Dallas Stars: Kirk Muller
NHL GMs met in Boston on Wednesday. One bit of news was the proposal to broaden Rule 48, which was put in place this season to eliminate those blindside hits to the head.
Now, the GMs want to take the word "blindside" out of the rule to allow more kinds of hits to fall under the rule.
"I think it is a broadening (of Rule 48), incorporating more of the hits that we don't like to fit within the rule. But now it has to go through its proper channels. We've made the recommendation. We'll meet with the competition committee. We obviously have to get input from the players' association and move this thing forward as the summer moves along," Nieuwendyk said.
More here from ESPN.com's Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun.
Nieuwendyk also talked to reporters in Boston about his search for a head coach and his efforts to try to trade the negotiating rights of Brad Richards, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Pierre LeBrun had an update on that in a story on some of the other items from the GM meetings.
Richards, of course, would have to approve any trade. My impression is that there are mixed signals coming from the Richards' camp on whether Richards would be agreeable to waiving his no-trade clause, so we'll just have to be wait and see. I am not holding my breath waiting for it to happen, but I am not ruling it out either.
As for coaching search, Nieuwendyk talked about what he's looking for in a head coach earlier this week during a media briefing in Frisco.
"I am looking for a guy that can relate to players and grow with a young group of players," Nieuwendyk said. "I want a longer-term guy. I don't want the recycling. I want a long-term guy that can build with our young group of players. ... The offensive side of things hasn't been bad. Obviously, I'd like to be a little bit better on specialty teams. I think the structure and the fall back, forming more of an identity. That will be important in the qualities."
If you ask me, that sounds like Gulutzan. Although the more I learn about Horacheck, the more I am impressed. We should know who it is in a couple of weeks or so.
Now, the GMs want to take the word "blindside" out of the rule to allow more kinds of hits to fall under the rule.
"I think it is a broadening (of Rule 48), incorporating more of the hits that we don't like to fit within the rule. But now it has to go through its proper channels. We've made the recommendation. We'll meet with the competition committee. We obviously have to get input from the players' association and move this thing forward as the summer moves along," Nieuwendyk said.
More here from ESPN.com's Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun.
Nieuwendyk also talked to reporters in Boston about his search for a head coach and his efforts to try to trade the negotiating rights of Brad Richards, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Pierre LeBrun had an update on that in a story on some of the other items from the GM meetings.
The Dallas Stars have interviewed four candidates so far in their head-coaching search: Kirk Muller, Peter Horachek (Preds assistant coach), Ken Hitchcock and Glen Gulutzan (Stars AHL coach).
GM Joe Nieuwendyk said he's nearing a decision this month.
"I'd ideally like to have it done before the draft, but certainly before free agency," he said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, trade talks involving the rights to pending unrestricted free agent Brad Richards continue.
"I have had discussions with teams. It's our intention as well to move those rights along, and so we're working towards that," Nieuwendyk said.
Richards, of course, would have to approve any trade. My impression is that there are mixed signals coming from the Richards' camp on whether Richards would be agreeable to waiving his no-trade clause, so we'll just have to be wait and see. I am not holding my breath waiting for it to happen, but I am not ruling it out either.
As for coaching search, Nieuwendyk talked about what he's looking for in a head coach earlier this week during a media briefing in Frisco.
"I am looking for a guy that can relate to players and grow with a young group of players," Nieuwendyk said. "I want a longer-term guy. I don't want the recycling. I want a long-term guy that can build with our young group of players. ... The offensive side of things hasn't been bad. Obviously, I'd like to be a little bit better on specialty teams. I think the structure and the fall back, forming more of an identity. That will be important in the qualities."
If you ask me, that sounds like Gulutzan. Although the more I learn about Horacheck, the more I am impressed. We should know who it is in a couple of weeks or so.
Muller latest to interview for Stars coaching job
June, 2, 2011
6/02/11
3:30
PM CT
By
Mark Stepneski | ESPNDallas.com
Montreal assistant coach Kirk Muller is the latest candidate to interview for the head coaching job of the Dallas Stars. Muller met with Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk Wednesday night and then again Thursday morning.
Muller joins Texas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan, Nashville assistant coach Peter Horachek and former Dallas head coach Ken Hitchcock as the candidates Nieuwendyk has interviewed to replace Marc Crawford, who was fired at the end of the season.
Nieuwendyk said there possibly could me more candidate interviews ahead.
“There may be one or two more that we’ll talk to and then start to narrow it down,” Nieuwendyk said. “We’ll have some follow up interviews as well.”
