DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars on Wednesday signed free-agent right wing Bill Guerin to a five-year deal.

	Guerin

Stacked at center and solid on defense, the Stars went into free agency looking for quality forwards, especially ones who are tough on the ice and leaders in the locker room.

They think they found the entire package in Guerin.

"To add someone with his size, his ability to score and couple that with his character, he's everything we were looking for,'' Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said Thursday morning, hours after signing Guerin to a five-year deal worth about $45 million.

Guerin, widely considered one of the top players on the market, said the money and his new teammates make Stars a perfect fit for him, too.

"I just felt Dallas was the best place for me,'' said Guerin, who also was considering Toronto.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right wing is coming off a second straight 40-goal season. He tied for second in the NHL in goals last season with 41 and had 25 assists for Boston. He's also played in New Jersey and Edmonton, and has built a solid reputation as someone widely respected by teammates.

"He comes with high praise from the people he's played with,'' Armstrong said. "We described that to him as an asset we liked.''

The Stars began pursuing Guerin with a phone call in the wee hours Monday morning, scheduling a meeting for 8:30 a.m. at a posh hotel in Boston.

Stars owner Tom Hicks, general manager Doug Armstrong, coach Dave Tippett and special assistant Guy Carbonneau were all there, having flown up on Hicks' jet. Their presentation included a DVD showing the best the Stars and Dallas have to offer; Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez -- another Hicks signee -- even made a cameo appearance.

"That was a great first impression on the organization and how committed they were,'' Guerin said. "The way that they've treated me since the first day we met has been great.''

Although Guerin's total package is worth an average of $9 million a year, deferred money keeps Mike Modano as the team's highest-paid player the next two seasons and gives Dallas room to sign more players.

Now topping the Stars' wish list are Tony Amonte, Teemu Selanne and Scott Young. Amonte and Young also were in Boston on Monday and got the DVD recruiting pitch.

The 31-year-old Guerin would love to be on a line centered by Modano, whom he's known for 10 years and has been teammates with at two Olympics. He also would feel comfortable on lines led by Pierre Turgeon or Jason Arnott, who could return to center after playing wing last season.

"I like to have other guys carry the puck for me and then I try to take care of the end product,'' said Guerin, who led the NHL in shots last season. "What I did this year was shoot a lot. I plan to keep doing that. With guys like that, they usually set you up pretty nice.''

Dallas hasn't been an offensive-minded club, but that's expected to change under Tippett. It's part of the reconstruction the team is undergoing after going from Stanley Cup finalist in 2000 to missing the playoffs this past season.

Other moves this week included signing defenseman Phillipe Boucher and tough-guy Aaron Downey, who has 82 penalty minutes in 40 career NHL games.

"He's that gritty, hard-nose player we've needed,'' Armstrong said. "He'll stick up for teammates and play an aggressive role making sure players feel comfortable on the ice.''