Veteran free agent forward Mike Modano doesn't seem to be expecting to return to the Dallas Stars, according to a report from ESPN.
"The more and more I look at the situation here, I come to believe I'm not in the scheme of things here," Modano told the network on Monday. "If I had to play, I may have to look at going elsewhere."
The 40-year-old says he will wait until at least July before he decides on what he will do with his future; free agency begins on July 1 in the NHL.
"There's an open dialogue with Mike, and we talk all the time," Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said. "We've had several talks since the season ended."
Modano has spent all 20 seasons of his career with the same organization; the first four were with the Minnesota North Stars and the last 16 have been with Dallas (the team moved for the 1993-94 season).
The Michigan native has 557 career goals and 802 assists.
Modano will test the free agency waters in July.
"It depends what kind of interest and what teams," Modano told ESPN. "I'd probably take two or three weeks in that month and see who comes calling and if there's connection with those teams that call. I'd want to play for a competitive team, someone that might have a legitimate shot at it."