As far as a timeframe to hire the new coach, Nieuwendyk said he’d ideally like to get it done before the NHL Draft on June 24 and by free agency on the July 1 at the latest.
Muller joins Texas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan, Nashville assistant coach Peter Horachek and former Dallas head coach Ken Hitchcock as the candidates Nieuwendyk has interviewed to replace Marc Crawford, who was fired at the end of the season.
Nieuwendyk said there possibly could me more candidate interviews ahead.
“There may be one or two more that we’ll talk to and then start to narrow it down,” Nieuwendyk said. “We’ll have some follow up interviews as well.”
As far as a timeframe to hire the new coach, Nieuwendyk said he’d ideally like to get it done before the NHL Draft on June 24 and by free agency on the July 1 at the latest.
Stars coaching candidate: Kirk Muller
May, 28, 2011
5/28/11
12:57
AM CT
By
Mark Stepneski | ESPNDallas.com
The first in a series on possible candidates for the head coaching job of the Dallas Stars looks at Kirk Muller.
Currently
Assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens.
The résumé
*Played 19 seasons in the NHL with New Jersey, Montreal, Toronto, NY Islanders, Florida and Dallas, registering 959 points (357 goals, 602 assists) in 1,349 games. Had 69 points, including 33 goals in 127 NHL playoff games.
*Won Stanley Cup (Montreal, 1993)
*Captain of the New Jersey Devils (1987-91) and Montreal Canadiens (1994-95)
*2nd overall pick (New Jersey) in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
*Head coach of the Queen’s University Golden Gaels in Kingston, Ontario in 2005-06. Posted an 8-13-1-2 record.
*Assistant coach for Team Canada at 2005 Lotto Cup.
*Assistant coach for Team Canada at 2006 Under-18 World Championship.
*Assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens since 2006.
Positives
With 19 years of playing experience in the NHL, he knows the NHL game and he knows what it takes to win. As an assistant coach he's shown to be a good communicator with an ability to motivate players. Got high marks for his ability to make in-game adjustments as an assistant in Montreal. The 45-year-old Muller would bring a younger, fresher face to the mix for the Stars, who are moving on after two years under veteran coach Marc Crawford. Muller's the kind of guy who could grow with the Stars as they move forward under new ownership.
Negatives
Limited head coaching experience, serving just one year as the bench boss at Queen's University in Ontario. Has been excellent as an assistant at the NHL level, but not known if he can crack the whip when necessary or how he’d handle tough times when he’s the one responsible for bottom line decisions.
Other suitors
Considered one of the rising stars in the coaching ranks, so he could be on the list of any team looking for a new bench boss.
Quotable
“He’s good at connecting with guys, trying to get the most out of guys. . . . Every coach talks about the system, but he’s good at relaying how the system can work for each individual player.” – Montreal defenseman Hal Gill (Toronto Star, February 2011)
Currently
Assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens.
The résumé
*Played 19 seasons in the NHL with New Jersey, Montreal, Toronto, NY Islanders, Florida and Dallas, registering 959 points (357 goals, 602 assists) in 1,349 games. Had 69 points, including 33 goals in 127 NHL playoff games.
*Won Stanley Cup (Montreal, 1993)
*Captain of the New Jersey Devils (1987-91) and Montreal Canadiens (1994-95)
*2nd overall pick (New Jersey) in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
*Head coach of the Queen’s University Golden Gaels in Kingston, Ontario in 2005-06. Posted an 8-13-1-2 record.
*Assistant coach for Team Canada at 2005 Lotto Cup.
*Assistant coach for Team Canada at 2006 Under-18 World Championship.
*Assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens since 2006.
Positives
With 19 years of playing experience in the NHL, he knows the NHL game and he knows what it takes to win. As an assistant coach he's shown to be a good communicator with an ability to motivate players. Got high marks for his ability to make in-game adjustments as an assistant in Montreal. The 45-year-old Muller would bring a younger, fresher face to the mix for the Stars, who are moving on after two years under veteran coach Marc Crawford. Muller's the kind of guy who could grow with the Stars as they move forward under new ownership.
Negatives
Limited head coaching experience, serving just one year as the bench boss at Queen's University in Ontario. Has been excellent as an assistant at the NHL level, but not known if he can crack the whip when necessary or how he’d handle tough times when he’s the one responsible for bottom line decisions.
