NHL
Lightning?s big loss is Jackets? big gain
Modin is revered his talents on, off ice while at Tampa Bay
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Michael Arace
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Jay Feaster began inquiring about a trade for Marc Denis in January. Feaster and his Blue Jackets counterpart, Doug MacLean, had regular conversations through the March trade deadline and closed in on a deal after the draft in June. Everything was nailed down by July 1, and Feaster was partly thrilled that his pursuit of a goaltender yielded the intended quarry.
But another part of Feaster was sick. He asked that the trade announcement be delayed so that he could inform right winger Fredrik Modin, the consummate Lightning leader and a 30-goal scorer, that he was headed to Columbus. Feaster dreaded the call, and not because of the longdistance charges to Sweden.
"I?ve had to do a lot of those phone calls," Feaster said, "but that is the toughest one I ever had to make."
Modin, classy, intelligent, soft-spoken and well-respected, has a substance that goes to the heart of a team. He?s a premier defensive forward. He has in his offensive arsenal top-flight snap and wrist shots. And his teammates love him. Feaster had to trade him, and it hurt.
"I hold Moe in the utmost regard," Feaster said, "as a player and as a person."
After nine seasons in the Eastern Conference, six with Tampa Bay, and one Stanley Cup championship, Modin has moved to the West, into a strange arena to join new teammates. Players come and go, but there is an initial jolt. Modin is feeling it now.
"There are a thousand things to do," Modin said the other day after a workout in Nationwide Arena.
He has to get the lay of the land. He has to find a house. He has to move his family: wife Linda, son Jesper, 4, daughter Ida, 2. The good news is, within hours of the trade, Jesper got to boot up his PlayStation and check out the Blue Jackets uniforms ? and he liked them.
"I thought it would be hard explaining the trade and make him understand, but that part was surprisingly easy," Modin said with a laugh. "Jesper is already a fan."
The question is, will Daddy like the sweater?
"I knew Tampa was looking for a goalie, but I didn?t expect this at all," Modin said. "The phone rings, and you think it?s one of your buddies calling ? and you?ve just been traded. It kind of wakes you up. After seven years of the same thing, you?re putting the key in the door of your house and locking it up. But I?ve had some time now, and I?m looking forward to this. Everything is new ? new city, new arena, new teammates, new friends. You know, it can be refreshing."
Modin is the antithesis of a blown assignment, which is why the Blue Jackets insisted he be included in any Denis deal. Indeed, Modin is often mentioned as a Selke candidate (best defensive forward). That?ll be refreshing.
"The best way to look at him is, he reminds me of David Vyborny ? but he?s 6-3 and 220," Blue Jackets coach Gerard Gallant said. "Brad Richards (the playoff MVP in Tampa?s Stanley Cup season of 2003-04) told me this summer that this is a huge loss for Tampa. He said we?re going to love this guy. He?s can play in every situation, give you 30 goals along the way and he?s a quality, quality person."
There was a buzz among the Blue Jackets when the trade was made.
"He?s probably one of the toughest guys to knock off the puck in the league," said defenseman Adam Foote, a fender bender of some repute.
"When you hit Modin, you feel it," Foote said. "He?s one of the strongest I?ve played against. I think he?s a key guy in our top six. Not only is he a proven veteran, he?s a tiger in the playoffs. And those are the guys you want on your team."
Modin had eight goals and 19 points in 23 playoff games during the Lightning?s run to the Cup. He pulled nearly 21 minutes of ice time per game over those eight weeks. Last season, he had 31 goals and 23 assists.
Modin has one year, worth $2.2 million, remaining on his contract. He?ll be 32 years old Oct. 8. Will he still be in Columbus when he?s 33? It?s a tough question, and he?s not even thinking about it.
"I?m here in Columbus, and I?m glad to be here," he said. "Both me and my wife are very flexible. How do I put this ? We can find ourselves being comfortable anywhere. Whatever happens, we?re still looking forward to a great year."
He?s accustomed to sticking in one place, and right now his life is in a state of flux.
"He?s a great guy," MacLean said. "He?s great in the (locker) room. And he?s going to give it a chance."
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