Mike Modano Vs. St. Louis: Four to Go For Number Nine

by Brad Gardner on Apr 3, 2010 9:00 AM CDT in Dallas Stars Analysis

Disclaimer: We don't know if these are Mike Modano's final four (or fewer) games in the National Hockey League. What we do know is this: We don't want them to be. But if they are, then we would be sorely remiss at the end of next week if we did not take the opportunity to mark them as such.

Tonight, Mike faces the Blues for what might be the last time so we take a stroll down memory lane against those Missouri rivals.

Most places will tell you Mike Modano made his NHL debut against the New York Islanders in October of 1989, which is partly true. That was his regular season debut. His NHL debut proper was against the St. Louis Blues (thanks to Defending Big D reader Greg Rizza for that) in April of the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs. He played 2 playoff games and was a -2, scoring no points, but he wouldn't stay quiet against the Blues for long.

In his first NHL season, Mike made his NHL debut against the Blues on October 12th, 1989 in a 3-0 win. (Once again, if you have an internet source on a box score, do let us know)

His accomplishments against St. Louis over the years are not so shiny as those against the Oilers (to which he added last night: Career assist 800) but they are as follows:

Has played 96 games against the Blues, scoring 33 goals and 54 assists good for 87 points.
His 782nd career assist on Mar. 10, 2009 at St. Louis passed Brian Leetch for 2nd in all-time assists by a US-born player.
He scored his 500th NHL point on Mar. 20, 1996 vs. St. Louis with a goal.
Had his most penalty minutes in a game (16) against the Blues on 2/10/1996.

After the jump, YouTube helps out with a neat feature from the St. Louis series in 1999 on the way to Mike's Stanley Cup, and a shootout goal versus the Blues...

Watch this whole clip for some nice Modano goals and assists (also to check out Razor's slightly higher voice from 11 years ago...)

And this odd video taken by a fan, evidently, against St. Louis in 2007.

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“I think about it,” said Modano, who has 13 goals and 13 assists in 54 games this season. “If things don’t work out over the course of the month or two after the season, that could be it.”

This excerpt from the Richard Durrett article, found here, leads me to believe that the end is entirely dependent on the Stars’ (read: Tom Hicks’) ability to pay him, and/or willingness to keep him on the roster.

Even if we can postpone his departure for another year, its gonna hurt to see Mighty Mo’ leave.

S.S.D.D.

by .KARMA on Apr 3, 2010 10:03 AM CDT reply actions

When I heard that interview,

and Neiwy’s interview I got that impression too. I think Mike would be up for another year, but I don’t think the other side hinges on Hicks ability to pay as much as Neiwys desire to play his young centers … Wandell and Benn. I’m betting the only way the Stars want him back for 1 more year is if they move Ribs in a trade.

I hope he comes back though, I think we would be a better team with Mike next year. Though I do understand the viewpoint that the young centers need to be on the ice to grow. So that may be better for the team in a 2-3 year view.

by 1paniolo on Apr 3, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Even without a Ribs trade,

the “Benn is now a Center” experiment seems to be slowly phasing out, which leaves us with three Centers through next year.

S.S.D.D.

by .KARMA on Apr 3, 2010 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

A True "Franchise Player"

Appreciate the credit, Brad.

I posted this in your previous Modano thread, but since no one had commented on it I thought I’d post it here as I feel it’s worth knowing for people who care.

I tweeted it to Mandy Modano in August and she tweeted back that she was thrilled to tell Mo about it.

I sent it yesterday to Ralph Strangis, Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News and Mark Stepneski (creator of Andrew’s Dallas Stars Page) in the hopes of getting it out there:

A True “Franchise Player”

The term "Franchise Player" has been used to describe many players over the years in professional team sports, but rarely has the term been more appropriate than in the case of Mike Modano.

When Mike played in his 50th game this season (a 6-3 loss in Pittsburgh on March 6th) he positioned himself to join an extremely exclusive club of NHL Royalty.

Only three players have ever played an entire NHL career with one franchise for 20 full seasons (defining full as having played in at least 60% of his team’s games each year):

Alex Delvecchio – Detroit Red Wings (22 full seasons out of 24)
Stan Mikita – Chicago Blackhawks (20 full seasons out of 22)
Steve Yzerman – Detroit Red Wings (21 full seasons out of 22)

All three are enshrined in The Hockey Hall of Fame and they have all won the Stanley Cup.

Mike will become the fourth player to join this group if he retires without playing for another NHL franchise.

His 30 games played in the lockout-shortened 48-game season of 1995 accounted for 62.5% of the Stars’ games.

Six other players have played an entire NHL career with one franchise for 20 seasons, but none of them played 20 full seasons:

Dit Clapper – Boston Bruins (19 full seasons)
Jean Beliveau – Montreal Canadiens (18)
Henri Richard – Montreal Canadiens (19)
George Armstrong – Toronto Maple Leafs (19)
Ken Daneyko – New Jersey Devils (15)
Joe Sakic – Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche (18)

All six have won the Stanley Cup and Clapper, Beliveau, Richard and Armstrong are Hockey Hall of Famers (with Sakic being a sure-fire inductee in 2012).

Just a little something to think about and appreciate as we watch Number 9 fly around the ice in these final 5 (now 4) games.

by Greg Rizza on Apr 3, 2010 10:53 AM CDT reply actions

Gotta cash the coin jar in or something

to get some tix to the final game with the Ducks. It will take some scrapping as an unemployed single dad, But hopefully it will be something my son can remember.

by 1paniolo on Apr 3, 2010 2:17 PM CDT reply actions