Modano: A Stars fan's perspective

I will play for the Detroit Red Wings. I will play for the San Jose Sharks. I will play for the Minnesota Wild. Nah, I’m going to retire as a Dallas Star.

One of those phrases seem to be viable for Mike Modano to use very soon, and no matter what route he takes, it’s still going to be tough to see Mikey-Mo not on the ice in Dallas for 41 games next year. His track record says it all, and so does his leadership. If Modano doesn’t glide down the Reunion/AAC ice since 1993 in the same uniform, would Dallas Stars hockey be where it is today?

First, let’s take a look at the first option if Modano heads to Motown. He suits up for a club, let’s face it, a team that almost everyone considers a rival. Sorry Stars fans, but I don’t understand why Detroit is our rival in the first place. But that is besides the point.

If Modano puts pen to paper with Detroit, he becomes another proven veteran to pull on the jersey with that world-recognizable logo on it. He would be teammates with one of the classiest and most skilled defenseman in the league, Nicklas Lidstrom. He would be teammates with two of the most talented forwards in Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. Those players already have faces that any die-hard Wings fan would recognize in a downtown restaurant, but if you add Modano to the mix, maybe they can open a restaurant called Mikelas Zettersyuk? That would be quite a pitch to Modano if Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Datsyuk proposed that impossible idea. But hey, if it was the deciding factor to get the all-time American scorer to Detroit, who would complain?

After a restaurant gets renamed/built and named to that ridiculous idea, Modano gets his chance to practice with his new team. The chemistry is there, and he dominates the pre-season games he plays. The 2010-2011 regular season comes and goes, and Detroit makes the playoffs. Dallas and Detroit meet in either the quarters, semis or conference finals. The Red Wings win the series, and Modano scores the game-winning goal in the clinching game. I cannot imagine how many fans would send angry letters to the Stars’ front office, and I wouldn’t blame them.

Meh, not exactly the worst outcome.

What if Modano signs with the Sharks? Honestly, the first thing that would come to my mind, is Modano not giving a care in the world what anyone thinks. Putting on a Sharks uniform would make every Stars fan absolutely sick in the stomach. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Modano was booed if he returned to the AAC as a member of San Jose. Going back to the previously mentioned scenario in which Dallas plays Detroit in the playoffs, I will substitute the Sharks in for the Wings this time. If the Sharks win, with Modano getting the clincher, I might take a pitchfork to my truck, douse the ’fork and truck with even more gasoline and set it to flames.

Joke, people. I don’t get to joke very much so please understand what I’m going through.

Now, put Modano in a Minnesota uniform. This is the scenario I wish for in all truth. He returns to the region that helped ignite his NHL career before riding a saddle to Dallas. I would assume Wild fans would like to see him in their colors, because he can be that league-wide spotlight once again. Marian, you are far too cruel, sir.

In choice C, Minnesota beats Dallas in the playoffs. This is the only situation I would be somewhat happy. Losing isn’t exactly the most tolerable aspect in the world, but when you make peace with it, wouldn’t you want it to be the way you wanted to lose?

Now, onto the final choice Modano can have. Retirement. He doesn’t want it, I don’t want it, but if the three teams don’t call on his services, what should he do? As much as I would like to see him with the Stars’ front office, I don’t want to see that until 2011-2012 when there would be more certainty that he is finished getting paid to skate.

All four options will be a tough pill to swallow for the best player in Stars history, but what do you think he should do?

I dislike the Sharks, and I really do not want to see an electronics company have a commercial with Modano in it saying how hard it is to decide on what television he should buy, comparing it to a real-life athlete who can’t make up his mind. Kudos to whoever knows which gunslinger I’m referring to.