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MODANO GETS $43.5 MILLION Stars sign center for six years 04/14/98 By Tim Cowlishaw / The Dallas Morning News When he rejected the Stars' six-year, $26 million offer in September, Mike Modano's desire to stay in Dallas was questioned. No one is doubting his loyalty or his wisdom in being patient after signing a six-year, $43.5 million contract with the Stars on Monday. "It's mind-boggling to see where the contracts in hockey have gone," Modano said at a Monday afternoon news conference. "The market in hockey is phenomenal right now, but I definitely wanted to stay with this team. I know what I have with this team." The Stars believe they have one of the game's finest players locked up for six years. While eliminating the risk of Modano signing a front-loaded contract as Sergei Fedorov did as a restricted free agent, the Stars also signed Modano for three years beyond the date he could have become an unrestricted free agent. "This is a big day for the Stars," owner Tom Hicks said. "Mike is one of the top five players in the league in our estimation. This shows we're not only committed to winning the [Stanley] Cup this year but for years to come." Modano, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract for this season, will receive salaries of $5 million, $6 million, $7 million, $8 million, $8.5 million and $9 million for the next six years. In structuring the salaries as such, Modano will make the $14.5 million for three years (beginning this year) that he sought last summer. Strangely, Modano's recent shoulder separation seems to have brought both sides back to the negotiating table. "I've had a lot of time on my hands," Modano joked, but his injury gave the Stars a chance to look at his season and assess his value to the team. Modano is hoping to play Saturday in the Stars' final regular-season game. There were basically three reasons why the Stars felt a need to reach agreement with Modano now. The first was the bizarre offer sheet Fedorov signed with Carolina that the Red Wings matched. Although, in total dollars, his deal averages less than Modano's, Fedorov will be paid at least $16 million this season. That figure will grow to $28 million if Detroit advances to the conference finals. For obvious reasons, the Stars wanted to avoid that. "We felt Carolina would come after [Modano] this summer," president Jim Lites said. "That was definitely a consideration." Also, the market for top scoring forwards was exploding. The Stars could argue last summer that Modano didn't belong in Joe Sakic's class ($7 million average) until he led his team to a Stanley Cup. They could argue the same regarding Fedorov. But when Toronto's Mats Sundin signed a three-year, $21 million extension, the Stars hardly could suggest Modano was not worthy of similar numbers. No one in the Stars' front office is anxious to deal Modano straight up for Sundin. "Those two situations [Fedorov and Sundin] made the picture for us very clear," general manager Bob Gainey said. "There was more information available to both sides after that." A third factor is the club's move to a new arena, approved by voters and scheduled for the 2000-2001 season. Monday's signing gives the Stars the opportunity to market not only the team's recent regular-season success but Modano's appeal as well. "Mike is the most widely recognized winter sports player in the area," Lites said. "We wanted to let our fans know that he is going to be here and be an important part of this team for years to come." If it's good news for the fans, it's pleasing for Ken Hitchcock, too. "From the coach's standpoint, the dollars are the dollars but the six years is terrific," Hitchcock said. "All three of the coaches here have a good relationship with him. This is good for the community, it's good for us . . . and it's obviously very good for Mike." Copyright 1998, The Dallas Morning News. All rights reserved.