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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  Mike Modano  38  Assists  Mike Modano  43   Points  Mike Modano  81  +/-  Jamie Langenbruneer  16  Shots  Brett Hull  223  Ice Time (F)  Mike Modano  22:55  Ice Time (D)  Sergei Zubov  28:50  Faceoff Pct.  Joe Nieuwendyk  59.09%  Hits  Richard Matvichuk  208  PP Pts.  Mike Modano  27     Brett Hull  27  SH Pts.  Mike Modano  5

Dejected and embarrassed from a Stanley Cup letdown, the Dallas Stars trudge into the season -- refreshed and giddy? "I really sense a fresh attitude," says center Joe Nieuwendyk.

Excitement or no excitement, there are holes to be addressed. Dave Manson and Sylvain Cote signed with other teams, leaving the defense thin. After captain Derian Hatcher, Richard Matvichuk, Darryl Sydor and Sergei Zubov, the Stars will have a youthful third pairing, something that could be the difference between another shot at the Cup and fizzling out in later rounds.

Training camp will allow coach Ken Hitchcock to sort out his lines. It's likely Brett Hull, who was a glaring minus 21 in the regular season, will be matched with Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen. The second line is set, too. Nieuwendyk will center Jamie Langenbrunner and Brenden Morrow. Then the rest is up in the air. Hitchcock will have Ted Donato, Mike Keane, Roman Lyashenko, Grant Marshall, Kirk Muller, Jon Sim, Blake Sloan and Shaun Van Allen to choose from.

Overall, the Stars -- especially with Ed Belfour in goal -- are still strong enough to contend for the Cup. Another move later in the season could put them over the hump.

For more on the Stars, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
Stars led NHL in penalty killing last season, thwarting the opposition 89.3% of the time. Belfour needs one shutout to reach 50 in his career. What's more, since joining Dallas he has gone 104-48-26 with a 1.99 GAA. Bothered by a broken ankle that caused him to miss all but 17 games last year, the team gets fireplug Lehtinen back. Stars had one of the best marks against the East, going 16-5-3-1. Franchise player Modano has five years left on his contract. And top four defenseman Hatcher, Matvichuk, Sydor and Zubov are signed to long-term deals as well. They're motivated after being shown up in the Stanley Cup finals. Being out-hit, out-matched and out-performed doesn't sit well with a club full of pride.		The power play struggled, winding up as the 19th-best unit in the league. The Stars experienced 395 man-games lost to injury, which forced Hitchcock to juggle the lineup much too often. An impotent offense. Dallas scored just 211 goals last season, an average of 2.6 per game. Loss of bruising forward Scott Thornton to the Sharks via free agency and special teams wizard Guy Carbonneau to retirement will be felt. Injuries aside, what happened to defenseman Darryl Sydor? His big shot on the power play was non-existent, and his production dropped from the previous three seasons. He didn't have a goal the last two months of the season and just scored once in the playoffs. Final year at Reunion Arena surely will bring tears -- of joy.

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Mike Bales	G	Dallas	Re-signed
Ted Donato	LW	Anaheim	Free agent
Sami Helenius	D	Colorado	Free agent
Eric Houde	C	Phoenix	Free agent
Jamie Langenbrunner	LW	Dallas	Re-signed
Jere Lehtinen	RW	Dallas	Re-signed
David Ling	RW	Chicago	Trade
Brad Lukowich	D	Dallas	Re-signed
Rick Tabaracci	G	Columbus	Free agent
Blake Sloan	RW	Dallas	Re-signed
Jeff Tory	D	Philadelphia	Free agent
Marty Turco	G	Dallas	Re-signed
Shaun Van Allen	C	Ottawa	Free agent
Chris Wells	C	N.Y. Rangers	Free agent
Jamie Wright	LW	Dallas	Re-signed

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Guy Carbonneau	C	Retired
Sylvain Cote	D	Washington	Free agent
Kelly Fairchild	D	Colorado	Free agent
Sergei Luchinkin	LW	Columbus	Expansion
Dave Manson	D	Toronto	Free agent
Chris Murray	RW	St. Louis	Free agent
Jamie Pushor	D	Columbus	Expansion
Brian Skrudland	C	Retired
Scott Thornton	C	San Jose	Free agent

Prospect Watch
Richard Jackman, D, 6'2", 180
Born: June 28, 1978
Acquired: 1996 draft, first round (No. 5 overall)
Last season an Edmonton Oilers scout said to "keep your eye on this guy" as he was monitoring Jackman early in the year. He's a strong skater with decent shot, above-average passing skills and unafraid to mix it up when need be.

Get the Highlighter
Wed., Oct. 4 vs. Colorado: They better be ready to go from the start. That's because Colorado beckons, the team they eliminated from the Western Conference finals the last two seasons.
Wed., Oct. 18 vs. San Jose: First meeting against Sharks should have its fill of usual fireworks. The "I-hate-Bryan-Marchment" campaign from two years ago continues in Dallas.
Fri., Nov. 17 at Detroit: Stars and Wings always makes for an entertaining joust.
Wed., Dec. 20 at New Jersey: Think there will be any bad blood when they face the Devils?
Wed., Jan. 24 vs. New Jersey: How about when the Devils visit Reunion Arena?

Quoteworthy
"There's a little bitterness about not getting what we wanted last year."
--Captain Derian Hatcher

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

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