The Dallas Stars signed veteran forward Joe Pavelski to a one-year contract extension with a base salary of $3.5 million and potential for up to $2 million in performance bonuses, the team announced Sunday.

The 38-year-old was bound for unrestricted free agency this summer. This marks the second consecutive year Pavelski has inked a midseason pact, having signed a one-year, $6-million extension last March.

"Joe continues to prove why he is one of the best players in the NHL, and we are fortunate that he will be part of our group for another season," general manager Jim Nill said. "He embodies what it means to be a professional hockey player with his approach to the game both on and off the ice. Joe's leadership in the locker room is invaluable and the level of respect that he has throughout the entire league speaks volumes to the man that he is."

Pavelski joined Dallas as a free agent in 2019 after 13 years with the San Jose Sharks. He's been one of the Stars' best players since arriving, putting up 200 points in 243 games, including a career-high 81 in 2021-22.

The Wisconsin native is third on Dallas in scoring this season with 12 goals and 25 assists and is closing in on the 1,000-point plateau for his career, sitting at 961.

Pavelski was the Stars' most prominent pending unrestricted free agent. Dallas was projected to have over $12 million in available money for 2023-24 before his extension, according to Cap Friendly, but the league hasn't finalized next year's salary cap yet.

The Stars lead the Central Division with a 23-9-6 record.

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Many of the NHL's most watchable teams this season are the usual suspects from recent years, but there have been a few surprises. The New Jersey Devils are possession demons despite cooling off lately. The Vegas Golden Knights are proving the doubters wrong after some figured they'd take a step back due to goaltending concerns and a lack of depth.

However, several other squads will deserve more attention over the next 365 days than they've received so far in this campaign. These teams have risen recently and will only become more compelling in 2023.

Here are three clubs worth watching in the latter portion of this campaign and into the next one.

Buffalo Sabres

The notions of the Sabres boasting the NHL's best offense and Tage Thompson being an MVP candidate and a Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy contender this season would've been far-fetched if predicted over the summer. But that's what's transpiring as we near the campaign's halfway point. In an unlikely twist, Buffalo has suddenly become one of the league's most entertaining teams and is riding a six-game win streak to boot.

The Sabres are still flawed, though. While Rasmus Dahlin has become an elite No. 1 blue-liner, the rest of the team's defense is a work in progress. Buffalo ranks in the bottom half of the NHL in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five and goals against per game in all situations. The club is in a similar spot in expected goals for percentage. None of that bodes particularly well defensively.

However, this team has taken a big step forward and should improve in the new calendar year. Owen Power is in the Calder Trophy conversation thanks to his heavy workload, and he's part of an influx of youth that includes Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, and J.J. Peterka. Buffalo's youngsters have impressed and should continue to develop fairly steadily. The Sabres' more established players, like Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch, are also firing on all cylinders, ensuring this squad will be one to keep an eye on in the present and future.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings don't get a ton of love, perhaps because they play in the NHL's worst division. But they'll be a club to watch in the coming year and beyond. Los Angeles has successfully injected youth into the mix to complement its aging core, and it's become one of the most sneakily fun teams to watch in the process.

Arthur Kaliyev, Gabriel Vilardi, Sean Durzi, and 2020 second overall pick Quinton Byfield should keep making progress in 2023. Offseason acquisition Kevin Fiala and summer 2021 additions Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault have been great fits.

The Kings need better goaltending, but their success in controlling play has mitigated that weakness to a degree. Los Angeles boasts strong underlying numbers, which suggest the team is likely to improve once its younger players get even more comfortable at the NHL level.

Whether this squad can go deep in the postseason remains to be seen. But after taking the eventual Western Conference finalist Edmonton Oilers to seven games in the first round last spring, L.A. is primed to build on that impressive showing. The Kings are already one of the Pacific's best clubs, and the future looks bright in Hollywood.

Seattle Kraken

Aside from the Devils, the Kraken have been the most pleasant surprise in the league in 2022-23. Seattle was supposed to be playing the long game before becoming competitive, but the NHL's newest franchise might be ready sooner than later.

The Kraken have regressed a bit after an unexpectedly strong start to the campaign. However, they remain a possession-driving club with surprising postseason aspirations. While they're still not playing anywhere near the level the Golden Knights did upon their arrival, the low expectations set by management might be benefiting the club on the ice.

The Kraken also have issues in goal, but they've been decent defensively. Seattle ranks in the top half of the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five in 2022-23. The Kraken also sit near the middle of the pack in goals against per game this season despite both of their goaltenders authoring sub-.900 save percentages.

From an offensive standpoint, Jared McCann is on a 40-goal pace, and Matty Beniers is the leading candidate for the Calder Trophy. Seattle has a skilled supporting cast that includes Andre Burakovsky, Jordan Eberle, Jaden Schwartz, Alexander Wennberg, and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The Kraken are still far from being Stanley Cup hopefuls, but they're accelerating their development and should be compelling in 2023.

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