For most of last season, Niklas Grossman was one of the two best defensemen the Dallas Stars had, while logging a career-high 19 minutes of ice time per game. On Thursday, the Stars announced they’d agreed to a two-year, $3.75 million contract extension for the 25-year-old Swede.  Dallas took Grossman in the second round of the 2004 draft, and he’s played in 222 NHL games over the past four seasons.

“We are very happy to sign Nicklas to this new contract,” said Stars general manger Joe Nieuwendyk. “He is a solid NHL defenseman and is an important part of our young core.”  Grossman is probably very excited about his new contract and the prospect of playing two more years in Texas, but he’s currently hanging out in his native Sweden.

Grossman is a big dude — 6-foot-4, 226 pounds.  Last year, he was usually paired with Stephane Robidas.  Robidas and Grossman have very little in common.  Robidas is 5-foot-11, 189 pounds, 33 years old and from Quebec.  Robidas also contributes on offense — last year, he had 10 goals and 31 assists in 82 games.  In his entire career, Grossman has only scored two goals (both in 2008-09) and chipped in 24 assists.

His first goal is on YouTube:

Dallas ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals allowed last season, letting in 2.98 goals per game.