IRVING - With one year remaining on defenseman Derian Hatcher's contract, the Stars avoided the suspense Friday by signing their captain to a four-year extension that keeps him with the team for five seasons at a total of $18.6 million.

By locking up Hatcher, the Stars stuck to their trend of securing players in the prime of their careers with long-term deals.

They signed center Mike Modano to a six-year, $43.5 million contract after last season, then signed defenseman Darryl Sydor to a four-year, $10-million deal two weeks ago.

Those signings made Hatcher's decision easy, he said. Instead of waiting to negotiate at potentially higher stakes after this season, he jumped at the chance to stay. He missed the first five games of last season holding out for a two-year contract worth $5 million, including bonuses.

"Going into these contract negotiations are not fun," he said. "I really didn't want to go through that again. When we first sat down to talk, I thought [the offer] was very respectable and fair. After that first meeting, I knew I would sign. I really wanted to stay in Dallas."

Hatcher, 26, is entering his eighth season with the organization. Last season, he had a career-high 25 assists and tied his career high with 31 points. He averaged 24.9 minutes per game and 27.3 shifts both team highs.

"While the focus of our team is the short-term, day-to-day things, we're also looking at the long-term, and Derian fits into those plans, " general manager Bob Gainey said. "That is a testament to his growth and development, and just a part of a player and a team heading in the same direction."

Hatcher, 6-5, 225 pounds, is an imposing player who can intimidate without dropping his gloves. And his leadership has improved since he became captain four seasons ago, coach Ken Hitchcock said.

"With Hatch, it's just nice to know that your foundation is here and will be part of the equation for a long time," Hitchcock said. "Anytime you can get into a position to add stability, it's a very good situation. You know you're not dealing with a short-term developmental process."

Coming off two straight divisional titles, the Stars are determined to keep the nucleus of their team together.

"A lot of times you create attention when you sign new players and players from other teams," Stars president Jim Lites said. "But many times, the most important thing you can do is ensure the stability of your team by entering into long-term agreements with the players who are the rocks of the foundation of your team."

© 1998 The Dallas Morning News All Rights Reserved

Bill Nichols / Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News, Stars secure Hatcher with four-year extension., The Dallas Morning News, 10-10-1998, pp 4B.