Stars now serious about getting Hull!

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Sweet!

12:16 PM CDT on Thursday, July 29, 2004

By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News

Brett Hull's agent, Bobby Hull Jr., said he spoke with Stars general manager Doug Armstrong on Thursday morning and that the Stars are "serious about getting Brett down there."

Hull Jr. said the club has talked to him about a one-year deal with a salary range of $2-3 million. "It looks positive," said Hull Jr. about the negotiations. "Last week they were simply interested. Now they are serious about it."

Hull Jr. said he and Brett are scheduled to meet with Stars coach Dave Tippett and Armstrong next week in Frisco to talk about a possible contract and Hull's role with the team. Phoenix has also shown an interest in Hull, offering a two-year deal.

Hull, who turns 40 on Aug. 9, played for the Stars for three seasons before leaving for Detroit in the summer of 2001. Hull had 95 goals and 101 assists in Dallas and scored the franchise's biggest goal, the Stanley Cup-winner in triple-overtime of Game 6 of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals.

Brett Hull missed just one game in his three seasons with the Red Wings. He still has a home in Dallas and has been working out in Frisco with several players, including Stars captain Mike Modano, the last few weeks. If Hull returns, he would probably be reunited on the same line with Modano. The two could play beside each other at the World Cup in September.

In his three seasons with the Red Wings, Hull missed only one game and helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 2002, scoring a league-leading 10 goals in 23 playoff games.

Last season, Hull had 25 goals and 43 assists in 81 games. But he had 15 of those goals in the first 25 games before trailing off the second half of the season. He had three goals and two assists in 12 playoff games.

Hull is just 62 goals away from passing Gordie Howe for second on the NHL all-time scoring list.