Other suitors
Considered one of the rising stars in the coaching ranks, so he could be on the list of any team looking for a new bench boss.
Quotable
“He’s good at connecting with guys, trying to get the most out of guys. . . . Every coach talks about the system, but he’s good at relaying how the system can work for each individual player.” – Montreal defenseman Hal Gill (Toronto Star, February 2011)
Slow going on Stars' search for coach
May, 18, 2011
5/18/11
12:54
PM CT
By
Mark Stepneski | ESPNDallas.com
The search for the next coach of the Dallas Stars has been slow going so far, but it should start to gain a little steam soon.
“We’re in the early stages,” said Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk, who is currently out of town for a couple days. “When I get back we’ll start to formulate a plan moving forward here, but there hasn’t been any urgency on our part. We’ve been kind of waiting to see what kind of direction things would go as far as ownership. I think now we’re in a position where we can start to move forward.”
The resolution of the ownership situation continues to move along. Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is in an exclusive negotiating period during which he is trying to finalize a deal for the team. The process would still have to run through bankruptcy court, but there is a chance it could be wrapped up in early June. It could take longer if there are some snags along the way.
So far there have been no formal interviews, but Nieuwendyk has had some contact “in one way or another” with potential candidates. Among that group appear to be Montreal assistant coach Kirk Muller, Texas Stars coach Glen Gulutzan, Dallas Stars associate coach Willie Desjardins and former Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, who just wrapped up a stint as head coach of Team Canada at the World Championship in Slovakia.
He expects to have initial talks with more, put together a list and get down to the serious business of conducting interviews.
“In my head there is no set number of interviews,” he said. “I would say three, four or five is probably the right range.”
Nieuwendyk said there is no time frame for concluding the search and no matter how long the process takes he is confident the Stars - who are one of five teams currently looking for a new head coach - will get a quality successor for Marc Crawford, who was fired at the end of the season.
“I think we feel comfortable that once we go through the process we’ll find the right guy,” Nieuwendyk said.
No movement on Stars’ UFAs
Nieuwendyk said movement concerning the Stars’ pending unrestricted free agents is on hold right now due to ownership situation.
“It’s kind of muddy because of the timing of the ownership, trying to sort out what our budget will be and then we can move forward from there,” Nieuwendyk said. “I have reached out to them to indicate to them that we haven’t made any decision and we’ll be in touch.”
Brad Richards, Jamie Langenbrunner, Karlis Skrastins, Brian Sutherby, Brandon Segal, Jeff Woywitka and Jason Williams are among the team’s key unrestricted free agents.
“We’re in the early stages,” said Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk, who is currently out of town for a couple days. “When I get back we’ll start to formulate a plan moving forward here, but there hasn’t been any urgency on our part. We’ve been kind of waiting to see what kind of direction things would go as far as ownership. I think now we’re in a position where we can start to move forward.”
The resolution of the ownership situation continues to move along. Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is in an exclusive negotiating period during which he is trying to finalize a deal for the team. The process would still have to run through bankruptcy court, but there is a chance it could be wrapped up in early June. It could take longer if there are some snags along the way.
So far there have been no formal interviews, but Nieuwendyk has had some contact “in one way or another” with potential candidates. Among that group appear to be Montreal assistant coach Kirk Muller, Texas Stars coach Glen Gulutzan, Dallas Stars associate coach Willie Desjardins and former Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, who just wrapped up a stint as head coach of Team Canada at the World Championship in Slovakia.
He expects to have initial talks with more, put together a list and get down to the serious business of conducting interviews.
“In my head there is no set number of interviews,” he said. “I would say three, four or five is probably the right range.”
Nieuwendyk said there is no time frame for concluding the search and no matter how long the process takes he is confident the Stars - who are one of five teams currently looking for a new head coach - will get a quality successor for Marc Crawford, who was fired at the end of the season.
“I think we feel comfortable that once we go through the process we’ll find the right guy,” Nieuwendyk said.
No movement on Stars’ UFAs
Nieuwendyk said movement concerning the Stars’ pending unrestricted free agents is on hold right now due to ownership situation.
“It’s kind of muddy because of the timing of the ownership, trying to sort out what our budget will be and then we can move forward from there,” Nieuwendyk said. “I have reached out to them to indicate to them that we haven’t made any decision and we’ll be in touch.”
Brad Richards, Jamie Langenbrunner, Karlis Skrastins, Brian Sutherby, Brandon Segal, Jeff Woywitka and Jason Williams are among the team’s key unrestricted free agents.
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