Modano Signs One-Year Extension With Stars

Dallas Star center Mike Modano signed a one-year contract extension Wednesday that prevents him from becoming a free agent until the summer of 2005.

Modano, the team’s career leader in nearly every significant category, will earn $9 million this season. He was named the Stars’ captain this summer after Derian Hatcher signed with Detroit.

The NHL’s labor situation is uncertain after this season. The deal with Modano keeps him from being in limbo during a possible lockout next season and could make it easier for a long-term deal to be worked out later.

“This gives us mutual protection that we will be together no matter what happens,” owner Tom Hicks said. “It certainly will be our intention to sign Mike [to another extension] under the new rules.”

General Manager Doug Armstrong called Modano about the stopgap extension because of the uncertainly of the labor situation.

“It took one phone call to do this,” said Modano, who last season had 28 goals and 57 assists while becoming the fifth American-born player to reach 1,000 career points.

Modano has the most goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, short-handed goals and games played in franchise history.

The first overall pick in the 1988 NHL draft, Modano is one of two remaining players from the team’s days as the Minnesota North Stars. He was on the Stanley Cup finals teams in 1991, 1999 and 2000 and played a major role in winning the ’99 championship.

“I believe Mike Modano and the Stars are synonymous,” Hicks said. “This is clearly one of the best investments this team has ever made.”

The extension is reportedly worth $9.5 million, but the Stars didn’t release contract terms. Armstrong did confirm there is a no-trade clause.

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Center Brad Richards re-signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, agreeing to a multiyear contract.

Richards set career highs last season with 74 points and 57 assists in 80 games. He also had a team-high 277 shots.

A third-round pick by the Lightning in 1998, Richards is the only player in franchise history to have three consecutive 60-point seasons.

“Brad is one of the cornerstones of our franchise and it is great to have him signed and ready to go before the start of training camp,” said Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster.

The Lightning now has all its players under contract for next season.

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The Chicago Blackhawks signed center Tyler Arnason and right wing Matt Ellison.

Arnason, 24, had 19 goals and 20 assists last season when he was selected to the NHL all-rookie team. A seventh-round selection by Chicago in the 1998 draft, Arnason was one of only four Blackhawks to appear in all 82 games last season.

Ellison, 19, was the Blackhawks’ fourth-round pick in 2002 draft. He played in 72 games last season for the Red Deer of the Western Hockey League.

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Miscellany

A jury in Minneapolis awarded $54,000 to a man who said he was assaulted three years ago by former Connecticut basketball star Khalid El-Amin.

Curtis Frazier, a Minneapolis computer chip inspector, contended he sustained eye socket, nose and facial nerve injuries. He said the trouble happened when he tried to enter an elevator occupied by El-Amin and his friends.

In testimony last week, El-Amin denied he assaulted Frazier. Jeffrey Hassan, El-Amin’s lawyer, said the verdict would be appealed. No criminal charges were filed.

El-Amin, 24, who played for the Chicago Bulls in 2001 and last season in Israel, attended the trial for one day. Before he could testify in person, he left for Istanbul to begin playing in the Turkish league. The jury heard from El-Amin by videotape.

World Boxing Council youth bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon will be trying for his 14th win in as many professional fights tonight when he meets Francisco Tejedor in a scheduled 10-round bout headlining a five-bout card at the Irvine Marriott.

De Leon, (13-0, 13 knockouts) was a member of the 2000 Mexican Olympic team; Tejedor is 46-16 with 31 knockouts.

Also on the card: Wendy Rodriguez (10-2-3, one KO) and Anastasia Toktaulova (9-7, one KO) in a rematch for the vacant International Female Boxers Assn. mini-flyweight title. Rodriguez won a six-round split decision in May. Also, featherweight Edgar Vargas (1-0) will face Eric Rubio (2-1).

Tickets, priced at $25 and $35, can be purchased at the Marriott. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with first bell at 7:30 p.m.

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T.J. Simers is on vacation.