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Hull is a star in search of a new team

Steve Yingling

If Pittsburgh Penguins player-owner Mario Lemieux is shopping for a proven right winger, he can find one at this week’s American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.

Free agent Brett Hull of the Dallas Stars is taking offers and he sees no reason why he can’t mix business and pleasure at Edgewood Tahoe.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” chuckled Hull during a light rainshower Wednesday afternoon. “I need offers. I think they all assumed that I was going to be back in Dallas.”



Even though Hull led the Stars to a Stanley Cup title in his first season in Dallas in 1999 and runner-up finish in 2000, the club is unwillingly to tender more than a one-year contract.

“I just want two years, and they won’t give me two years,” said Hull, who scored 95 goals in his three seasons with the Stars.



Hull, 36, was planning to talk to his agent Michael Barnett later on Wednesday to discuss interest from other clubs.

“I’m not looking at any. I’m hoping they are looking at me,” Hull said.

“You kind of have to realize who’s got what, and obviously, there are teams that don’t need a scorer and there are teams that do, so you just have to wait and see.”

With his agent fielding the offers, Hull plans on enjoying the 54-hole championship, the highlight of his off-season.

“I look forward to this all year,” he said. “I just wait for the invitation and mail it back before the glue has dried.”

Hull tied Carlton Fisk for 22nd in last year’s championship but has elevated his play in two Celebrity Players Tour events this season. He finished seventh in the Troy n’ Emmitt Charity Classic and tied for 12th in the Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational.

“It’s coming,” he said. “I’m just kind of learning how to play in the pressure. There’s a difference between playing with your buddies and tournament golf … knowing when to be aggressive and knowing when to play smart.”

Obviously, he thinks his chances are better this year, even though one sports books at Stateline lists him as 50-1 to win the tournament.

“I try to win every year,” he said. “Out here I think it’s all putting. If you can figure out the greens and hole a few putts, you can be right there. From tee to green there’s a few holes that are demanding, but most of the time you can get up there and just rip it and have a short iron in your hands.”


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