Dallas Stars’ Stu Barnes retires, joins coaching staff

by Mark Stepneski of Andrew's Stars Page

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars announced today that Stu Barnes has retired from the NHL after a 16-year career and has signed a two-year contract to join the Stars’ coaching staff as an assistant coach.

“We congratulate Stu on an outstanding playing career and we are very excited that he will now join our coaching staff,” Stars co-GM Les Jackson said in a news release. “Stu was a consummate professional on and off the ice throughout his career, and was the type of player who always exhibited the qualities you would associate with a future coach. Stu will be an excellent addition to our staff, which we feel is among the best in the league. Rick (Wilson) has played a major role in building the Stars franchise into the perennial contender that it is today. We believe Mark Lamb is one of the top young assistants in the game and a major asset to our organization.”

“I was truly fortunate to play as long as I did, and I knew this was the time for me to wrap up my playing days,” said Barnes. “A great opportunity to become an assistant coach was presented to me by the Stars, and I look forward to making that transition and learning a new part of the game.”

Barnes, drafted fourth overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1989, registered 597 career NHL points (261 goals and 336 assists) in 1,136 NHL games with the Jets, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars. He also picked up 30 goals and 32 assists in 116 NHL playoff games.

The Stars acquired him from Buffalo in March 2003 for prospect Michael Ryan and a second-round draft pick. Barnes had 120 points (53 goals and 67 assists) in 329 games with Dallas and added another six goals and eight assists in 38 playoff games with the Stars.