New Dallas Stars Head Coach Glen Gulutzan Joins The Show | DLLS Stars Podcast

New Dallas Stars Head Coach Glen Gulutzan Joins The Show | DLLS Stars Podcast

[Music] Get your fucking heat. [Music] It is Thursday. It is July the 3rd and this is the DLLS Stars podcast. Our final one for the week because we have the Fourth of July off as everybody else should. And how about that? A long weekend coming up on the horizon alongside Craig Lewig and Sam Nestler. I’m Owen Newkerk. Our producer is Elijah Smith. Before we get to our big guest, Glenn Gulletson, the head coach of the Dallas Stars are joining us right about now. Don’t forget that the $36 DLS Dieard Make Your Move sale is still going on at least through the 4th of July. So, use the QR code at the bottom of the screen. Don’t forget to like and subscribe here on our YouTube channel as we can offer our best discount on becoming a diehard by signing up right now and it will not last for very much longer. With that being said, we have to wait because I was just texted that Glen Gullson was ready and then he got knocked off. So, we’ll have to wait a second. Um, so they have to do a quick restart. So, uh, we’re going to have Gulletton on here in the first segment and I can’t wait to talk to Gully. Uh obviously he was introduced yesterday and we did a big you know a couple of segments about it on the show and then he’s been doing the rounds and uh Luds that’s kind of a big thing when you’re first introduced is you’ve gota you got to make the impression that first impression with the fans.
Yeah I’m sure he’s like man I can’t wait for this 48 hours to be over with with all this stuff so I can just kind of relax and settle in. What about you Sammy? Yeah, I uh I think it’s a key. We talked about it yesterday how he he won the press conference or whatever you wanted to call it. I think this is an important time for a a organization in the city that is you know upset of falling coming up short again. So this is something they want to hear uh you know they want to hear what he has to say and I think a refreshing look on things is what kind of everybody wants and he uh he’s been giving it. I really I I just listened to him talking to to Razer on their little Victory Plus interview. Listened to him a little bit on the ticket. Listened to him obviously from the press there a couple times yesterday. I just I like the way he’s approaching things. He seems very very understanding of the fact everything that’s happening with him. Understanding of the fact that it was too early for him last time. Understanding the fact that he this is a new look for him. Not a not a second goaround. It’s a this is a new thing for him, a new team. He’s a new Glenn Goldson. and I’m really excited to hear what he has to say and then see him get down to work here in uh late August.
All right, without further ado, I’ve been told that our the Dallas Stars new head coach is in fact connected to our show. So, let’s welcome in Glenn Gulletson to the DLS Stars podcast. I hope he’s not. Oh, Elijah, I thought he said okay. Well, we a false start. Um, one of the things, Luds, that I saw in I watched some of the same things that Sam did, right? I listened to he he appeared on the take obviously watched the press conference uh Razer on Victory Plus had a sit down interview in the locker room or as Razer likes to call it the dressing room and they had a bunch of conversations and there’s a lot of stuff in there and we’ll get to some of those with Gully once he’s connected but u I also kind of got the feeling that he is very aware of what he wants to do with this team and it’s something I want to ask him about you know how you prepare and what you do for an NHL job head coaching interview because you kind of have to sell yourself to the GM that’s hiring first before you worry about selling yourself to the players and the fans.
Well, I think you got to you got to sell yourself and they got to sell you. And you know, and I always go back to the when you when you get in there for the interviews and a coach or the general manager asks you, you know, h how do you expect to play the game? How do you see our team playing and tweaks and things like that? And you know, if I was interviewing, the first thing I would say to the general manager is, “Let me take a look at what kind of players we got here.” Because I think the BLA players at the end of the day and dictate how you do a lot of things. You know, I mean, if you want to have a certain system, you want to have a certain power play, whatever it may be, you have to have the guys that can play within that what you’re what what you’re trying to do. And if you don’t have those and he doesn’t, your general manner is not able to pull that kind of a player off or two players off, then, you know, you got to probably go to plan B. And I mean, I think that’s was a nice thing that that I heard out of G in the press conference. He said, you know, there was a couple different ways that he would want to play. You know, there might be two or three different ways. And so, uh, you know, I talked about that yesterday. I liked the way that that shakes out. Okay, we’re going to try this again because we did the false introduction and now we we’re going to try the second hopefully not second false introduction. Let’s welcome in the new Dallas Stars head coach, Glenn Gulitson, to the DLS Stars podcast as Gully is There he is.
There he is.
Yeah. Yeah.
Glenn, I’m going to first of all, thank you very much for joining our show today and we will get to see you in person shortly. Unfortunately, all of us decided to take some of our summer travel and do remote shows. I’m in upstate New York. LS is in Wisconsin. Sam is in California. and none of us were in person for your press conference yesterday. So, apologies. We we will do a proper introduction at a later time. Oh, no apologies. I was actually glad I talked to a lot of people yesterday. So, I didn’t uh I’m maybe glad you guys weren’t there. Luds.
