MAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRTAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Canadian Press
1/5/2006 6:04:06 PM

DALLAS (AP-CP) - The Dallas Stars have made sure goalie Marty Turco isn't going anywhere.

Turco, a two-time All-Star, signed a four-year, $22.8 million US contract extension with the Stars on Thursday that will keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

Turco, who will suit up for Canada at the Winter Olympics in Turin next February, said he signed the extension now because his family likes Dallas and he was confident in the Stars' commitment to keeping good players around him.

''When it comes down to it, the opportunity to win here is at its highest level,'' Turco said. ''That's what I was looking for.''

The deal keeps Turco, 30, in Dallas through 2009-10. He becomes another core player the Stars will keep at least through next season, including forward Mike Modano, who was re-signed to a five-year deal last summer.

''My belief is that I had to put my stake in the ground and build the team around one player,'' Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said. ''It's not that one player can win or lose for us, but you have to put a statement, and in my mind a statement player.''

Turco, a two-time all-star, will make about $3.2 million this season, the last of the three-year contract he signed in September 2003 after holding out the first week of training camp. That came only months after his record-setting season, his first as the starter.

Because of the NHL's lost 2004-05 season and the salary rollback when players returned to the ice this season, Turco will only make about $6.9 million of the $12 million he was scheduled to make when he signed the deal.

''The only regret I'll have is if we don't win,'' Turco said. ''But we're not going to have that problem.''

Three years ago, Turco set a modern NHL record with a 1.72 goals-against average, beating the former record of 1.77.

Turco is 20-11-2 with a 2.44 GAA this season. He is tied for second in the NHL for wins, and his three shutouts are tied for second-most.

Armstrong said contract talks began getting serious about three weeks ago, adding that he didn't want to have to get in a ''bidding war'' later.

''We believe in Marty and his ability to lead this hockey club to the ultimate goal of competing for the Stanley Cup,'' Armstrong said. ''Marty is a very important part of our team and has proven himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.''

Dallas's fifth-round selection (124th overall) in 1994, Turco has compiled a 116-59-26 career record with a 1.99 goals-against average - the lowest among active netminders and the fourth-best in NHL history. His best season came in 2002-03, when he finished second in Vezina Trophy voting after posting a 1.72 goals-against average, the lowest since the Second World War.

i take it your happy about this?

I love Marty.
He's the greatest.

This is just my opinion, but I love the "new" NHL.

Under the previous agreement I think there is a good chance he (or anyone in a similar situation) would test the market to see what they could get.

That is great for Dallas!

Zany_Sports_Lady wrote:

I love Marty. He's the greatest.

Don't let Billy know about this.

Smartest move they've made since signing Modano, IMHO. Locking up one of the best goalies in the league for 4 years! EXCELLENT!!

Moe Bandits wrote:

Zany_Sports_Lady wrote: I love Marty. He's the greatest. Don't let Billy know about this.

Billy's not the jealous type. Him and Marty are friends.

Guess you better hope the Stars don't play the Redwings in the playoffs. What is Turco's record against them? He looked real good in yesterdays game. Oh wait, that was him coming out of the locker room when the game was over to cong. the rest of the team.

Well this whole Turco signing is sure going to set the precedent for other goalies/signings this season.

I know I posted above that signing Turco to a new deal was a good move for Dallas and it is, but he hasn't played up to the level he's expected to play at with that new contract. Being yanked after the 1st period in TWO straight games made me scratch my head and ask WTF??

Kudos to Johan Hedberg for his EXCELLENT play in saving Marty's bacon these last two games.

Beating Detroit is one thing. Beating Detroit at JOE LOUIS is another. Beating Detroit 6-3 in JOE LEWIS after staking them to a 3-0 lead in the 1st period is MAGNIFICENT!

GO STARS

I am really happy with how Hedberg has been advancing. He started out slow and quite green but he has really been working hard and you can see his progress.

Well, IMHO, a goalie can be great, but if the defense in front of him is REALLY good, the goalie can be exceptional!

Case in point -- Hedberg toiled in Pittsburgh for years. His stats during that period weren't that remarkable. He's always been a good goalie, but had a porous defense in front of him. The Stars have been stressing defense for some time and you can't tell me that Hedberg hasn't benefitted from the upgrade in the defense. This and the experience he gained WHILE in Pittsburgh.

"Green?" I disagree, Zany...I'll give ya "slow starter," but I think that had a lot to do with starting as the #2 goalie behind Turco...that would make any goalie a "slow starter."

Speaking of defense - Today, Dallas traded John Erskine & a 2007 fifth-round pick to the Isles for Janne Niinimaa and the Isles' 2006 second round pick.

game_misconduct wrote:

Well, IMHO, a goalie can be great, but if the defense in front of him is REALLY good, the goalie can be exceptional! Case in point -- Hedberg toiled in Pittsburgh for years. His stats during that period weren't that remarkable. He's always been a good goalie, but had a porous defense in front of him. The Stars have been stressing defense for some time and you can't tell me that Hedberg hasn't benefitted from the upgrade in the defense. This and the experience he gained WHILE in Pittsburgh. "Green?" I disagree, Zany...I'll give ya "slow starter," but I think that had a lot to do with starting as the #2 goalie behind Turco...that would make any goalie a "slow starter." Speaking of defense - Today, Dallas traded John Erskine & a 2007 fifth-round pick to the Isles for Janne Niinimaa and the Isles' 2006 second round pick.

I hear ya dog.
I would be more inclined to agree with "Slow Starter" as well.
As far as getting rid of Erskine: Peace out homie... good riddance.

This is great news for the Stars and Zany, now for the next four years she will still be able to beat Turks in the splits contest!!!!

Congratz ta Marty, he deserves it!!! About the Janne-Erskine trade, Janne has ALWAYS been inconsistent!!! He's got loads of talent and size but why won't he use 'em ta their full potential???

NETMINDER wrote:

This is great news for the Stars and Zany, now for the next four years she will still be able to beat Turks in the splits contest!!!!

Yay! Marty is for sure one of the greatest goalies that I have seen play in awhile.... Especially after yesterdays performance.......

Yeah, he looked real good tonight. 4 goals on 16 shots, and that after blocking the last 4 half hearted shots by Montreal. I wonder if Dallas is wondering about the big contract they gave him. Yanked in two games and got bombed again tonight since signing the contract.

Yes, because a goalie can have his entire career defined by one game.

You know I watch the game last night and I wuold have to say the "D" did not help Marty out very much.....