Carbonneau's age-old quandary: Whether to return

By Bill Nichols, The Dallas Morning News, 6/12/00

Stars center Guy Carbonneau said he will talk to general manager Bob Gainey and coach Ken Hitchcock in about two weeks, then sit down with his family before deciding whether to return for another season.

Carbonneau, the NHL's oldest player at 40, also must have surgery to repair a tendon in his hand.

"Right now, I just have to heal and get my operation and get back on my feet," Carbonneau said. "I just don't want to make a rash decision. I need two to three weeks to settle down. I still have to see what type of a team they want. I came back last year after talking to Bob and Hitch. I'll do the same this year."

Carbonneau faces a difficult decision because he is so highly dedicated to the game, is coming off his best season in the past six years, and believes he could win his fourth Cup because of Dallas' talent base. His family has established roots in Highland Park, and his daughter, Anne-Marie, will attend SMU.

But he said he also realizes that he will eventually have to decide what he wants to do when he grows up. He wants to be involved in some aspect of hockey, and is a popular candidate to take the vacant general manager's position in Montreal, where he spent 12 seasons.

"I have no idea," Carbonneau said with a mysterious wink. "If I make that decision [to play], my family really likes it here, my daughter is going to SMU, and I'd love to stay here. I know there are rumors in Montreal.

"I always said I want to stay in hockey. That's what I've known half my life. I don't know what's going to be there when I quit. I'm hoping there will be something for me in hockey. I'm going to have to sit down and talk with my family. Maybe there's something outside of hockey."

Carbonneau should make a decision on his 18th season before free agency is declared on July 1 so the Stars can make adjustments if needed. The club has the option to re-sign him. Also figuring into the mix is that there are two expansion teams that could affect the Stars' roster.

"It would have to be a mutual decision," Gainey said Sunday. "In the past, we've felt it best to leave a little space after the season. We'll have to sit and evaluate our team and start to make plans for next year. Each player will be discussed. It's too early to say what direction we will go."

After Carbonneau talked with Gainey and Hitchcock last season, the plan was to have him play in about 50 games and provide leadership and penalty killing in the playoffs. Instead, with Dallas having so many injuries, Carbonneau played in 69 games, logging between 18 and 20 minutes, often went against opponents' top lines, and led Dallas' league-leading penalty kill. His 10 goals were his most in a season since scoring 14 with Montreal in 1993-94.

"Because of the injuries, I had a lot more ice time than they expected of me," Carbonneau said. "It was fun because we had a lot of new guys. I had a great time. I always said that the playoffs is where you measure where you are."