TURCO'S CURTAIN CALL

Marty Turco didn’t win a Stanley Cup in Dallas. He didn’t even make it to a Cup Final.

True.

But what about what he did do?

I would say 75% of the league’s General Managers during Turco’s time in the Stars net would have traded their #1 guy for him, and would have done it in a heart beat. He was durable, regularly playing 65-75 games a season. He was stingy, setting the modern mark for lowest goals against average in 2003. He acted as a 3rd defenseman, essentially allowing the Stars to play with too many men on the ice, reading forechecks, crisply out letting the puck, and occasionally sending a teammate in home free. He was consistent. He was a leader. He was a spokesman. He was community involved. He was, well, he was quite a package.

Turco owns most of the franchise’s goaltending records, having all but erased the names Belfour and Maniago from the pages of the Stars media guide in recent years.

And, when he arrived on the scene back in 2000 he did something very few athletes are able to do in their sports, he revolutionized a skill. Before Marty no goalie held his stick in that “claw” manner that he does when handling the puck – now, they all do - think Gretzky setting up behind the net to give yourself a comparable. And let’s not kid ourselves, the league’s little trapezoidal areas that they defined as “no handling the puck in there if you’re a goalie, zones”, well that was aimed at the Martys (Turco and Brodeur)

This might sound like swan song hyperbole but you could make the argument that Marty Turco is the best goaltender this franchise has ever had. (But you’d have to be ready to wrestle The Eagle and his supporters on the lawn at The Mansion if you did – and he’ll probably be wearing his S. Cup ring, so look out)

Nine seasons, over 500 games, four all-star teams, two save percentage titles, 40 shutouts. The dual with Luongo in 2007, Game 6 versus the Sharks in 08’, Game 82 in 03’. Decent resume, indeed.

He adds one more line to that resume tonight before sending it out to NHL G.M.s looking for a guy to guard their cage.

And so, Marty, if this game is indeed the end of a nine year run in the pipes in Big D, soak it in, do what you do, and add an exclamation point!