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MODANO'S GROWTH ENLIGHTENING By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Early in Mike Modano's career, everyone could see that he skated like Sergei Fedorov, owned the goal-scoring instincts of Luc Robitaille and had the potential to produce points like a young Dale Hawerchuk. No one dreamed that someday he would be able to check like Bob Gainey. "Everyone is talking this person or that person for the Selke Trophy. Why isn't anyone looking at Mike Modano?" Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock asks. "He's our best two-way player. He hasn't taken on an added scoring role this season. The scoring this season is a result of his checking." Modano's scoring has been drawing public notice because he was 36th in scoring in January and finished the season eighth in the league with 81 points . But it has been Modano's gradual conversion from a scorer to a warrior through the years that probably garners him more respect and makes him vital to the team's repeat hopes this spring. "I think it's just an evolution of the years, our style of play and the people we have in the organization," Modano says. "That's the characteristic of our team, and over time I've learned to fit in and enjoy it." The people in the organization include general manager Gainey, whose defensive prowess at forward was so strong that the NHL created the Selke Trophy so he could be honored; assistant Doug Jarvis, the NHL recordholder for consecutive games played and one of the best faceoff artists in league history; and Hitchcock, a demanding taskmaster. When Modano was a youngster, he struggled to find his peace with then-coach Gainey's defensive scheme. How tough was Gainey? "He wasn't that tough," Modano says. "We just had a communication barrier. I didn't understand what he wanted. I didn't really understand the role I should be playing. He was tremendously patient and just tried to bring me along slowly." Hitchcock's style isn't low-key or patient. "He will let you know," Modano says. "He will be right in your face if things aren't to his liking." But as blunt as Hitchcock might be, he also is the coach who empowered Modano to be a No. 1 center the way Mark Messier and Steve Yzerman have defined the role in recent years. When Modano goes on the ice, his mission is to stymie the other team's No. 1 center as much as it isto score. "Hitchcock broke the ice by playing me against the other team's top lines," Modano says. "Occasionally I got that with Bob Gainey, but we were more of a four-line team with Bob. He just rolled them, and whoever played against whomever were the matchups. With Hitch, you have more definitive matchups." Modano believes wisdom does come with age. "It took me a couple of years to understand that if you play defensive and positional hockey, you end up having the puck a lot," he says. "In turn, you have more opportunities offensively." Hitchcock says Modano's gaudier scoring numbers this season are a reflection of his defensive plan. "He's scoring because he's competing so hard," Hitchcock says. "He's not looking to score goals, cheating to score goals, he's just playing the game really hard. And good things are happening. The older a player gets, the more it becomes all about winning."