Patience pays off
Stars sign Bill Guerin to a five-year contract
by J. Douglas Foster
Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong knows the key to catching big fish is patience.
When the NHL's free agency period began on July 1, Armstrong and Stars owner Tom Hicks baited their hooks and cast them towards the biggest names available this summer. And when they didn't bite right away, neither Armstrong nor Hicks pulled up their lines and quit. Nor did they move to move to another part of the river.
No, they just waited. They set up a tent, built a fire and left those lines in the water.
Three days later, their patience paid off as the Stars landed the biggest fish in this year's free agency pool, former Boston Bruin Bill Guerin.
Guerin, 31, was the most sought after free agent this year, entertaining offers from at least five other teams before finally signing with the Stars on Wednesday. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right wing finished second in the NHL last season with 41 goals and led the league in shots with 355. The Massachusetts native brings not only 504 career points to Dallas, but adds to that 1,036 career penalty minutes -- making him as much of a physical force as a scoring threat any time he steps on the ice.
And that's why Hicks and Armstrong were willing to wait a few days to sign Guerin to a five-year contract.
"I think he would be the prototypical power forward on any team," Armstrong said less than an hour after Guerin's signing. "He has showed wherever he has played that he had the ability to adapt to whatever style is asked by his coach. He's versatile on the right wing or the left wing.
"We perceived him as the best fit as an unrestricted free agent for our team. There are other great players out there who signed, but for the Dallas Stars our need was on the wing. And in our estimation he adds the full package of size, speed and scoring. He's a great addition."
Bringing in Guerin gives the Stars the opportunity to pair together the best duo of American-born players in the NHL -- if Guerin does, in fact, play alongside super Star Mike Modano.
Modano and Guerin both played for Team USA at this year's Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Though not paired together often, each proved to be one of the best players for the Americans as the U.S. squad earned a silver medal.
Quelle:
http://www.dallasstars.com
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