Playoffs 2000:Muller makes most of opportunity

Muller makes most of opportunity
Associated Press

DALLAS -- Two months into the season, Kirk Muller was out of a job and almost ready to retire. He came home from a deer hunting trip with friends and decided to call it quits if he didn't get an offer by New Year's Day.

Then the Dallas Stars called. Within two months, he earned a raise and contract for next season.

But that's getting ahead of things. All that matters now is that Muller is eight wins from a second Stanley Cup. The next step is the Western Conference finals, which begin Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.


	Kirk Muller is playing an important role in the Stars quest for the Stanley Cup.

"I feel like I'm a rookie right now and have a second life," the 34-year-old center said. "For eight months, I was basically sitting out of the game. Now, here I am in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"Not that I ever took the game for granted, but when you sit out and come back, you realize how much you really want to play."

Muller was picked second overall in the 1984 draft by New Jersey, after Pittsburgh took Mario Lemieux at No. 1. Muller began playing for the Devils that season and later became their captain.

He went to Montreal in 1991 and earned the honor of wearing the C on his sweater for the Canadiens. In 1993, he scored the goal that clinched the Stanley Cup.

In New Jersey and Montreal, Muller was a 30-goal scorer five times and an All-Star six times. Then, he became a journeyman, spending time with the New York Islanders, Toronto and Florida.

He played all 82 games for the Panthers last season, but set career lows with four goals and 11 assists. The team didn't want him back so they bought out the final year of his contract.

Muller, though, was convinced he had more hockey left in him. So he went home to Kingston, Ontario, and worked out at 5:30 every morning and skated with a junior team five days a week.

He didn't just stay fresh. Muller trained with a purpose.

Although he laughed at talk that he'd lost a step because quickness was never a part of his game, he also took it seriously. His designed a regimen that helped him drop seven pounds and add quickness.

"People would say, `You had a good career, you won, just walk away.' But I couldn't," he said. "If I had retired, it would've bugged me that I didn't have another chance. I really felt I could still fight. That's what drove me."

Muller would watch games on television and see teams he thought could use him. The teams didn't share that opinion. Neither did some of the folks around town.

"They were looking at me like, `Get the hint,"' he said, smiling and laughing. "They're like, `Geez, why don't you just quit and help us coach the team here."'

The disappointment finally got to him. He called his agent, Mike Barnett, and told him he was ready to call it a career.

"By the time I hung up the phone, he'd talked me out of it," Muller said.

Toronto and Boston had begun to show interest when Stars general manager Bob Gainey called. Muller was so excited he called Guy Carbonneau and Mike Keane, two former Montreal teammates playing in Dallas, and had them put in a good word for him.

On Dec. 15, Muller became a Star. Three days later, in his first game with his new team, he scored the game-winning goal against Vancouver.

On Feb. 15, Muller signed a new contract. His initial deal was for $190,000 with an extra $3,000 for every game he played 10 minutes or more. The new one guaranteed him $410,000 for this season and $750,000 for next season.

Muller finished the regular season with seven points and 15 assists in 47 games. In 10 playoff games he has one goal, three assists and as much satisfaction as anyone on the ice.

"Bob gave me a chance and I want to take advantage of it," Muller said, adding he's not trying to prove a point to anyone but himself. "I'd rather just play, go for the Cup and let that be the incentive."