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, Modano will send in his retirement paperwork to the National Hockey League.The amount on the contract will be $999,999.“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.













