FILE – Dallas Stars center Sam Steel passes the puck against the Utah Mammoth during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Jan. 31, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
Melissa Majchrzak/AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak
Since joining the Dallas Stars in 2023, Sam Steel has become a key piece of the team’s roster.
Before the 2026-27 season began, the Stars made sure the forward would be in North Texas for the foreseeable future. Steel agreed to a four-year extension worth $14.8 million with the Stars, which would keep him under contract with Dallas through the 2030-31 campaign.
As Steel gears up for another season in Dallas, here are some things to know about the veteran forward:
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1. The basics
Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 pounds
Birthdate:Â Feb. 3, 1998 (28 years old)
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Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Drafted: 2016 (30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks)
2. He’s the Stars’ Swiss Army Knife
That’s how The Dallas Morning News’ Lia Assimakopoulos described Steel after he signed his latest contract extension. Steel has established a reputation as a consistent weapon with standout penalty-killing ability. While he has mostly provided depth on Dallas’ third or fourth lines, he has also shown he can line up with top-line players like Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston.
Steel has totaled 82 points (27 goals, 55 assists) in 229 regular-season games with the Stars, ranking ninth in scoring among Stars forwards during that span. He has also spent a total of 450:11 on the penalty kill since joining the Stars.
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3. He grew up playing on an outdoor rink in his backyard
Steel didn’t have to go far to bolster his hockey skills as a young player. He grew up playing on an outdoor hockey rink in the backyard of his family’s home in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. Steel’s father, Larry, constructed the rink with help from the family.
According to a 2017 article from Sportsnet, the backyard rink was regulation-sized and it included key details like benches, overhead lights and heated dressing rooms. The family even owned a Zamboni to maintain the ice on the rink. The rink was built in 2009 and received upgrades throughout the years.
4. He has honored his brother throughout his playing career
Steel wasn’t the only hockey player in his family. His brother, Patrick, played hockey at the junior level as he and Sam grew up in Canada.
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Patrick was playing for the Canmore Eagles in 2011 when he died suddenly at the age of 18. According to a 2015 article from the Edmonton Sun, Patrick was living with a billet family when he played in Canmore. His death was ruled accidental.
When Sam was working his way up as a hockey player, he honored his brother’s memory with a mantra: “Finish the play.”
“‘Finish the play,’ someone came up with that around the time of his passing. It’s just kind of a saying to finish the play, finish what he couldn’t get to do. Live your life to the fullest in his memory,” Sam said in a 2025 interview with the Stars.
5. A look at his stats in Dallas
Steel should be a name to watch for the Stars moving forward. He has been productive in his three seasons with the team, posting a career-high 33 points in 2025-26.
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Here’s a breakdown of his statistics throughout his three seasons in Dallas:
2023-24: Played in 77 games with the Stars. Posted 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists).
2024-25: Played in 79 games with the Stars. Posted 25 points (six goals, 19 assists).
2025-26: Played in 73 games with the Stars. Posted 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists).
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