For most clubs, a 36-28-13-5 record would equate to a pretty good season. But, most clubs aren't the Dallas Stars, who've set some pretty high standards for their franchise in recent years.

	2001-02 by the numbers
	Record: 36-28-13-5, 90 points (17th overall, 10th West, 4th Pacific) Goals for: 215/2.62 (15th overall) Goals against: 213/2.60 (18th overall) Differential: 2 (17th overall) 20-goal scorers: Mike Modano (34), Jere Lehtinen (25), Jason Arnott* (25) 50-point scorers: Modano (77) * - Arnott registered 3-1-4 in 10 games with Dallas.

Remember, entering last season, the Stars had won five consecutive Pacific Division titles, back-to-back Western Conference championships in 1999 and 2000, and they raised the Stanley Cup in '99.

Because of those accomplishments (and the fact that the club spent big bucks on free agents like Pierre Turgeon and Donald Audette), Dallas' 36-win, 90-point season was viewed as a disaster by many in the Lone Star State. And, because the club competes in the tough Western Conference, they failed to qualify for the playoffs for first time since the 1995-96 season.

Along the way, the franchise underwent some dramatic changes -- both on and off the ice. Offseason acquisitions, Audette, Jyrki Lumme and Valeri Kamensky never fit in Dallas and were quickly shuffled out of town.

On Jan. 25, general manager Bob Gainey, unhappy with the club's inconsistent play (despite a 23-17-6-4 record at the time), fired ultra-successful coach Ken Hitchcock. In the same stroke, Gainey himself stepped down, turning over the job to his handpicked successor, Doug Armstrong. In turn, Armstrong tapped assistant coach Rick Wilson as the club's interim head coach.

At the trade deadline, Armstrong began putting his stamp on the roster by dealing well-liked veteran center Joe Nieuwendyk and gritty right wing Jamie Langenbrunner to the Devils for center/wing Jason Arnott and right wing Randy McKay. The moves failed to awaken the inconsistent Stars, who were 13-11-7-1 after the coaching change. And, with a playoff spot still within reach, Dallas was just 3-5-3-1 in its last 12 games.

In the aftermath, team president Jim Lites resigned to take a similar position with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Looking at next season
Armstrong has been a busy man since assuming the reigns from Gainey. And, using the substantial financial resources of owner Tom Hicks, Armstrong has made some significant moves to retool the club for a return to power.

On May 16, Armstrong addressed the coaching situation by hiring well-respected Kings assistant coach Dave Tippett, an 11-year NHL forward who directed Houston to an International Hockey League title in 1999. Interestingly (and fortunately for the club), Wilson will resume his role as an assistant coach. Ex-Stars goalie Andy Moog returns to the organization as an assistant coach. Moog, who tutored young Canucks goalie Dan Cloutier, will spent a good deal of time with the club's new No. 1 goalie, Marty Turco.

Turco, the ex-University of Michigan stopper, has served as Ed Belfour's caddy for the past two seasons, compiling an impressive 28-12-3 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. The club was so confident that Turco was ready to take the job, they let Eddie the Eagle fly the coop as an unrestricted free agent.

Just in case, Armstrong acquired veteran goalie Ron Tugnutt from Columbus. Tugnutt is a good team guy, who will play (and play well) when called upon and help Turco get through any rough spots during the season.

Turco and Tugnutt should have plenty of support from the club's new-look offense, buoyed by free agent signings of right wings Bill Guerin and Scott Young.

The 31-year-old Guerin, who has scored 40 or more goals in each of the last two seasons, brings size, speed and a physical presence to Dallas. The club signed him to a five-year, $45 million deal. Guerin should be an explosive fit with all-world center Mike Modano on the first line.

Currently, the Stars are thinking about using Arnott with Modano and Guerin. In that scenario, Arnott -- who doesn't like playing the wing -- might play the middle, with Modano moving to left side. If Armstrong doesn't think Arnott will fit in the new equation, he could shop him for a natural winger. Arnott, who received a two-year, $7.5 million arbitration award on Aug. 4, would attract plenty of interest for several reasons, not the least of which being his now certain contract status.

On the second line, Armstrong and Tippett are hoping the arrival of Young will help revive Turgeon, who struggled during his first season in Dallas. Young and Turgeon worked well together during their days in St. Louis. In fact, Young netted a career-best 40 goals as Turgeon's linemate during the 2000-01 season. Multitalented Jere Lehtinen, who seemed to fit nicely with Turgeon in the later stages of last season, will fill out the line as the left wing. With the addition of Guerin and Young, 23-year-old left wing Brendan Morrow likely will see more time on the third line. But, that doesn't mean he's fallen out of favor. It's simply a matter of numbers. That said, don't be surprised if Morrow makes his way back to the top line before the end of the season.

The Stars' bottom six forwards should also include veterans Kirk Muller, Scott Pellerin, Rob DiMaio, recently-signed tough guy Aaron Downey and ex-Ranger Manny Malhotra, who will benefit from his new surroundings in Dallas. Youngsters Jon Sim and Steven Gainey will be looking to crack the lineup in training camp.

On defense, Tippett inherits the Stars' veteran foursome of captain Derian Hatcher, Sergei Zubov, Richard Matvichuk and Darryl Sydor, all major cogs in the franchise's success since the late-'90s. None of the four enjoyed a particularly good season in 2001-02. But, there's no reason to think they can't return to form.

The unit should be bolstered by the addition of free agent Philippe Boucher, who enjoyed a timely breakout season with the Kings. Boucher, 29, is big (6-3, 220 pounds) and possesses a cannon of a slap shot. As he did in L.A., expect Tippett to give Boucher a key role on the power play.

John Erskine, a second-round pick in 1998, should see more time this year. A bruising 6-4, 215-pound defender, Erskine has made steady progress through the Stars' system. He'll battle Finnish-born Sami Helenius for the sixth spot on D.

Although much will depend upon just how well Turco responds to his first season as a No. 1 goaltender, the Stars seem set for a return to both the playoffs and the upper half of the mighty Western Conference. Certainly, after a summer of spending, owner Tom Hicks will expect nothing less. You need only look back to last season to realize that.