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Modano ready to go another year Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Stars center Mike Modano said Tuesday that co-GM Brett Hull wants another year out of him, so he'll probably return for the 2008-09 season and then ponder his future. Modano made an appearance Tuesday evening with The Hardline on KTCK-1310 The Ticket and was asked about his prospects of returning next season. "I probably will, yes," Modano answered. Probably? "I've talked to Hullie. I don't think he'll let me retire quite yet. He wants one more year out of me," Modano said. "I still feel healthy enough and somewhat young at times that I can still play. We'll probably do another year and take a good serious look at this." Modano was also asked about his changing role this past season, which saw him take more of a checking role as Mike Ribeiro took over as the top offensive center and the Stars acquired another offensive center in Brad Richards at the trade deadline. "You do what you feel is best for the team and what you are asked to do by Dave [Tippett] and the coaches," said Modano. "Change is inevitable. Time is going to pass by and there are going to be younger, talented, fresher guys that come along and there is going to be changeover, which is good. It's going to be exciting for the fans and in the long run for the organization. "I still felt good. I still felt I could add something to the team. That's what is going to keep me going. If I feel I can still contribute. If I feel like I am getting passed by and I feel like I am getting weeded out a little bit, I'm going to take a look at it and see where I fit in and where they feel I am capable being part of the team. "There were different challenges. As you get older you try to find different ways to motivate yourself to come ready to play. That's what Dave and I tried to do. Every month or so we would chat a lot to come with ideas of motivating and different scenarios to keep that motivation high and keep the excitement there." As for the Stars season, he said there was a lot of pride in what the team accomplished. He also said he had his concerns going into the playoffs because of the team's struggles in March, when the Stars were 2-7-2 and dropped back in the Pacific Division race and lost out on home ice. "I was a more of a skeptic like everybody else was about March," said Modano. "A little worried going into the playoffs because of March." Throw in a first round matchup with the defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks, who seemed to be coming together at the right time. "We felt they had all the pieces together," Modano said of Anaheim. "Then we go out there and steal the first two and we're thinking this could be pretty special, getting out of this first round against the Ducks." And then it was ditto against the San Jose Sharks, considered a top contender for the Stanley Cup. "I think each game gave us a wake up call as to how special this run could be. ... and made us think about how long could this thing go," he said. In the end the Stars couldn't get by the Detroit Red Wings, which was tough, Modano said, but he added there was still a lot to take out of the playoff run. "It's a tough anytime you lose playoff-wise, first round, third round or finals. But in the end we have to feel a little bit proud of ourselves, considering we weren't favored in the first two rounds against Anaheim and San Jose, and obviously against Detroit," said Modano. "We were able to fight back and make it a little bit of an interesting series against Detroit. All in all, we are pretty proud of what we accomplished." Tippett: A new phase for the Stars Before Stars center Mike Modano talked about his future on The Ticket, Stars coach Dave Tippett was on the radio station earlier in the day and was asked about the future of Modano, Sergei Zubov and Jere Lehtinen. Tippett said they remain good players and he expects them back for another season, but their role has changed as the Stars begin to enter a new phase. "I think everybody realizes they are still good hockey players, but they are not the guys that are going to be relied on in every key situation anymore," Tippett told The Ticket's Norm Hitzges. "The middle group has really moved ahead now. It's [Brenden] Morrow, [Mike] Ribeiro, [Stephane] Robidas, [Brad] Richards, [Marty] Turco. These guys have moved ahead now. "You still need that wisdom and experience. Players like Zubov, Lehtinen and Modano can enhance your group. But we are really going into a new phase our team, where the leadership has changed. They are still great players. I think they'll all come back. They are all under contract. They'll all comeback and play at least one more, that's the feeling I got from them. That may change and you'd have to ask them. I think they sense there is something pretty special about our team and I can't see anybody wanting to walk away from that." Tippett on possible offseason needs During his Tuesday morning appearance on The Ticket, Stars coach Dave Tippett was asked about what type of player the Stars might need to pursue in the offseason. The Dallas coach they might need some scoring on the wings if players like Niklas Hagman and Antti Miettinen, who are both unrestricted free agents, don't return to the team. "We have a couple of free agents. If you look at Niklas Hagman, he had 27 goals, he's an unrestricted free agent. Time will tell. We'll see what happens with him, whether he re-signs here or goes to another place," Tippett said. "We've got [Fabian] Brunnstrom, the young kid from Sweden we signed, but the scoring up front, we are going to have to recapture some of those goals. ... [Antti] Miettinen, he's an unrestricted free agent also. Brunnstrom can take some of that, but upgrading a skill position up front is something we have to look at. That might be just from the necessity of some players leaving."
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