Despite speculation to the contrary, it appears the CBA does allow for one-day contracts. The Dallas Stars and GM Joe Nieuwendyk have announced that the team will sign Mike Modano to a one-day contract on Friday, after which he will send in his retirement paperwork to the NHL.
This allows the greatest American hockey player and the franchise's greatest player to officially retire as a Dallas Star. It's a warm and welcome homecoming for Modano and a tremendous way to end a stellar and Hall of Fame career, to finish it all where he started.
While he's been listed as a "former Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings forward", the fact remains that Mike Modano always has been and always will be a Dallas Star. He may have taken a brief detour up to Michigan but he'll always be remembered for his time in Dallas, for the sight of that jersey flapping in the wind as he sped down the ice at Reunion Arena and the AAC.
The icing on the cake is that the financial amount listed on the contract will be $999,999 in honor of Modano's timeless jersey.
Press release after the jump.
Frisco, Tex. - Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the NHL club will sign center Mike Modano to an official NHL contract, giving him the opportunity to officially retire as a Dallas Star. Modano will sign the contract at Friday's press conference. Afterwards, he will send in his retirement paperwork to the National Hockey League. Full information on the press conference is listed below.
The amount listed on the contract will be $999,999 in honor of his No. 9.
"This is a special day for all of us," said Nieuwendyk. "Mike Modano will always be the face of this franchise. He means so much to our organization and all of our fans. We wanted to give him the opportunity to retire as a Dallas Star. Mike has given his heart and soul to this game for over 30 years. On behalf of the entire organization and the National Hockey League, we would like to thank him for his dedication."
Modano, 41 (born June 7, 1970 in Livonia, Mich.), is the all-time leading scorer among American-born players in NHL history in goals (561) and points (1,374). Playing 22 seasons in the National Hockey League, he was the first overall pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota North Stars.
Modano holds many of the Stars franchise statistical records, including:
Games Played: 1,459
Goals: 557
Assists: 802
Points: 1,359
Overtime goals: 9
Penalty Shots: 4
Goals in a season by a center: 50 (1993-94)
Hat tricks in a season: 3 (1998-99) - tied w/4
Power play goals: 156
Shorthanded goals: 29
Even-strength goals: 372
Game-winning goals: 92
Most 20-Goal Seasons: 16
Most 30-Goal Seasons: 9
Power play assists: 331
Shots: 4,194
Highest +/- in a season: +43 (1996-97)
Playoff Games: 174
Playoff Goals: 58
Playoff Assists: 87
Playoff Points: 145
Modano came to Dallas with the Stars when the team relocated to North Texas in 1993 and was part of the 1999 Stanley Cup-winning club. He signed with the Detroit Red Wings last summer, playing his final season in the NHL in 2010-11.