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Brett Hull made an interesting statement Tuesday after the trade for Brad Richards. He said he wanted to put his fingerprint on this team, that this was still Doug Armstrong's team and the new GMs felt the need to make it more "their" team.

And I kind of disagree with that.

Yes, Armstrong, who was fired in November and replaced by Hull and Les Jackson, picked the players for this year's squad. He did most of the shuffling and created most of the deals that brought in key names such as Mike Ribeiro and Niklas Hagman and Stephane Robidas and Philippe Boucher. He signed Jeff Halpern and traded for Stu Barnes. He worked long-term deals for Brenden Morrow and Marty Turco.

And in that regard, Doug Armstrong did a fine job in player acquisition. He's a talented GM.

But I think Jackson and Hull started putting their fingerprints all over this team the second they were named its new leaders. Because of the three consecutive first-round playoff exits that were accomplished with Armstrong as GM, Dave Tippett as head coach and Marty Turco as goalie, there was a feeling of pressure on the Stars.

It hung heavy on Armstrong, it hung heavy on Tippett and it hung heavy on Turco. And it suffocated the team and didn't allow it to breathe. That's one of the reasons some change had to be made.

And while the move to fire Armstrong helped let some of the pressure out, the new GMs did a wonderful job of fully deflating the balloon. Remember, these two guys are "interim" co-GMs. Much of the league laughed at the notion that two guys could share the job – particularly the bombastic Hull. There should have been pressure on them right from the start to do something to prove they deserved the job.

But they didn't panic. They simply shipped out a few ill-fitting parts, gave the coaching staff a one-year contract extension and told the coaches to trust the kids. They basically said: Hey, if we all get fired, what's the big deal? Let's do what we believe, let's trust each other and let's have some fun.

And if you ask the players who are having career years why they are, to a man, they say ... confidence.

Mike Ribeiro said he was constantly having his game picked apart in Montreal. Now he can create. Now he is allowed to make mistakes. And when he does, he's his own harshest critic. Niklas Hagman is a high-energy player who makes high-energy mistakes. The Stars are allowing him to do that, and look at the rewards – 22 goals. Steve Ott has confidence. Matt Niskanen has confidence. Niklas Grossman has confidence.

And, now, Loui Eriksson has confidence.

To me, there are a heck of a lot of fingerprints on those players – and there is a real feeling that this is the team of Hull and Jackson right now.

We've got a full board, so onto the questions.

Q: Hi Mike,

1. Why Richards (center) and not Hossa (wing)?

2. What kind of a deal is Richards at $7.8M?

3. How much are we going to miss Smith?

4. Did we really need to a make a deal Tuesday?

Tim in Farmers Branch

HEIKA: 1. The relatively inexpensive cost of Richards in players you had to send the other way and the fact he is signed for three seasons was key to the Stars. Because Tampa Bay needed to create budget room by trading Richards' contract, he did not cost any of the Stars' young defensemen or forwards.

Co-GM Les Jackson said including Mark Fistric was a deal-breaker and that the Stars told Tampa they would not make that trade. Marian Hossa cost Pittsburgh three players and a draft pick, and he has already said he will become a free agent in the summer and probably sign with another team. When he does sign, it will probably be for six or seven years at $7 million to $8 million per season. Richards gives Dallas flexibility and also gives them a replacement for Mike Modano when he retires.

2. Richards' financial deal on the surface is a bad one for his team – that's why Tampa Bay had to move him. However, the Stars have the cap space to fit him in, and they believe the cost of going out and getting a 27-year-old player of his caliber would have been at least a six- or seven-year deal. The Stars also believe Richards can regain the form he had when he was a 91-point scorer and a playoff MVP (the reason he got the contract in the first place). If he does, he will be worth it.

3. A lot. He was not only a great goalie who played a very similar style to Turco (thus allowing a seamless change for the team whenever he played), but he was a funny guy and a big part of the chemistry of the locker room. There is a big guitar-shaped hole in the middle of that team right now.

4. Need to? No. Take advantage of an opportunity? Yes. Richards can be a huge help in the playoffs. His history is that of a winner and a leader. This team needs that in the playoffs, especially with the West as loaded as it is. The Stars gave up some key depth which will be missed. They added a potential difference-maker who could drive opposing coaches mad. The potential for greatness is higher than the potential for loss.

