I am unabashedly a child of the Eighties. I love the Eighties. Many of my favorite movies – John Hughes – like totally Eighties. A lot of my favorite bands – also Eighties for sure. You know what else I miss about the Eighties – the Dead Things. Oh yes my younger friends, there was a time, a bleak time in Hockeytown, when Detroit was burning and the Red Wings were going down faster than a hooker at a political convention. About the only good thing hockey related to come out of Michigan in the Eighties is Mike Modano, the native of Westlake, MI.
Now two decades later, the fans in Hockeytown will get to see the hometown boy play for the home team. So you would think there would be a lot of celebration and hoopla over this reunion but if you follow Modano on Twitter today or read any hockey blogs and/or message boards – you will find a whole lotta hate – from Wings fans and Stars fans.
Stars fans are pissed off at Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk for not re-signing Modano, among other reasons. Some are also pissed that he didn’t retire. While others are pissed that he signed with Detroit instead of Minnesota. And a few even thought he should’ve stayed in Minny in 1993, when the team relocated to Dallas.
Wings fans are pissed off because Mike took his good, ole sweet time to come to this decision. They are also pissed because it apparently stopped Detroit from signing two other players. And finally, they are pissed because Mike back pedaled on his “it’s Detroit or retirement” statement when he entertained offers from MN and SJ.
I’ve been watching Modano play since 1989, when I was a freshman in college and young Mike played his rookie year for the Minnesota North Stars. I mocked his brief appearance in “The Mighty Ducks,” while secretly watching that movie for years to come on TV just to see his cameo. I also hate Detroit. I despise the Red Wings. I’d like to cut off Detroit and ship it over to Canada, except I like Canada too much to do that to them. I hate the Joe Louis Arena. I hate their stinky, smelly, dead octopi on the ice. I hate Scotty Bowman and the left-wing lock. I hate their annoying, obnoxious fans who I question if they were as loyal in the Dead Wing days. Mostly I hate them because for a while in the mid 90s through well now, they have been a pretty dominant team.
And now one of my favorite players, someone who was absolutely inspiring to watch on the ice in the 90’s, is a Red Wing. He’s gone over to the dark side. He’s one of them – you know, players who sell out and go to Detroit on the down side of their careers for one last shot at glory.
I should be mad. I should be furious. I should feel the angst like all of those angry folks in cyber space. But really, I am mostly relieved that Mike has made his decision. This whole will he play, will he retire spectacle has been taxing this season – especially the last two games of the season – which ironically were in my humble opinion, Mike’s best two games of the season. But it’s a question Mike has been contemplating I think for quite some time. Back when he signed his last deal with the Stars, I am not sure anyone thought he would play out the contract let alone come back for another year. But he did and now Stars fans are left with great memories and years to debate this decision by Nieuwy.
Well here are my two cents on this topic. First, I don’t think Mike has been happy with the Stars for a few years. There was the whole getting striped of the captaincy, the botched contract negotiations with Doug Armstrong, getting tossed early in the playoffs and finally not even making the playoffs for two straight years. Mike has always been a player who preferred to play in the big game. He had trouble getting motivated for games where it didn’t seem like anything was on the line.
Stars fans, if you’re honest, you’ve seen games where you question where Mike’s head was because it sure as heck wasn’t at on the ice. As I said earlier, I think Mike had two good games this year – the last two – which were so emotional because of the fans send off in Dallas followed by the reception and send off he got in Minnesota. Other than that, there were a lot of games last year I had to look at the stat sheet to make sure Mike played.
Finally, I don’t think Mike was happy with his role on the Stars, third or fourth liner and on the second PP unit. It has to be difficult for a guy who was The Guy to see his role assumed by guys 15 – 20 years younger than he. It’s one thing to be a fourth liner on a competitive team but on a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in two years, is playing with a payroll that just barely makes the league minimum and has ownership issues – that’s not the best position for someone who likes to play in the big games.
I think Mike is going to love Detroit. I think he’s going to be happy on a team where he knows from training camp, that he could win the Cup. Detroit is also an older team, 12 players on their roster currently are or will be at least 30 years old this season, including Lidsrom who’s 40 and Draper who is 39. It’s more fun to be around a bunch of guys your age than a bunch of guys who grew up watching you play. Plus he’s going to be playing in front of his family and friends in a building where he grew up idolizing hockey players such as Gordie Howe. When he’s on the ice in May and not on a golf course, I think he will have a new found appreciation for Joe forcing his hand.
Nieuwendyk could’ve taken the easy route and signed Mike to a deal similar to what Jere Lehtonen received last year. And Mike could’ve followed him down Easy Street and signed that deal. But would either the Stars or Mike have benefited from that path? I don’t think so and I think Joe had the guts to do what Brett Hull and Les Jackson NEVER would have done – put his friendship with Mike on the back burner to do what he believes is the best decision for the Dallas Stars and give our younger players a chance to show what they can do. I think Joe too knew Mike well enough to see his dissatisfaction with his role on the Stars. Joe made the hard choice that not even Mike could make until his hand was forced.
Say you do re-sign Mike, who do you take ice time away from? Jamie Benn, the phenom rookie who looked very solid in the center position? Brad Richards? Mike Ribeiro? Tom Wandell? Steve Ott? Modano doesn’t play well on the wing, so that wasn’t an option. The Stars had a glut at center. They couldn’t trade Ribeiro for the solid defenseman they need so Modano became even more expendable.
But he’s the FACE man, the face of or-gan-I-za-tion. Yes he is and always will be without a doubt. But in a cap environment, with an owner in a world of financial hurt, with a team that is undergoing a huge transition, you can’t make hockey decisions with your heart. Joe Nieuwendyk has a big heart – you can ask anyone who’s ever played with him, they will tell you that. But he’s also smart and he had to make this decision, just like with Marty Turco, his friend and former teammate, with his head because that is how you win championships. So if you want to be angry at anyone, go flame on Tom Hicks because he’s the one who got the team into this financial Titanic.
So I wish you well Mike Modano. I hope you find your passion for hockey again in Detroit. I hope you enjoy this time on the ice. I hope you play well – when you’re not playing against Dallas. And just like Joe Nieuwendyk, you will always be a STAR to me and we will always have ‘99.
HappyGirl25 blog 