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Stars Notes: Barnes, Norstrom ponder future Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Stars forward Stu Barnes and defenseman Mattias Norstrom, who are both unrestricted free agents, will spend some time pondering their future and possible retirement. Barnes, who is 37, and missed the end of the playoffs due to concussion-like symptoms after he was hit by San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo in the Western Conference Semifinals. He said Wednesday his future is still up in the air. "It's wait and see," he said about his options for next season. "It's one way or the other right now. Just going to take some time, take a deep breath, get healthy and go from there. "There are a lot of things you have to decide. I've never been through this. You sort of sit back and take into account everything that involves being around the game." Barnes said if plays another season it will be with the Stars. He's not interested in playing somewhere else at this point in his career. Barnes said he hasn't had any symptoms recently because he hasn't worked out for a while. "You still don't feel quite right, but the time is probably the only thing that can cure it," said Barnes. Norstrom, 36, could also opt for retirement. His family has spent the season in Sweden, where he will return this summer to talk with them about his future. Norstrom will make his decision based on family considerations. "It will be giving up something I love for something I love more," said Norstrom. "It is family first." Playing in Sweden is not an option, according to Norstrom. If he continues to play it will be in the NHL and he added that the Stars are No. 1 on his list. Norstrom played through a sports hernia in the playoffs. He said rest should cure the hernia issue. Hull on free agents The Stars have several unrestricted free agents including defenseman Mattias Norstrom, forwards Stu Barnes, Niklas Hagman, Antti Miettinen, Toby Petersen and Brad Winchester and backup goalie Johan Holmqvist. Co-GM Brett Hull said there will be some tough decisions ahead, and all that will be discussed in the days ahead. "It's very difficult," Hull said. "It's what they want. It's what you want. You've got your issue with the salary cap, so even if you want to the direction with them you might be out of the market with them. That's just something you have to wait and see." Barnes and Norstrom are considering retirement. Hagman, who is coming off a career-year with 27 goals, is due a big raise and could be too pricey for the Stars. Petersen, who had an excellent playoffs, is a candidate to return. Holmqvist is not likely to return. Miettinen and Winchester could be gone as well. Modano on his future Center Mike Modano again said he expects to return next season, but he did leave the door open to change his mind. "That's the plan now," Modano said Wednesday when asked if he was coming back for another season. "Things may change by September, but my thoughts right now are coming back to play and finish it out and maybe stick around until they tell me it is time to go." Co-GM Brett Hull sure didn't sound like someone who was ready for Modano to go. "I told him he couldn't quit on me yet," Hull said. "He's too a good player to leave. He's still one of the top five best all-around players in this game. "Being able to provide defense and offense. The way he can skate, run a power play and kill penalties. Name guys who can do all that in our game today. Even though he is 37-years-old, he's an asset I bet 30 teams would take." So what was Modano's take on all Hull's praise? "I think Hullie is just softening me up a little bit," said Modano. Hull: Tippett deserves an extension Co-GM Brett Hull was asked Wednesday if he and fellow co-GM Les Jackson would push for a long-term contract extension for coach Dave Tippett. "Yeah, definitely," Hull answered. ""He's our coach. We believe no matter what kind of team we put in front of him, he'll be able to coach them." Stars captain Brenden Morrow said he and his teammates were on board with that. "He's got the backing and support from everyone of the guys in the locker room. He's done a great job," Morrow said. "A lot of us have good relationships with him. We'd like to see him back for a long time." Said Tippett: "That stuff takes care of itself. I don't go to bed worry about it. It's easy for me now. All my kids have gone to college and I tell my wife that we are empty nesters now. All that stuff takes care of itself. I'm not worried about it at all." Injury tidbits Defenseman Philippe Boucher said Wednesday he had a torn hip flexor, which was the same injury that sidelined Mike Modano for an extended period of time last season. "It was around an eight-week injury and we were at five weeks and pushing," Boucher said. "I think next round would have been a definite possibility." Captain Brenden Morrow said besides the shoulder injury he played through in the Detroit series, he also suffered a groin injury in the San Jose series. "I think every guy back there had something wrong with him," he said. "Two tough series against Anaheim and San Jose took a lot out of us." He also added that just about everybody on the team was playing through something, and so was probably every other player on the other playoff teams. Center Brad Richards said he was banged up, but left it at that. Everybody has injuries," said Richards. "I was fine to play."
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