Stargazing is a daily assortment of Dallas Stars news, as well as a look at what's happening around the Pacific division and the rest of the NHL. Stargazing will run on Mondays and Thursdays, becoming a daily feature once the preseason begins.

It's Thursday morning and 51 days until training camp finds us taking a look at Alex Auld. How will his pre-existing relationship with Mark Crawford affect his ice time? The Dallas Morning News and ESPN radio give Mike Modano some love; What do you expect out of Modano next year? And Dallasstars.com asks Marty Turco about the death of Michael Jackson? They talk a little hockey as well. All that plus notes and news from around the league...

TBnewswatch.com has an excellent article on Alex Auld coming to the Stars :

"It’s an important position for us, and I think it’s very important that the coach has confidence in this player," Nieuwendyk said. "I know this coach has confidence in this player."

The 28-year-old Auld said he’s been told he can expect to play between 25 and 30 games for Dallas this season behind Turco, a player he knew marginally before the trade, but someone who welcomed him into the Stars fold with open arms.

Turco was the first player to phone Auld after the deal, and Auld can’t wait for the lessons to begin.

There can be no doubt that Nieuwendyk is aware of what the situation was in 08/09. The key word is trust, and Tippett did not appear to have any in his backup last year. Auld's pre-existing relationship with management should prove useful to those who think Marty was over-worked last year.

Dallasstars.com talks to Marty Turco, oddly enough, not asking him about Alex Auld:

Obviously last season is one the entire team would like to forget and put in the rearview mirror. How are you approaching the 2009-10 campaign personally?

Turco: "I am looking forward to this coming season. I’ve been working out hard and I think the entire team has something to prove. I think we will be ready to go. Last season was a tough one for me and I am very confident that I will have a good season. It all comes down to a good start – that’s my goal. This is my main focus and I am looking forward to it."

The story was published yesterday but the questions were likely asked some time ago. According to the TBnewswatch article, Marty is indeed excited that Auld is here and welcomed him with "open arms".

Last year the organization was committed to "get Marty going" during the tough times, and some felt that Stephan should have been given the chance to show what he could do. Next season, does the possibility exist that if Marty struggles, Auld will be given the opportunity by Crawford to take things over for at least a stretch?

Adam Gretz at Fanhouse.com is putting a list together of top 50 players; Says Brenden Morrow is #49:

Even though he's missed significant time in two of the past three seasons due to injury, I see him as being in a similar position to Shane Doan, the No. 50 player on my list; a somewhat underrated captain that has proven to be one of the better two-way forwards in the league without much recognition (never playing in the All-Star game, for example).

Mike Modano was on ESPN 103.3, and Andrew's Stars Page brings you the audio here.

And Mike Heika also focused on Modano yesterday. Read his Modano player profile here:

I think what the Stars would like to see from Modano is a season like Neal Broten had in his first year in Dallas (1993-94). Broten was younger at the time (34), but he was an offensive star who had been pushed down the lineup by Modano and Dave Gagner. Broten played 79 games, had 17 goals and 35 assists, and provided a nice steadying force for a team that was still in development.

79 games and 52 points out of Modano, I think we can agree,  would be wonderful.

And finally, Stu Barnes co-owns the Tri-City Americans, but says he won't be filling their vacant head coaching job:

Barnes adds, "Yeah, that's a question that's come up a few times this week, but, you know, I've got commitments in Dallas and we're pretty settled in there right now, so, for now, I think I'll stay down there and stay with that and I'm afraid if I came back and the team started losing that everybody would blame it on me, so I better stand aside and let it go as it is."

Around the Pacific:

• The Coyotes acquired Radim Vrbata from the Lightning in exchange for David Hale, and former Stars tough man Todd Fedoruk. Enjoy some Barch vs Fedoruk here just for fun.
  
• Following up on our Sharks coverage on Monday, Foxsports also wonders just when the heck the Sharks will make their move(s)
  
• The Kings re-sign Teddy Purcell and other minor league level moves
  
• And Battle of California asks whether the Kings should sign Alex Tanguay

Around the NHL:

• The Sens say they hope to have Heatley and Kovalev on the ice together. [TSN]
  
• Did Chicago screw up again? Hossa's shoulder may require surgery....could miss beginning of season.
  
• In the words of Puck Daddy: "Marty Biron signs with Islanders for 14 fewer years than DiPietro"
  
• And Jiri Hudler looks on track to play in Russia next season.