SAN JOSE, Calif. – Joe Nieuwendyk knows removing the no-handle zones for goalies in the corners would help Stars goalie Marty Turco, but the new Stars GM also knows that he has to do what's best for the game and the NHL.

Nieuwendyk, who Monday and Tuesday made his first trip to the GM meetings, said he mostly listened when discussion came up about rules changes, and he said there wasn't a big push to remove the areas in the corners where goaltenders are penalized for touching the puck.

"I think their belief was this was all part of a well-planned-out system, and they want it to work together," Nieuwendyk said of a massive set of rules changes in 2005 that included the no-handle zones and has helped push offensive numbers up. "It creates more puck battles and rewards teams that win those puck battles. And Marty still gets 30-40 touches a game, so I don't think it's killing us."

Complaints from around the league are that defensemen are getting hurt by hard-charging forecheckers who race into the corners to win loose pucks that can't be touched by goalies. However, Nieuwendyk said statistics the GMs saw showed the injury numbers have not increased significantly. He said the number of hits to the head are more significant, and that's the area where GMs are expected to put their focus in future meetings.

As for handling the puck, San Jose coach Todd McLellan said Turco still controls the game even under the restrictive rules of the no-handle zone.

"The challenge for any team against Marty is if you want to establish a forecheck and your dumps aren't placed well, not only do you not get the chance to establish a forecheck, but you're chasing and playing a 200-foot game coming back," McLellan said. "That really leads to frustration, and once you get frustration into your game, things don't usually go right for you."

Lehtinen hurt: Stars winger Jere Lehtinen suffered a groin injury late in practice Wednesday, and the injury worsened on the flight to California, so he was kept out of Thursday's game and did not skate in the morning. He is listed as day to day, and the Stars will see if he can practice today in Arizona or play Saturday against Phoenix, coach Marc Crawford said.

Lehtinen has missed 13 games with three injuries (hip, groin and rib muscle).

Winger Fabian Brunnstrom (shoulder) skated hard at practice Thursday but also sat out. He is listed as day to day.

Briefly: Turco has been named as one of four players to study the constitution for the NHL Players Association. The union is in the process of changing leaders and is studying every aspect of its organization. It is expected to get help from baseball union chief Donald Fehr. ... Dallas had scored the first goal in 10 of 17 games heading into the San Jose game, and was 7-2-1 in those games. It was 0-2-5 when allowing the first goal. ... Stars C Mike Modano entered Thursday's game with 70 points (23 goals, 47 assists) in 77 career games against the Sharks.