over two years.
- Despite criticism of his play as a Star, Guerin received a standing ovation from Dallas fans at the 2007 All-Star Game hosted by the Stars.
- Guerin was named to the 2007 All-Star Game to represent the St. Louis Blues, not the Stars.
More in Legendary Players & Coaches
Elsewhere in the Dallas Stars universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record
