Stars turning the page on Modano, won’t offer him contract
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Mike Modano's playing days with the Dallas Stars are over. GM Joe Nieuwendyk said Tuesday morning that the team will not offer a contract to Modano, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"After assessing our roster and where we need to go as a hockey team, we have decided to not offer Mike a contract and allow him to explore free agency on July 1," Nieuwendyk said. "If Mike decides that he would like to play with another team, we support his wishes. That’s part of the reason behind the timing of this announcement; we wanted to be up-front with Mike and give him the option to explore playing for other clubs on July 1 if he chooses.”
Modano told ESPN Dallas he's still up in the air if he's going to play for another team. He did say he was disappointed with not being able to continue as a Dallas Star.
“I always thought there would be an outside chance of something happening here,” Modano told ESPN Dallas. “The dialogue that Joe and I have had going on for about a month and a half led me to believe I needed to prepare for things not happening. But when it’s here and reality sets in, it’s disappointing. I didn’t think it would happen. I was told some years ago that I’d be able to decide when I wanted to stop playing. But that was verbally and things change.”
At a Tuesday afternoon news conference at American Airlines Center, Nieuwendyk acknowledged it wasn't an easy call to make.
"I realized taking this job I was going to be faced with difficult decisions. I've had to face some very tough decisions because I’ve played with some of these guys. They are my friends. Marty Turco was another one," Nieuwendyk said. "I have to do what I fee like is necessary in all my years of experience in order for this team to get better and grow. The strength of our team is with our youth pushing forward. We have to try to find the next Mike Modano. We're never going to find the same Mike Modano, but we have some good young players who are going to push it to the next level."
Nieuwendyk said that he believes it is time for the Stars to move forward with some of their younger players, especially at the center position where the Stars have strong depth.
“That's really the strength of our team," Nieuwendyk said. "We have [Brad] Richards and [Mike] Ribeiro. We used Jamie Benn at center, which which like as well, and Steve Ott can play center. The guy who everyone forgets about is Tom Wandell. It will be great to have him back this year. The depth is clearly there."
Modano, who is the franchise leader is just about every offensive statistical category, has been with the organization for 22 years. He's been labeled the "face of the franchise," for his ability to help sell the game to fans in the Dallas area. But Nieuwendyk had less to do with marketing and more with the team's on-ice product.
"My job is on the ice," Nieuwendyk said. "I realize the impact Mike has on this franchise from a selling point. You’re not going to replace Mike Modano. He's been a special person and a special player for so many years in Dallas. But like all great players, at some point you have to turn the page. I feel like it’s time we turn the page."
The Stars GM said that decision turn the page came after many discussions with Modano that began during the past season and into the offseason.
"It's been a gradual thing," Nieuwendyk said of his decision making process. "I think I gave him the respect of taking time after the season. He deserves that. This is the time of the year where we the season past, what will make us better, what direction we want to go and where we are going from here."
Tuesday's announcement isn't a total surprise. Modano indicated in interviews last week that he felt the Stars were moving in a different direction and said he sensed that he didn't fit into those plans. If Modano decides to play another season he will have to do it with another team.
"I respect the fact that Mike wants to continue to play," said Nieuwendyk. "I've been there, done that. I was 40-years-old and playing and it's a tough decision. It really is. It's hard."
Nieuwendyk said he thinks Modano can still be an effective player, but his role with the Stars wasn't a good fit.
"We see him skating out there and playing on the power play and he's certainly capable of playing. Mike is a talent. There is no question about it," Nieuwendyk said. "The role we had him in - mostly on the fourth line - doesn’t really satisfy him, and he'll be the first to tell you that. With Wandell coming back and some of the young players that we have, I’m not so sure the role would have been better or increased."
As for a possible role for Modano within the organization, possibly in the front office, Nieuwendyk said that will have to wait until the team's ownership situation is resolved.
"I'll be the first guy to knock on the new owner's door and pump the tires for Mike Modano, how important he is to our franchise," Nieuwendyk said. "If he decides to go play for another team, I'll support him on that, too. I think everybody agrees that when he is done, he's always going to be a Dallas Star and the door's always going to be open for him."
Modano isn't the only big name Star will who will be leaving via free agency this summer. Just after the season ended Nieuwendyk announced that the team would not bring back longtime No.1 starting goaltender Marty Turco.
