After watching Friday's 7-0 victory against Chicago, it's hard to suggest the Stars need to add more defense. They plan to do it Tuesday night, anyway.

Derian Hatcher returns as team captain and as one of the most imposing physical presences in hockey when Dallas hosts Calgary at 7:30 p.m. Hatcher missed the first five games because of a contract dispute that was resolved Thursday when he agreed to a two-year, $4.9 million contract.

Now he just wants to get back to playing hockey.

"I'll be glad when this game is over with and I can start getting into the swing of things," Hatcher said. "I've felt better in practice than I thought I would, but the only way to get into game shape is to play the games."

The Stars were 2-2-1 without Hatcher. Their goals against average of 1.77 is third-best in the league, so it's a stretch to say they suffered without Hatcher. But unquestionably they had to make up for his absence by throwing more finesse and less punishment at opponents.

"I think he's going to bring back that spirit of physical play, " defenseman Sergei Zubov said. "He’s our captain, and he shows us what to do. He's a very big piece of our team."

Hatcher's return comes at an appropriate time. The Flames aren' t the best team in the Western Conference, but they do bring a physical element to the game. Only three clubs average more than the Flames' 28 penalty minutes per game.

Their style can be traced to Brian Sutter replacing Pierre Page as head coach in the off-season.

"They play with energy shift after shift," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He does not allow anyone to take a break. When you play for Brian, it's like, `You're coming or you're coming. Now which way are you coming?' "

Hitchcock said he would make no attempt to ease Hatcher gradually into the lineup. "Away he goes," Hitchcock said. "It would be nice to have Derian up to speed right away, but he's got to play.

"I think he gives our team a real emotional boost. He's really highly thought of in the dressing room. When you add an impact player to your team, it gives you a sense of security. And he's an impact defending defenseman."

Hatcher joins a defense that is playing well and hopes to add Shawn Chambers next week.

Chambers, signed in the off-season from New Jersey, has missed the entire season with a broken hand.

"Some people have said that on paper, we've got the best defense in the league," Hatcher said. "But we’ve got to prove it. Just having people say it doesn't amount to anything.

"I think we've got a nice combination, because we've got some offensive guys, some defensive guys and some people who do a little of both."

Hatcher has averaged 25 points per season in four years in Dallas, but he's on the ice for his defense. He and Richard Matvichuk normally will play as much as possible against the opponent’s top scoring line.

"The toughest thing for me right away will be defending one-on- ones or two-on-twos when they start doing a little weave," Hatcher said. "But I'm not going to try to do anything fancy."

He will leave that to Zubov. Hatcher is here for other reasons.

© 1997 The Dallas Morning News All Rights Reserved

Tim Cowlishaw / Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News, Stars' Hatcher to reclaim role as captain in return to lineup., The Dallas Morning News, 10-14-1997, pp 7B.