Stars sign Brenden Morrow to six-year extension

[Flacolaco]

This is very significant, I thought someone should be at least aware of it, as Morrow will almost without a doubt, be the captain of this team when Mike Modano retires in a couple of years.

Brendan Morrow is to the Dallas Stars, what Josh Howard is to the Dallas Mavericks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STARS SIGN BRENDEN MORROW TO SIX-YEAR EXTENSION

September 21, 2006

By DallasStars.com Staff

Versatile Left Wing Inked Thru 2012-2013 Season


Mike Modano will always be known as the face of the Dallas Stars franchise. But another "Mo" has also established himself as one of the cornerstone players of this hockey club over the last several years, and there really isn't anything "Mini" about him.

You could say that Brenden Morrow is the heart of the Stars while Modano is the soul. Either way, Stars management made sure that the player known by some as "Mini Mo" would remain a big part of the team's future by locking up the gritty left wing with a six-year contract extension worth $24.6 million ($4.1 million per year) through the 2012-2013 season. Morrow's current contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season.

"Signing Brenden to a long-term extension was a top priority for this hockey club," said Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong. "We consider him a cornerstone player and an integral part of our team. Brenden is one of our main leaders and sets the tone for the club with his work ethic. He brings a lot of energy and tenacity to the lineup each night and we're glad to him here over the next seven seasons."

Yes, now Stars fans can look forward to many more Morrow signature goals within three feet of the crease and of course the "reversal" which he has perfected over the last few seasons.


Morrow, 27, appeared in 81 games with the Stars last season, recording 23 goals and 42 assists for 65 points with 183 penalty minutes and a +30 rating. He set career-highs in assists and points and was the only player in the NHL last season to register more than 20 goals and over 125 penalty minutes. Among team leaders, he ranked first in plus/minus, fourth in points, fourth in assists and fourth in goals.

The decision to sign with Dallas now and not test the free agent market at the end of the year was a no-brainer for Morrow.

"I wanted to stay in Dallas all along and now I can concentrate completely on the ice for this upcoming season," said Morrow. "I couldn't be happier and am extremely excited about continuing my career with the Stars for many years."

During the 2006 playoffs against Colorado, he collected six points (1-5-6) in five games. The 5-11, 205-pound left wing tied for the team lead in playoff assists and points. In 53 career playoff games, Morrow has posted six goals and 18 assists for 24 points.

The Stars' first round selection (25th overall) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Morrow has appeared in 451 career NHL games (all with Dallas). Over his NHL career, he has tallied 120 goals and 149 assists for 269 points with 758 penalty minutes. Since coming into the league in 1999-00, he has the best plus/minus of any Dallas player (+98) and has never been a "minus" player in a season. He is the only current Dallas player who has registered three-straight 20-goal seasons.