Dallas Stars Introduce Five New Players

As they entered a room at the American Airlines Center, all the off season acquisitions by the Dallas Stars formed a small parade. The work by General Manager Doug Armstrong earned him a contract extension through 2011, but this day was all about his five new players.

“I see character, leadership, talent, but most importantly, I see players that want to win a championship,” said Armstrong. He thanked team owner Tom Hicks for the extension, which wasn’t revealed to Armstrong until earlier in the day.

Darryl Sydor returns to Dallas, having a won another Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay. He is one of two defenseman joining the team.

“Everything happens for a reason,” said Sydor. “I was not excited to get that phone call, but I told Army (Doug Armstrong) that when he called this time, it was better hearing his voice this time than it was last time.”

While Sydor was traded from Tampa bay, he is joined by Jaroslav Modry in a trade from Atlanta, two defenseman the Stars hope will improve their team.

“Obviously we're going to be fighting for lots of ice time on the ice,” says Modry. “It just brings competitiveness to the team, and its just going to raise the level of the play.”

Eric Lindros is one of two Centers joining team. He hopes to find health in Dallas, after playing in just 33-games with Toronto last year.

“I know if I get on a roll, and health is out of the equation, I know I can play and contribute,” said Lindros. “I look forward to it.”

Dallas expects to put a team on the ice that is strong at the Center position after signing Jeff Halpern as a free agent as well.

“Hockey has always been my life,” said Halpern. “This seems to be the team right now, where I'm the most comfortable, and I feel I have the best chance to win.”

Right Wing Matthew Barnaby comes to Dallas as a tough player and a fighter.

“As you get older in your career, and you play a lot of years, you realize that winning is the most important thing,” says Barnaby. “As I started out, I did a lot of things that were T.O. like, without the T.O. capabilities. I was very excited when I got the call on July 1st, and was told I was being bought out by Chicago, but that's not a normal situation.”

The stars are hoping they have become a much better team. On paper, they should have a lot more depth up the middle, and in hockey, that's always a good thing.