Mike Modano

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The pinnacle of his career arrived in the 1998-99 season when Modano led the Stars to their first Stanley Cup. Despite breaking his wrist in game two of the Stanley Cup Final against the Buffalo Sabres, he played all six games. He assisted on the Stars' final five goals of the series, including Brett Hull's third-overtime winner in game six. Modano led the Stars with 23 points in the playoffs, with all seven in the finals on assists. During celebrations, he tossed his wrist cast into the crowd. He is considered one of the most influential figures in popularizing ice hockey in Texas and the southern United States.

In Their Own Story

On March 13, 2007, Modano scored his 500th career regular-season goal with 10:24 left in the 3rd period in a regulation win against Antero Niittymäki of the Philadelphia Flyers. Four days later, on March 17, 2007, in an away game versus the Nashville Predators, he scored his 502nd and 503rd career regular-season goals in a 3–2 loss, passing Joe Mullen's NHL record (502) for most goals scored by an American-born player. Later that year, on November 7, 2007, he broke Phil Housley's record for most points by a U.S.-born player, scoring two goals in the first five minutes, with the record-breaker being a short-handed goal on a breakaway against the San Jose Sharks. That night, he received a congratulatory phone call from Air Force One, with U.S. President George W. Bush speaking to him about the record.

Reader's Guide

Attending a Dallas Stars game at the American Airlines Center offers a chance to see the legacy of the franchise's greatest player. Modano's number 9 jersey was a top seller during his career, and he became an idol in Dallas, receiving the most letters of any player. The team's success under his leadership, including two straight Presidents' Trophies in 1998 and 1999, built a passionate fanbase. The arena buzzes with the history of the 1999 Stanley Cup run, a moment that cemented hockey's place in Texas. Fans remember the 1999 Stanley Cup Final, where Modano assisted on the final five goals of the series, including the iconic triple-overtime winner by Brett Hull.

Did You Know?

• Modano chose jersey number 9 as a child to honor both Ted Williams, an idol of his Boston Red Sox fan father, and the Red Wings' own Gordie Howe.
• He was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy but controversially lost to 31-year-old Sergei Makarov, which led to an age barrier of 26 for Calder candidates from the following year.
• His only career fight was against Rod Brind'Amour.
• Modano's career high for points in a game is six (2–4–6) against the Anaheim Ducks.
• He was named captain of the Western Conference All-Star team in 2002-03.

The American Hockey Standard

Michael Thomas Modano Jr., born in Livonia, Michigan, holds the all-time record for goals by an American-born player in the NHL. His father turned his childhood mischief into skating lessons at age seven; six months later he was put in local hockey teams. As a youth, he was part of a Detroit Red Wings team in the 1982 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. In the 1984–85 season, Modano scored 50 goals and 50 assists on the way to win the USA Hockey National Championship in 1985. The Minnesota North Stars selected him as the first overall draft pick in the 1988 NHL entry draft, making him the second American to be selected first overall in the draft, after Brian Lawton in 1983.

From Minnesota to Dallas

Modano's career trajectory was dramatically reshaped by the franchise relocation from Minnesota to Texas in 1993. Initially facing criticism in Minnesota as an underachiever despite a strong rookie campaign, he embraced the move to Dallas as a fresh start. Under head coach Ken Hitchcock, who was hired on January 8, 1996, Modano routinely played 25 minutes instead of the 15–18 minutes he played under Bob Gainey. This transformation culminated in personal bests, including 50 goals in the 1993–94 season. He became an idol in Dallas, becoming the player who sold the most jerseys and received the most letters. His leadership was pivotal in guiding the franchise to consecutive Presidents' Trophies in 1998 and 1999.

The 1999 Stanley Cup Triumph

Modano hit his peak in the 1998-99 season, steering the Dallas Stars to their first-ever Stanley Cup. The path was tough: they rallied from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche in seven games for the Western Conference Final berth. In the Finals against Buffalo, he ignored a broken wrist suffered in Game Two and skated through all six games of the series. He recorded assists on the final five goals of that championship run, most famously setting up Brett Hull's third-overtime winner in Game Six to win it all for Dallas. Modano led the Stars with 23 points in the playoffs, with all seven in the finals on assists.

Hall of Fame Legacy

Beyond his on-ice statistics, Modano's influence extends to the cultural landscape of American hockey. He is credited as one of the most influential figures in popularizing ice hockey throughout Texas and the broader southern United States. His contributions were formally honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 17, 2014. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players. Furthermore, his international impact was recognized when he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2019. He spent the final season of his career with his hometown Detroit Red Wings.