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Former Stars captain Brenden Morrow returns to team in front office role: 'In my heart, I was always a Dallas Star'

For Brenden Morrow, four years after retiring as a Star, it was simply time for the former captain to return to the franchise he spent more than a decade representing.

"I had four years to hang out with the family and catch up on some golf outings and different things," Morrow said. "Now, I want to get back to the team atmosphere. It was a close relationship I had with Brad Alberts and Marty Turco, we started talking about different things and how I could get back involved and in what capacity."

On Monday morning, the Stars named Morrow the director of business and hockey development. He will work with team president Alberts in his new role, including "all initiatives relating to corporate partnership endeavors, grassroots hockey initiatives, ticket sales, Dallas Stars Foundation events and the Dallas Stars Ownership Advisory Group," according to a press release.

Morrow, 40, spent 13 of his 15 NHL seasons with the Stars and is top 10 in franchise history in both goals (243) and points (528). Only four players have played more games in a Stars jersey. He was drafted by Dallas in the first round of the 1997 draft and captained the Stars from 2006-13.

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Since he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Star, Morrow has made Dallas his home, outside summers in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In retirement, he golfed and spent time with his 15-year-old daughter and 11-year-old twins, something a playing career or job in the organization would have limited.

"I think from day one, when I retired, it was 'What would you like to do?'" Morrow said. "Basically, I think the Stars thought that there could be a home for me somewhere in the organization if I knew what I wanted to do, and I didn't. I was just transitioning and I didn't know at what level or how much I wanted to commit my time to it. It was probably just best to get away and decompress. Now that I've had some time, I feel like I'm willing to commit some time to the organization."

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While Morrow will spend most of his time working with Alberts on the business side of the organization, a future in hockey operations remains possible. Morrow said he's had informal conversations with general manager Jim Nill and assistant general manager Mark Janko about potentially watching games with them in the American Airlines Center booth, or going to Cedar Park to watch AHL affiliate Texas.

"I know it's all one team, but to feel like you're involved in the outcome of a game, you probably want to be on the hockey side," Morrow said. "I don't think, right now [with] the age of my family, I don't want to be going to Finland and watching hockey games every other month. I think to get started in the business side is the smart way to do it to get in and see what is all involved than jumping all-in on the hockey side."

Morrow joins Turco (president of the Dallas Stars Foundation) and Rich Peverley (player development coordinator) as former Stars players now in the Dallas front office.

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"Even though I was gone and chasing a Cup, my heart was still in Dallas and cared about the guys and the team and everyone in the organization and the fans," said Morrow, who played for Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Tampa Bay after Dallas. "It was tough leaving after almost 14 years. That's all I knew was the Stars organization and my best years were here. I always had a close connection and I felt like, in my heart, I was always a Dallas Star."

The Stars also announced a handful of other changes to their business operations.

-- Matt Bowman was promoted to executive vice president and chief revenue officer after previously serving as executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer. Bowman is entering his eight season with the Stars.

-- Guy Tomcheck was hired as the vice president of corporate partnerships after spending the last 10 years with the Rangers as the director of corporate sponsorships. Tomcheck replaces Grady Raskin, who left to become the president of Dallas' XFL team.

-- Dan Stuchal was promoted to senior vice president of marketing after serving as the vice president of brand development and broadcasting. Stuchal will be in his 16th season with the Stars in a variety of roles.

-- Tom Holy was promoted to vice president of communications and broadcasting after serving as the vice president of communications for five seasons. Holy will assume Stuchal's previous broadcasting oversight.