Editing Mike Modano (section)

====Stars move to Dallas====
Prior to the [[1993–94 NHL season]], the North Stars moved to [[Dallas]] to become the [[Dallas Stars]]. Considering the relocation to [[Texas]] as an opportunity for a fresh start, with different expectations from fans and the media, Modano decided to accept Gainey's suggestions to become a more complete player and perform more attacks. Modano recorded a personal-best 50 goals and again scored 93 points. Soon he became an idol in Dallas, becoming the player who sold the most jerseys and received the most letters. During the next two seasons, Modano lowered his goalscoring and had many injuries – a [[concussion]], a knee injury and ruptured ankle tendons – but improved his defensive play. Despite that, the Stars failed to qualify for the [[1996 Stanley Cup playoffs]], and Gainey stepped down as head coach, while remaining GM.<ref name=lone/>

[[Ken Hitchcock]] was hired on January 8, 1996, as Dallas' coach, installing a defensive-minded system while requesting Modano to concentrate on his offense and using him more routinely – instead of the 15–18 minutes he played under Gainey, Modano routinely played 25 minutes with Hitchcock. Helped by new acquisitions [[Joe Nieuwendyk]] and [[Sergei Zubov]], Modano led the Stars to the [[Central Division (NHL)|Central Division]] title in the [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97 season]]. In the [[1998 Stanley Cup playoffs]], with new goaltender [[Ed Belfour]], the Stars reached the [[Western Conference (NHL)|Western Conference]] finals. However, they fell in six games at the hands of the eventual back-to-back [[Stanley Cup]] champions, the [[Detroit Red Wings]].<ref name=lone/>

In [[1999 Stanley Cup Finals|1999]], Modano won the Stanley Cup with the Stars, playing all six games of the finals against the [[Buffalo Sabres]] despite breaking his wrist in the second game.<ref name=lone/> Modano assisted on the Stars' final five goals of the series, including both in Game 5 and Game 6, and final goal. He led the Stars with 23 points in the playoffs, with all seven in the finals on assists.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stars win Stanley Cup! |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/1999/playoffs/news/1999/06/19/stanleycup_final/index.html |access-date=May 15, 2024 |date=June 20, 1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124024100/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/1999/playoffs/news/1999/06/19/stanleycup_final/index.html |archivedate=January 24, 2001}}</ref> The Stars returned to the finals in [[2000 Stanley Cup Finals|2000]] against the [[New Jersey Devils]]. Modano scored the overtime goal that gave the Stars a victory in game 5,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mo' to come |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/playoffs/news/2000/06/08/stars_devils_game5_slam/ |date=July 27, 2000| access-date=May 15, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000829065913/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/playoffs/news/2000/06/08/stars_devils_game5_slam/ |archivedate=August 29, 2000}}</ref> but in Game 6 in Dallas, the Devils wound up closing the series 4–2.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Devil of a Time |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/2000/07/27/devil_of_a_time/index.html |date=June 19, 2000 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010127153500/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/2000/07/27/devil_of_a_time/index.html |archivedate=January 27, 2001}}</ref>

Modano averaged 78 points per season from 1996 to 2002, and was also one of the NHL's top forwards in [[Plus-minus (ice hockey)|plus/minus]] over that span (his +43 in 1997 was second only to [[John LeClair]]'s +44 mark). Modano's career high for points in a game is six (2–4–6) against the [[Anaheim Ducks]], and he has seven career hat tricks. His only career fight was against [[Rod Brind'Amour]]. He was also a candidate for the [[Frank J. Selke Trophy]] (2001), and the [[Lady Byng Trophy]] (2003).