MODANO'S STARS CAREER FINI

Mike Modano is on a lot of very exclusive lists; none more exclusive than the one that houses individuals who played for one organization for two decades or more. It’s a very short list, filled with very impressive names. Mike was drafted in 88’, played his first Stars game in 89’ and his final one in 2010 - an epic run indeed.

But with the news of this past week Mike also joins another list – that is if he chooses to keep playing. The list he’ll be on is of Hall of Fame players who spent most of their careers starring and winning with one organization but, awkwardly for longtime fans, finished in another city - in another jersey.

Mario played his whole career in Pittsburgh, so did Steve Yzerman in Detroit, but Wayne Gretzky finished in New York with the Rangers, as did his Edmonton compadres Messier and Lowe. When it ended Guy Lafleur was a Nordiques not a Hab. Ray Bourque was with the Avalanche not the Bruins when he called it quits. Brian Leetch was a Bruin not a Ranger. Mats Sundin was a Canuck not a Leaf. For cripes sake Bobby Orr was a Blackhawk! Anybody remember that?! And so on.

A lot of those divorces were a product of altered financial situations for the various teams. For instance Gretzky, Messier, Lowe and others were not retained because the Oilers market - coupled with the Canadian dollar’s value at that time - just couldn’t afford them. And that was without a cap on payroll.

But another factor with many of them was the inevitable diminishing skills and impact of the player not jibing with said player’s desired role and salary expectations. The star isn’t as starry on the ice as he once was even though his name power is second to none and his past accomplishments speak for themselves. It’s the old joke: How many Stars fans does it take to change a lightbulb? Four. One to change the bulb and three to stand around and talk about how great the old bulb used to be.

Bottom line, it’s just business.

Reality is, with an uncapped payroll Ownership and Joe Nieuwendyk probably find room for Mike Modano, but in the tough finances of 2010, with the downward pressures of not only a league-wide cap but also an internal Stars cap as this ownership shift slowly sorts itself out, there is a need to “take Mike’s money” to pay those serviceable others you need to fill out a competitive roster.

As observers and fans we want our idols and icons to finish their playing days in fairytale fashion. But that rarely happens. (Although Mike’s final home game was just that). We want our memories to be a certain way while the performer wants the juice of competition or the postponement of that final stage exit to be perpetuated for as long as humanly possible. Take Michael Jordan’s final years as a prime example.

What makes all this even tougher is the fact that Mike’s body isn’t broken down. He isn’t fighting chronic pain or hobbling on a wounded knee like so many of his contemporaries are, or were, in their final seasons. He can still get around the rink. But it’s his desire to dig in and connect with a younger, rebuilding Stars club that would be in question. That, along with the reality that during an 82 game grind the younger legs would be more in demand.

Maybe going elsewhere and playing with a team that’s currently in a different place in their cycle would rejuvenate him mentally. If so, he could finish out his playing days enjoying the game and the competition again, rather than waving goodbye at the conclusion of two non-playoff years – but there are no guarantees.

The Stars did what they had to do.

Now Mike has to do what he feels he wants to do.

And we should all be fine with both decisions.