Q: I know Brad Richards is wonderful, but I'm still sad about losing three good guys Tuesday. I know it's a great opportunity for these guys to get more playing time, but I will sure miss them. I hope they know how much we appreciate them and I will always be cheering for [Jeff] Halpern, [Jussi] Jokinen and [Mike] Smith ... no matter what jersey they have on.

Jessica

HEIKA: It's a hard part of being a pro athlete. You make millions and live a good life, but you are owned by the teams and you have to do what's best for the teams. For Smith and Jokinen, I think this is a great opportunity. Smith was not going to get the chance to be a No. 1 goalie in Dallas with Marty Turco only 32 and playing very well. So this is the chance he has prepared for his whole life.

Jokinen is supposed to get a chance to play with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. That's the dream of any scorer – and Jokinen's history is that of a talented scorer. He could really turn into a great player for the Lightning.

The one the move is toughest on is Halpern. He's a veteran who signed as a free agent with Dallas because he wanted a chance to play for a Stanley Cup. He's taken a step back in his quest now, but maybe he can help the Lightning get things turned around quickly.

Q: What do you think are the odds that the Stars can catch the Red Wings? They are only five points behind them in the standings. It is something worth trying for. Also I notice that The Hockey News has the Ducks as THE team to beat this year. I am not so sure I agree with that assessment because I have seen the Stars beat the Ducks and Red Wings with some of the Stars' top performers in sick bay. I think the Stars are discovering more about their heart and what they are made of. This is a good team. They are progressing, and it seems that they could be peaking at the right time – just as the playoffs arrive.

Mark in Colorado

HEIKA: After watching games like the one they had Tuesday against St. Louis, I never cease to be amazed by this team. They know how to win games. The transition to Richards could take a little time, and I just can't imagine this team not hitting a little bump in the road here or there.

Catching the Red Wings will be tough, because Detroit still has two games in hand and is five points up. The Stars have five more losses than Detroit right now, so I guess five games is the key. We'll see. The Red Wings are hurt, and I'm not sure when they will be healthy.

As for Anaheim, it is a team loaded at every position and just now starting to peak. I would say the Ducks are clearly the favorites in the West right now, simply because they have experience and also are pretty well-rested.

The Stars look good, but they still have to prove they can win in the playoffs.

Q: So, is Brad Richards our new Nieuwy [Joe Nieuwendyk], or is that just wishful thinking?

Mary

HEIKA: I don't know Richards well enough to say he will bring the intangibles and the leadership that Nieuwendyk did, because Nieuwendyk was a special player on the ice and a special leader in the locker room.

But what Brad Richards most certainly will do is bring the Stars playoff guts. His history says he plays his best in big games. The fact that he won the MVP in the playoffs in 2004 is a huge declaration of Richards' ability, but I like his last two performances in the playoffs even better. In series in which the Lightning exited in six games and five games, Richards had eight points in each series. Eight points! The Stars' leading scorer in seven games last year was four points. The year before that it was six points. The year before that it was four points. If Richards can add a point a game in the playoffs (and he has 47 points in 45 career playoff games), he will be worth his contract and more.

Q: I just want to know your opinion in regards if it's going to be any issue between Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards. Ribeiro just signed a nice contract and is the No. 1 center on the team. And now with the acquisition of Richards, he potentially could be threatened by the prospect of losing this status since Richard makes more and is equally talented.

Yuriy

HEIKA: I don't think it will be an issue. The Stars didn't give Richards his contract ($7.8 million a year), so my guess is it will just dissolve into the background.

Dallas players want to win, so they will appreciate what Richards can add to the team.

Now, if he performs poorly and his contract keeps the Stars from going out and getting players who can help, then the contract will be a concern for everyone – not just the players in the room.

Ribeiro was happy to sign his five-year deal for $25 million, so he should be fine with that. Could it bother him if he turns into a guy who posts 80 points every year and appears underpaid? Maybe, but he'll just have to think of the security he was seeking when he signed the deal.

