Dallas RFA signs in Europe

Restricted free agent and former first-round pick Julius Honka has decided to play hockey in his home country while things are ironed out with the Dallas Stars. Honka will be playing with JYP Jyväskylä of the Finnish Elite League (Liiga), the same team his brother Anttoni plays with. The Honkas are from the city of Jyväskylä.

Honka's contract with JYP includes a clause that means he can opt out should things get resolved in North America. However, that opt-out clause runs out December 1st, which is the deadline for NHL RFAs to sign with a team or skip the entire season. He did not accept his qualifying offer from Dallas over the summer and has demanded a trade from the team. Honka feels he has not been given enough ice time to properly prove himself in the NHL.

Honka was selected 14th overall by the Stars in 2014. Since then, he has spent most of his playing time with Texas of the AHL. In 87 NHL games, he has two goals and 11 assists for 13 total points.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, as soon as Honka plays one game in Europe, he will require waivers to play in the NHL again. This could further complicate the Stars efforts to trade him.

Anttoni Honka is also a defenseman, and was drafted in the third round (83rd overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the most recent entry draft.

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