Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008

STARS NOTES: Stars win sweepstakes for Swedish forward

By TRACEY MYERS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DETROIT -- The Dallas Stars didn't win Game 1, but they bested the Detroit Red Wings in another contest -- for a coveted player.

Fabian Brunnstrom, a Swedish forward who garnered plenty of interest among NHL teams, is expected to sign with the Stars. Brunnstrom selected the Stars over the Red Wings, the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The deal still has to be approved by the league, and co-general manager Les Jackson didn't want to comment on it until then. But last week, after Brunnstrom visited Dallas for several days, Jackson talked of the 23-year-old's potential.

"We didn't have a first-round pick last year or this year, so it makes sense for us to chase that player," Jackson said. "Initially he has some learning to do, but he'll get a chance to play on a top line next year."

Brunnstrom would get a two-year, entry-level deal and be paid similarly to a top-five draft pick. The deal could be worth approximately $2 million.

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound left wing spent this past season with Farjestads BK Karlstad in Sweden, recording nine goals and 28 assists in 54 games.

His agent, J.P. Barry told TSN, "In the end there was no wrong decision. The Dallas option was simply the best one overall for Fabian and he is very comfortable with his decision."

Tight quarters

Detroit left wing Tomas Holmstrom got very close to Marty Turco in the crease on the Wings' third goal. Too close for coach Dave Tippett.

"We were told that, if there's going to be a player in the blue paint, that would be no goal. Obviously that didn't happen," he said.

"Marty's going to have to be more aggressive to deal with those people in front if they're not going to call it the way I perceive it's supposed to be called."

Turco said: "I thought it wasn't necessarily interference, but something I would think was waved off. The shot was coming at me and he tipped it off me. You have to give him credit for that."

Briefly

Stu Barnes (concussion symptoms) and Philippe Boucher (shoulder, hip) skated a bit on Thursday morning. Barnes said he had suffered headaches and dizziness, but not in the last few days. Asked if he could play Game 2, he said "possibly."

Wings center Johan Franzen tied a franchise record on Thursday, scoring a goal in his fifth consecutive playoff game. Gordie Howe did it twice (1949 and '64) and Ted Lindsay did it in 1952.