Frisco, TX – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Philip Larsen on a two-year contract through 2013-14 worth $2.05 million ($900,000 first year; $1.15 million second year). They also agreed to terms with defenseman Maxime Fortunus on a one-year, two-way contract.

Larsen, 22, skated in 55 games for Dallas last season, earning 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists). His plus-11 rating was tied for the lead among Dallas defensemen. Earlier last season, The Esbjerg, Denmark native scored his first career NHL goal, becoming the first Danish-born blue-liner to accomplish that feat since Vancouver’s Poul Poupiel in 1971-72. In total, Larsen has played 63 NHL contests over parts of three seasons, earning three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. Of players that have skated with the Dallas Stars in each of the last three seasons, he is one of only four skaters who has earned a cumulative plus-10 rating or better (+13).

The 6-foot-0, 183-pound defenseman competed in this year’s IIHF World Championship where he earned two assists in seven games for Denmark. He also posted a team-leading 23 shots in the tournament, and had the highest time-on-ice per game of anyone on Denmark’s National Team (25:05).

Fortunus, 28, has spent the last three seasons with the Texas Stars and appeared in eight NHL games with Dallas during the 2009-10 season. Last season with Texas, Fortunus appeared in 60 games and collected six goals and 14 assists for 20 points.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman from La Praire, QC has appeared in 501 AHL games over the course of nine seasons, notching 42 goals and 110 assists for 152 points. Additionally, Fortunus has collected 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists) in 85 AHL playoff games.