As Dallas Stars center Mike Modano draws closer to becoming the league's top U.S.-born scorer, he still can't believe he's on the brink of a milestone.

That's interesting considering the high expectations that followed him when the then-Minnesota North Stars chose him No. 1 overall in the 1988 entry draft. Modano remembers hoping to have a good career, never expecting to survive 18 seasons (and counting) or soon head a list of American standouts.

"I don't think I thought of any of this stuff being achievable when I first started," said Modano, 36, who needs eight goals to pass Joe Mullen's total of 502 and 30 points to pass Phil Housley, who finished with 1,232. "When you're a kid 18, 19 years old, you just want to have fun and play, and you never think about how long you're going to play. As time goes by the numbers add up, and it's being talked about a little now that I'm getting closer to those numbers.

"In a way, it's exciting. You're thankful for being able to be in the game long enough to accomplish that, and (thankful) for playing with the players that had impact on those numbers."

In an odd way, the Stars alternate captain is even grateful for the 2004-05 lockout because it allowed him to recharge his body and mind. Modano then returned to rules changes that removed some of the defensive shackles that wore him down. With the ice more open, his speedy, skilled style has flourished.

A year after leading Dallas with 77 points, the Stars' career scoring leader picked up his team-best 10th goal and 20th point Monday before leaving in the second period with a groin muscle strain/hip flexor.

"To still be able to play at that level is amazing," Stars center Stu Barnes said. "He continues night after night to do great things and still commands a lot of attention as far as the other team checking him. He's one of the top players in the league."

Modano credits former Stars teammate and U.S. Olympian Neal Broten for setting an example. As a rookie he noted how Broten enjoyed the game, especially when playing at an intense level.

The Michigan native has taken it to heart through a career spent entirely with the Stars and three tours with the U.S. Olympic team. Modano's accessibility has made him a fan and media favorite, to say nothing of his fierce commitment on both ends of the ice.

"It's his ability to do everything at a tremendous high speed," said former MVP Brett Hull, who played with Modano on the 1999 Stanley Cup title team and now serves as special assistant to Stars President James Lites. "He's a jack of all trades and a master of all of them. He can shoot, pass, skate, play defense, kill penalties and run the power play. And he's one of the top three physically fit individuals I've ever played with."

Despite breaking his wrist in Game 2 of the '99 Finals against the Buffalo Sabres, Modano played the entire series and recorded seven points. Last week in Detroit, he severely bruised his knee when he accidentally stepped on a loose puck during warm-ups and crashed into the boards but played every shift after he got into the game.

Modano is eighth in All-Star fan balloting but could earn his seventh selection to next month's showcase, which the Stars will host.

With him still playing at an elite level, retirement is far from his mind. If anything, he seems intent on making it harder to break the record he never dreamed of achieving.

"Some days you feel better than others, but it hasn't been bad," he said of his health. "The game's changed, and that has helped a lot. But as long as I feel healthy and am having fun and having success, I'll see how long I can take it."

He's one of the all time greats, not just all time American greats. Even though he's a Star, I have tremendous respect for him.