Detroit Red Wings Sign Mike Modano
The Detroit Red Wings will sign veteran forward Mike Modano on Thursday. The Michigan native is set to return to his home team after playing his entire 21-year career with the Minnesota North Star/Dallas Stars organization.
Mike Modano
Modano began his professional hockey career with the Price Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played three seasons with the Raiders, posting outrageous numbers, his best being a 127 point output in his second season. However, in his final year with Price Albert he scored a staggering 105 points in just 41 games.
His impressive play helped him go first overall to the North Stars in the 1988 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft.
Modano wasted no time finding his rhythm in the NHL scoring 75 points in 80 games and winning the Calder trophy as the leagues top rookie. Modano played incredibly for the North Stars before they were moved to Dallas, notching 93 points in the final year of the team’s existence.
He continued to be successful his first year in Dallas, matching his total from a year earlier in just 76 outings. Modano was lights-out in Dallas, managing over a point-a-game in eight seasons, and registering over 80 points seven times with the club.
After the lock-out, Modano’s age began to catch up with him, as he was no longer able to post the same numbers he had earlier in his career, however, he was still a regular contributor on the score sheet. His best post lock-out season came in 2007-08 when he notched 57 points in a full 82 game schedule.
Last season with the Stars, Modano was limited to 59 games but still managed 30 points. He has 1,359 points in 1,459 career NHL games.
Modano owns the record for most points by an American player, most goals by an American player, most playoff points, and most games played by an American.
He also holds every goal, point, and assists record for the North Star/Dallas Stars organization.
Detroit’s Perspective
The Red Wings are known to pick-up veteran players that are supposedly past their prime and give them an extra little burst to end their career. Fellow American Brett Hull went to Detroit at the end of his career and tallied his 600th goal.
Modano should fit in well on Detroit’s third line. They are a very defensive unit that is not counted on to contribute too much offensively. In addition, Modano should be sheltered by the strong defensive play of Chris Draper and Dan Cleary.
The likelihood of Modano getting some second line minutes throughout the season is high, and when he does he should be able to add to the score board. Modano still has the ability to put the puck in the net, and it should help to be with skilled players such a Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg.
All-in-all, Detroit is a relatively old team, with an average age of over 30, they are no longer the youngsters of the Western Conference. However, Modano will not be the only 40-year-old on the squad, as Nicklas Lidstrom has also passed the threshold.
Modano’s Perspective
It was speculated for some time that if Modano was going to return to hockey for next season it would only be with Detroit.
This is a homecoming for Modano, the first time he’ll get to play in his state of origin since he played Major Junior hockey.
Modano would not likely have had many takers, as he is very much past his prime, although the strength of the Detroit roster should allow him to be slotted into a comfortable position.
Regardless of what line he plays on, what position he plays, or even how he plays, be prepared for a lot of Modano jerseys to be sold in the greater Detroit area, as the prodigal son returns to hockey town.
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