Spezza joins Dallas on busy free agency day

Spezza, a 31-year-old All-Star center, was captain of the Senators but had requested a trade last month.

After turning down a possible move to the Nashville Predators, he gladly accepted the chance to link up with 22-year Tyler Seguin as the top two centers for the Stars.

Spezza, an All-Star in 2008 and 2012, heads to Dallas along with forward Ludwig Karlsson in exchange for forwards Alex Chiasson, Nicholas Paul and Alexander Guptill, and a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

"Ottawa was home for me ... since I was 18 years old," Spezza, who had one year left on a contract that carried a $7 million NHL salary-cap charge, told Sportsnet. "We've had some great teams, and I've grown a lot as a person and as a player.

"It's bittersweet to leave there but I can honestly say I'm really excited about going to Dallas and the next chapter of my career here.

"I feel like it was mutual to have me move on and to get an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup somewhere else. At this point in my career, that's really all that matters to me."

Spezza, selected by Ottawa with the No. 2 pick in the 2001 NHL Draft, had played his entire career for the Senators, amassing 251 goals and 687 points in 686 games.

The Edmonton Oilers also made an early splash in free agency on Tuesday, signing forward Benoit Pouliot and defenseman Mark Fayne to multi-year contracts.

Pouliot recorded 15 goals and 36 points in 80 games for the New York Rangers last season while Fayne had four goals and 11 points in 72 games for the New Jersey Devils during 2013-14.

In other moves on Tuesday, the St. Louis Blues signed center Paul Stastny to a four-year contract, the Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Brad Stuart and the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up forward Matt Frattin.

Stastny, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, had five goals and five assists in seven playoff games for the Avalanche last season and joins the Blues on a contract estimated by local media to be worth $28 million.

Stuart, 34, moves to the Avalanche from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and a sixth-round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft.

The Leafs acquired Frattin, 26, from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Jerry D'Amigo and a conditional seventh round draft pick in the 2015 Entry Draft.