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Goligoski excited about Dallas reunion with Gonchar: ‘He does it all’

Dallas Stars v St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS, MO - JANUARY 16: Alex Goligoski #33 of the Dallas Stars takes a shot on goal against the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center on January 16, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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Alex Goligoski’s time with Sergei Gonchar in Pittsburgh was brief, but it clearly left an impression.

“He does it all,” Goligoski told Stars Inside Edge of the Russian rearguard, who will be his teammate in Dallas this season. “He is one of those players that if he is on your team he makes your team a lot better in the person that he is in the locker room, and out on the ice.”

Goligoski made his NHL debut in 2007-08 on Penguins team that featured the high-scoring Gonchar -- he had 65 points in 78 games that year -- and advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

A year later, Goligoski played in 45 regular-season and two playoff games while Gonchar returned from a season-long shoulder injury to help the Pens win the Cup.

From there, the two parted ways.

Gonchar signed a three-year deal with Ottawa in 2010 and, a year later, Goligoski was traded to Dallas as part of the James Neal deal.

The defensive duo came full circle this offseason when new Stars GM Jim Nill traded for Gonchar’s negotiating rights, then signed the 39-year-old to a two-year, $10 million deal.

Now Goligoski and Gonchar are reunited and (sorry in advance), it feels so good.

“Leadership and he’s a great player,” Goligoski said. “[Gonchar will] be a great addition.”