The Coyotes just signed Brett Hull. Holy hell!

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Coyotes Sign Brett Hull

GLENDALE, Arizona (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes (news) have signed veteran right wing Brett Hull (news) to a two-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hull was reportedly deciding between Phoenix and the Dallas Stars (news), but ultimately chose his former agent over his former team.

Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett was Hull's agent when the star forward was in St. Louis. Hull is also friends with Phoenix managing partner and former superstar Wayne Gretzky.

Hull, who will turn 40 on August 9, spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings (news), helping them win the Stanley Cup crown in 2002. He scored 25 goals and added 43 assists in 81 games for Detroit last season.

"Brett Hull is one of the most talented goal scorers in NHL history," said Barnett. "He is a dynamic player who creates excitement every time he enters the offensive zone. He has contributed significantly to winning Stanley Cups in both Detroit and Dallas. We not only look forward to the experience and passion he will bring to his teammates here in Phoenix, but also to the pure entertainment he will provide to our fans."

Hull is third on the all-time goal scoring list with 741 in his Hall of Fame career, trailing only Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801). In 1,264 NHL games, Hull has also notched 649 assists for 1,390 points.

The Coyotes will be Hull's fifth NHL team. He was originally a sixth-round draft choice by Calgary in 1984 and played in just 57 games with the Flames before a March 1988 trade to St. Louis, where his career began to flourish.

Hull spent 10 1/2 seasons with the Blues, including a brief stint as Gretzky's teammate toward the end of the 1995-96 season. He had one of the most amazing seasons in NHL history in 1990-91 while with St. Louis, scoring a career-high 86 goals and 131 points on the way to Hart Trophy honors as league MVP.

The 86 goals were the third-most in NHL history, trailing only Gretzky's 92 in 1981-82 and 87 in 1983-84.

Hull signed as a free agent with Dallas on July 3, 1998 and helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in his first season with the franchise. He scored the Cup- winning goal in triple-overtime of Game 6 of the 1999 Finals against Buffalo.

After three seasons with the Stars, the Belleville, Ontario native signed with Detroit before the 2001-02 campaign.

Hull, a three-time goal scoring champion, has reached the 70-goal plateau three times and the 50-goal mark five times during his illustrious career. His 103 playoff goals are also fourth on the all-time list, trailing only Gretzky, Mark Messier (news) and Jari Kurri.

Hull has been selected to play in nine All-Star Games, earning MVP honors in 1992, and has been chosen as a First-Team All-Star three times.

The two-time United States Olympian (1998, 2002) will also represent the U.S. at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey later this month.