Over the last month or so, Mike Modano was deciding between retirement or playing for the Red Wings. Although Detroit was not competing for Modano's services with another team, they still went all out in trying to convince the 20-year veteran to sign, including getting some help from two former members of the team and one current Red Wing.
Holland said the club made a “full-court press’’ to sign Modano since he became a free agent July 1, shortly after the Stars announced they would not re-sign him. They enlisted former and current Wings, including Brett Hull, Chris Chelios and Todd Bertuzzi, to help with the recruitment.
“I didn’t talk to anyone who had anything bad to say about Detroit -- all were positive,’’ Modano said. “Brett’s been in a couple of places. I’ve known Chris for a long time. Bert loves it there.’’
Hull is one of the players Mike Ilitch mentioned during yesterday's press conference. Both he and Luc Robitaille came to Detroit toward the end of their careers and helped the Red Wings win a Stanley Cup in 2002. They both can be compared to Modano in the sense of joining a new team so late in their careers, and Ilitch is hoping by this time next year the comparison will include a Stanley Cup as well.