DALLAS -- Brenden Morrow got a new contract last week from
the Dallas Stars. Now he has a new title: captain.
The Stars named Morrow their captain Friday, a move that
relegated Mike Modano to being an assistant captain with Sergei
Zubov. Modano, the franchise's career leader in scoring and games
played, had been the captain since 2003.
Morrow, a 27-year-old left wing, signed a $24.6 million,
six-year extension last week that will keep him with the Stars
through the 2012-13 season. Morrow has appeared in 451 career games
since being a first-round pick by Dallas in 1997.
"He's entering the prime of his career. We just thought that
this was the time to do it," general manager Doug Armstrong said.
"This is an honor and a privilege," Morrow said. "I realize
how important it is to have a group of leaders that rally together
to accomplish great things. I look forward to the challenges that
lie ahead for this team and for me."
Morrow last season set career highs with 42 assists and 65
points. He was the only player in the NHL last season with more
than 20 goals and 125 penalty minutes.
In addition to Modano, Stars newcomers Jeff Halpern and Eric Lindros have been captains in the past.
Modano, the No. 1 overall pick in 1988 and one of the most
recognized athletes in Dallas, said he had a lot of different
emotions about the switch. But he said he understood and supports
Morrow.
The role of captain was given to Modano during the summer of 2003 when Derian Hatcher left the team in free agency. Morrow is the club's fifth captain since the Stars moved to Dallas in 1993.