Article Archive

MODANO TALKS BEGIN Star may require $7 million a year 04/10/98 By Tim Cowlishaw / The Dallas Morning News The Stars and Mike Modano's agent have had talks for several days that could result in a long-term $7 million per year contract for the injured Dallas center. The club confirmed that talks with Howard Gourwitz, Modano's Michigan-based agent, are ongoing. "We've had some preliminary talks, but there's really nothing to report right now," assistant general manager Doug Armstrong said. "We've had discussions to see if we could get something accomplished or to at least try to lay the ground rules for talks this summer. Our goal is to get Mike signed. A deal is not imminent." Neither Modano nor Gourwitz could be reached for comment Thursday night. Modano, who will again be a restricted free agent after July 1, signed a one-year deal in September for $3.5 million. He turned down the Stars' long-term offer of $26 million for six years. That offer is now far short of the going rate for top centers in the NHL. For the Stars to sign Modano for six years now, it will have to be in the range of $7 million per year. Detroit's Sergei Fedorov signed a front-loaded deal that could earn him as much as $28 million this season if the Red Wings reach the conference finals. Fedorov's deal averages about $7.1 million per year. The Stars held up Toronto's Mats Sundin as a comparable player in talks with Modano last summer. Sundin was making $1.8 million then but since has signed a long-term contract averaging $7 million. In fact, Gourwitz's initial proposal last summer of $14.5 million for three years would in today's scale be a tremendous bargain for the Stars. "The market is changing every day," Armstrong said. Because of injuries, Modano has been limited to 51 games this season. He has 57 points and was leading the NHL in scoring when he hurt his knee Dec. 3. Modano has said he feels his next contract will be based on his play earlier this year and in the playoffs. Now recovering from a separated shoulder, he is expected back for the final regular-season game or at least the start of the post-season. If the Stars allow Modano to become a restricted free agent, they would have the right to match any offer. But because of incentives that have been allowed in Fedorov's contract, there is considerable risk involved. In order to match Carolina's offer to Fedorov, the Red Wings accepted the risk of paying $12 million to Fedorov immediately if they reach the conference finals. Carolina had little chance of reaching the finals and would have paid that money out in increments of $3 million for four years. So if a weaker team than Dallas seeks Modano's services, they could include a similar bonus package that might force the Stars to pay most of the contract up front. "I think there was concern last year when he became restricted, that's why we'd like to sign him," Armstrong said. "But not at all costs." Copyright 1998, The Dallas Morning News. All rights reserved.