Hull makes play for new role
By Joe Lago
ESPN.com
Two years ago after falling to Detroit in the Western Conference finals, the Dallas Stars made a point of adding scoring punch. They went out and hired the best top gun available that offseason, Brett Hull.
Then, they proceeded to ask Hull to do things all snipers hate. They asked him to play defense.
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HULL'S BEST PLAYOFF ASSIST TOTALS
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Year
|
Games
|
Assists
|
|
2000
|
12
|
9
|
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1990
|
12
|
8
|
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1991
|
13
|
8
|
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1997
|
6
|
7
|
|
1999
|
22
|
7
|
It took time, but when Hull eventually settled into his new all-around role, he scored (32 goals) and played defense (plus-19). And most of all, he won a Stanley Cup.
This season, we're seeing another side of Hull in the playoffs: Brett Hull the passer.
Hull always has earned his share of assists -- he has 494 of them during his 15-year career -- but most of them have come from firing slap shots off goalie pads to wide-open teammates around the net. And now, actually -- purposely -- setting up a linemate?
In Hull's job description, that responsibility normally came after backchecking and dropping the gloves.
While all-world center Mike Modano has grabbed most of the headlines, Hull is doing plenty away from the spotlight in the Stars' West final against Colorado.
|  | | Brett Hull has been a master playmaker this postseason. |
Guess who is the Stars' leading assist man in the playoffs with nine? Guess who's tied for second in plus-minus at plus-5?
Brett Hull, that's who.
Hull has accomplished all that while managing what Dallas got him to do. He scored the eventual game-winning goal in Monday's 3-2 victory over the Avalanche for his team-leading 14th point, and also generated other quality chances with some nifty passing. Hull picked up an assist on the Stars' first goal when Modano knocked in the rebound from one of Hull's six shots.
The biggest change in Hull's game could be seen near the end of Game 2. Yes, that was No. 16 on the ice late in the third period trying to protect a one-goal lead and bodychecking Aaron Miller into the boards.
Partly due to injuries, Hull wasn't such a complete player in the regular season. He finished with 24 goals and 59 points but was a team-worst minus-21. In the playoffs, though, Hull is managing to be productive despite a torn stomach muscle that will require surgery in the offseason. The same thing happened last year when he overcame knee and groin injuries to deliver the controversial Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 against Buffalo.
Still, Hull has had to make sacrifices the day he arrived in Dallas. Who would've thought he'd be making plays? |
