This is what the Dallas Stars remember about 1999-2000. The Stars lost all three of their home games against the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals, and that, more than anything, kept them from winning their second straight title. They're certainly hungry enough to make another run. Are they good enough?

Stay tuned.

What has to happen

The Stars have to get younger. Dallas was one of the league's oldest teams last season, and it has played more games over the past three years (309) than any other team. Thus, the Stars have phased out veterans such as forwards Guy Carbonneau and Brian Skrudland and defenseman Sylvain Cote, while fazing in youngsters such as forwards Jon Sim and Roman Lyashenko and defensemen Richard Jackman and Brad Lukowich.

The by-product of getting younger could be getting faster. Dallas will need this to happen, too. New Jersey exploited the Stars' lack of speed and quickness during the Finals, as did Colorado during the Western Conference finals.

If all this adds up to more goals, so be it. The Stars scored just 211 goals last season, an average of 2.57 per game. Coach Ken Hitchcock has said his team must score an additional half-goal per game, and younger, fresher legs could make that possible.

What can't happen

Dallas can't scrap its plan in the face of bad news. The "Get Younger" theme was in place last season, but the Stars abandoned it when injuries struck. Already, Sim has suffered a broken left shoulder blade, and Hitchcock has said the kid line of Sim, Lyashenko and Brenden Morrow is "blown up." Is that a sign of things to come?

Speaking of injuries, the Stars can ill-afford one to goalie Ed Belfour. He covered many of Dallas' holes last season, earning 32 victories with a .919 save percentage and a 2.10 goals-against average. Belfour has been sidelined during the preseason with an inflamed bursa sac in his heel, a problem that could linger throughout the season.

Even if Belfour is healthy, the Stars cannot endure subpar seasons from any of their top-line forwards. Even with Mike Modano, Brett Hull, Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner at the top of their games, this team has struggled to score.

The mental approach

Upon arriving at training camp, several players intimated that the stinging defeat to New Jersey in the Finals was a needed tonic. The Stars were a tired team late last season, perhaps more mentally than physically. But several players said there'd be little trouble finding hunger or motivation despite the short layoff.

Coach Ken Hitchcock also said his team be better rested, because the off-ice distractions will be fewer.

"It has been a long two years, and I think we probably needed a break more than anyone," he told The Dallas Morning News.

Keep this in mind. The last time the Stars felt they underachieved was in 1997-98, when they lost in the Western Conference finals to Detroit. They responded by winning the Cup in 1998-99.

Noteworthy

NOT GOING ANYWHERE: The Stars are on the verge of extending the contract of general manager Bob Gainey, The Dallas Morning News reported. Stars president Jim Lites said the team is finalizing a two-year contract extension with Gainey that would keep him with the organization until at least June 30, 2003. The Stars also have declared assistant GM Doug Armstrong as Gainey's successor.

"Bob hasn't signed the contract yet," Lites said. "The lawyers for both sides are still working on the language. In my mind, it's done. When Bob Gainey shakes my hand, I know we have a done deal."

Gainey, 46 and beginning his ninth season as the team's general manager, had a clause to opt out of his contract Dec. 31, 1999. The Stars granted Gainey a one-month extension upon Gainey's request. While the two sides basically agreed in January that Gainey would remain as GM, side issues have kept the contract from being signed. Dollar figures were not available but several published sources have listed Gainey's current compensation as about $1 million.

Under Gainey, the Stars have recorded 40 wins and 100 points in each of the past four seasons, a feat matched only by the New Jersey Devils.

INJURY REPORT: Sim sustained his injury a week ago against St. Louis and will be sidelined at least six weeks. The injury was revealed in a bone scan taken Thursday.

"It's frustrating," Sim said. "There's not much you can really do about it except try to keep in the best shape you can without going on the ice and playing the games and practicing. You try to hang in there." Belfour's sore heel would not be keeping him out of the lineup if it were the regular season, Hitchcock said. Still, the goalie has missed a week of practice.