Q: It's frustrating that the wait-and-see approach with Sergei Zubov didn't work. I know the team's been doing fine without him, but I'm anxious for him to come back and make the squad even stronger. It's just weird not seeing him back there for such an extended time after years of anchoring things back there.

Mike in Plano

HEIKA: The Stars wanted to wait to see if Zubov's fracture would heal by itself, but they set Monday as a key date. When Zubov couldn't skate, they knew they would have to go to the surgery option. They believe he will be ready for the playoffs, so we have to have faith in that.

The funny thing is this team has won without him. That's a great sign for the playoffs this year and for the long-term success of this team.

Of all the people on this team that I really felt was irreplaceable, it was Zubov. You still obviously want him in there, but it's good to know the Stars are ready whenever Zubov, 37, decides to hang them up.

Q: So having a team in the Austin area is going to be pretty convenient for Dallas and pretty exciting for Austin. Plus overall good for developing a fanbase and youth hockey in Texas, eh?

Doug in Austin

HEIKA: When the Stars move their AHL affiliate to the Austin area in 2010, I can see Austin games being telecast on FSN so that fans in Dallas can see them, and I also imagine there being package deals for tickets that allow fans in Austin to see the Stars and fans in Dallas to see the Austin team. They might even try to play an exhibition game down there.

It should be a great setup.

The Stars tried to get this setup in Oklahoma City a few years back, but OKC turned it down, because it wanted to keep the Blazers.

Q: The Stars have been trying to get a scoring linemate with Mike Modano since Brett Hull left. Bill Guerin got a boatload of money and didn't click, but as soon as Bill left he started scoring goals again. Lehts [Jere Lehtinen ] and Mike haven't relived the old glory in awhile. I love Modano, but do you think that he is more timid around the net than he used to be? Seems to me he misses a lot of rebound chances because he skates past the net after his shot in close to avoid the hit, but we see Morrow hang in there and take shots until it goes in or the whistle blows.

Bryan in Mesquite

HEIKA: If you try to compare Modano's game to Morrow's game, you'll always be disappointed in Modano. He just is not a physical player. But he has good speed, he opens the ice up for his teammates, he checks very well, and he usually wins key draws, so there is value there.

I like Mike Modano's game and I like what he's brought to the organization. Could he be more consistent? Sure. But so could Morrow and Ribeiro. As for finding him help, I agree with the premise. You have a talent that's not being completely used. If you can find a way to get more out of Modano, I think you do that.

Q: Just finished reading your newsletter and hadn't realized that Stu Barnes is an unrestricted free agent after this year. Have the Stars had any discussions to resign him yet? Or do they plan to let him walk? As a big fan of "Stuuuuuuu!" I'd hate to see him go.

James in France

HEIKA: Stuuuuuu was an unrestricted free agent last season and worked out a one-year deal with the Stars, so my guess is he can do the same thing this summer. I guess the big question will be whether or not they feel Joel Lundqvist can do that same job at a cheaper price.

Stu is 37, so he's also getting to a place where he's probably going to consider retirement, and that will be an issue in the summer. Still, with Jeff Halpern now gone, the value of Barnes to the team has gone up.

Q: Why do the Stars just blast away from the point on power plays when so many bodies are in front of the net that the puck can't get through, or am I wrong? Other teams seem to have backdoor plays or players skating through the front of the net area or players off to the side for a deflection on net.

WR Hawkins

HEIKA: I actually think the Stars have tried to be more creative with their power play this season, and the result has been that they sit sixth in the NHL in power play percentage. The blast from the point is crucial to any power play, because it sets up the opportunity for deflections and rebounds. They could indeed try more backdoor plays, but those are plays that also can be turned into scoring chances going the other way. They are constantly tweaking their approach, but on the whole, I would say this has been a good year for the power play.

Q: Does any player get the goal credit for a shootout win? If yes, how does the league determine who scored the winning goal?

Barry in College Station

HEIKA: Hey Barry, they keep the shootout goals separately, so a goal in the shootout does not count on the season totals. They do, however, keep stats that say, this player is x-for-x in shootouts and leads the NHL with x shootout goals this season.

The official shootout-winning goal is noted and also is a separate statistic. It is the last goal scored in any shootout situation.