Modano's captaincy: 'It's a new challenge'
Now that Mike Modano is captain of the Stars, the question is: Does he have the personality for it?
Mark Messier. Scott Stevens. Joe Sakic. Steve Yzerman. Derian Hatcher.
Only five captains have lifted the last 10 Stanley Cups, and they have much in common. All five can motivate with a glare. All five seem to get stronger after weeks of playoff pain. All five appear so natural wearing a "C" that the patch almost looks redundant.
Does Mike Modano fit this description?
Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong needed all of one afternoon to select and announce Modano as new captain after Hatcher took the Detroit Red Wings' offer and returned to his native Michigan. "It was really clear when Hatcher left," says Armstrong. "It was the natural choice."
Yes and no.
Yes, because no one stands for Dallas hockey like Modano -- the North Stars sharpshooter who remade himself into a two-way player to help his team win a championship. The man is first all time in franchise goals, assists, points, games played, game-winning goals and shorthanded goals. Armstrong even added a year to Modano's contract in the most unstable of NHL times in the hopes he would eventually "retire a Star."
No, because Modano is so different from Hatcher. The former captain exudes intimidation as easily as the new captain exudes calm. Example: after winning the President's Trophy and then getting bounced by the 7th-seeded Ducks in four last-shot losses, the Stars spent a day milling around the team hotel in Anaheim and discussing what went wrong. Modano, by his own admission, had little to contribute: "What you say," he shrugs, "is not going to erase what happened."
And after the team broke up for the summer? Right winger Bill Guerin: "I did a lot of looking in the mirror. It was tough to swallow through the whole playoffs. Other teams elevated their game. We did not."
Modano: "I went to Mexico for a week and a half."
Does this mean Modano doesn't care? Not at all. He might have had the most emotional post-Stanley Cup reaction of anyone this side of Jean-Sebastien Giguere after finally winning a title in '99. Modano -- Mr. Cool -- cried like a new dad.
So it's not apathy. It's astrology. "It's the Gemini in me," says Modano, who was born on June 7, 33 years ago. "I'm very private. Very independent. I can be by myself as easily as I can be in a group. I hold a lot of things in. Hockey is one twin, and my personal life is the other. Once the game is over, it's over. I like to disconnect myself."
So please pardon Mike Modano if he doesn't break sticks over his skull before every game or scream obscenities until his throat is raw. Much like Sakic, who somehow inspires without moving a facial muscle -- and even Yzerman, whose only visible expression alternates between a wink and a wince -- the relaxed demeanor only conceals a smoldering drive. "In his element," says coach Dave Tippett, "he's a very dedicated guy."
The challenge, then, is not to stoke the fire within. The goal is to make the fire spread. Hatcher could do that. Even Brett Hull had a similar role when he played in Dallas. Modano? "Everybody feels the captain should be more vocal," he says. "Well, a lotta guys talk a good game."
Know this: the man has his opinions. Consider his take on the current labor relations mess: "It wouldn't take long to destroy things. It comes down to a choice between guaranteed contracts and a salary cap. The players will probably have to give up one or the other. I could see some sort of cap. Having guaranteed contracts is kind of a nice thing. I would lean toward that."
So Modano has the lesser known "twin," he has strong feelings, he has no history of selfish behavior, and he will have help. Stu Barnes and Teppo Numminen have served as captains elsewhere. Guerin's presence guarantees a certain decibel level at team meals. Marty Turco will provide the sardonic wit. And look no further than Claude Lemieux to keep everyone interested.
But eventually somebody is going to have to be squeezed for a little extra -- see Turgeon, Pierre -- and that will fall to Modano. The Stars have enough offensive potential, but the loss of top blueliners Hatcher and Darryl Sydor means grit need apply. New alternate captain Brendan Morrow has said effort lacked at times last season. Jason Arnott varied between frightening power forward and apparition. Dallas cannot rely strictly on talent, and the little bit extra starts with Modano. "The buck stops with him," says Tippett.
The timing might be ideal. Modano only has a few more chances at a Cup -- especially with the lockout looming -- yet the Stars have a good shot at retaining most of their firepower after a possible stoppage. Detroit could lose Yzerman, Chris Chelios and Hull, and a host of others are at the end of their contracts. No way Colorado keeps all its All-Stars. And of all the Western powers (save the enigma that is Anaheim), only the Stars have their goaltending situation in order for years to come. If Dallas brings younger standouts like Morrow and Antti Miettinen along, it can set itself up to contend both this year and in two years.
But for that to happen, Modano cannot simply continue to "lead by example." "This is good for him at this point in his career," says Armstrong. "It's a new challenge." No one in Dallas wants to see (or would buy into) a captain with a brand new chip on his shoulder, but no one would raise a curious eyebrow if No. 9 decided to prod a little, glare a little and even tweak a little.
Put simply, these Stars could use a little less Gemini and a little more Aries.
Eric Adelson is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at eric.adelson@espn3.com.