Hey, I can tell you right now if I have been in Dallas, I wouldn’t have been there anyways. So, no chance.
All right, Leds. I know you were dying to ask Gully about a issue that we’ve been talking about on the show all season, especially through the playoffs. So, take it away.
Well, no, Gully. I mean, I I love all the things that you said obviously in in your press and apparently Jim Dilton did too, so I mean that’s that’s all that matters. But there there was the one comment you said about the 1enter. The 1%. I want a little bit of 1% more.
Um, so I look at the Dallas Star and that’s on on the physical side of things which I’ve been Thanksgiving about a little bit. You know, when you look at this last year and the MO kind of from the team in the last couple years is Dallas was the the team that got hit the most last season and delivered the least. So,
you think you could change that to like three or 4%. Yeah. You you you know, Ly, you never had to uh you never had to worry about that the way the way you played. And you know, I had your boys too and they they played they played hard and and physical and you you know in this league it’s where you put your energy is where you get a little bit of pop and we are certainly going to put some energy in there. Um I’m not coming in here to run 5,000 different new systems. The team had 106 points and you know at the end of the day systems don’t win. A new system wins every year and then someone copies it and then they think that’s the flavor of the week. But really what wins every year is that hand-tohand combat and that that that that grittiness that can kind of push you over the top. We we probably saw, you know, I I got to see it firsthand when we played uh Florida. You know, that was a tough series and you guys probably all watched it. Um but where I’m going to put some energy in that 1% is just from every guy to be a little bit more in people’s gear, in people’s hands, a little bit more physical, finishing more checks. And when I do I’m hoping I’m hoping that you do that with 18 skaters then you know you’re getting an 18 degree pop, right? So I’m asking a little bit from from each each guy. So um because really what they what we do is when the playoffs start, everyone starts to do it a little bit, right? They start to do it more than they did through the 82 and then it’s like who can almost stay with it the longest. So, I think we have to run some of that through our 82 so that it’s more of a natural thing rather than an unnatural thing. Um, and now that doesn’t mean we’re going to be running around body checkcking and and and Tom Wilsoning it and and and being that that kind of physical because but we do need to amp that up in our ability to battle for pucks, get pucks stopped, be physical on guys and I think that creates camaraderie, too. Great. Going off going off what you just said, uh th this team, you just mentioned it 106 points. They’ve been close. They’ve been to the Western Conference final three years in a row. You don’t have to to change everything. How do you balance that though with the fact that obviously there’s some things that do have to change because they have come up short three years in a row as well?
Yeah. So if we if I get off the onederee thing and then I’m looking for this the second part is is there a couple little things and tweaks uh that may have been an issue here and and I look at um just a couple little things I’d like to for check just a little bit differently and that goes into the the the physicality part. Uh there’s probably a defensive zone tweak that I’m going to put in but those aren’t going to get you eight more points in the standings. They just really aren’t. I I the one the one the one degree thing is is is is is probably going to get you the most. The second most in my mind and I just got into meetings with the coaches is can we extract performance better performance from some younger players or other players by rejigging or re giving them a little bit more confidence. I think all you guys know um you know are the defense for me is a strength here but can we get a little bit more from some young guys? Can we get a little pop from some of some of our young players? Um, you know, I look at a player like uh Bish here in the playoffs who brought an element of physicality, a big big huge body. You need those bodies come playoff time. So, our secondary, so we’re the one, if I put it in order, it’s the one degree. It’s the one degree. Can we get an internal pop from some other players here that can we grow some younger players in? Can we put some veteran players in a better situation? And then the third the third one then is can we tweak a few little systems. But I mean can that get us four more points? Yeah, it can. But it still leaves us in the same playoff position, right? We do have to add in that one degree so that we’re better equipped to play in the playoffs. You just mentioned the coaching staff and I think that that’s a fascinating group that you guys have assembled and I know that Jim said yesterday that there’s a chance that you two might collaborate on bringing in at least one more but I would like to hear you talked when they asked you yesterday about who’s going to do what roles but just as you start your coaches meetings Neil Graham joins the staff Ela Nazertine has been here and is obviously you said yesterday highly respected for his pen penalty kill work with the stars and then of course Jeff Ree is the goal whisper around here and you definitely don’t want to mess with that. Your two co video coaches. I I know it’s very early, but how do you feel about and as you said, you’ve worked with some of the, you know, marquee coaches around the NHL, future Hall of Famers, maybe current ones even. What do you think about your coaching staff so far?
Uh, I love my coaching staff because, uh, like the league, it’s about energy. Um, you know, 82 games, it’s hard. It’s about keeping the players energy up. Uh, we’ve got good energy. You got a young guy in in Neil that’s coming in. He’s going to do the power play. You got a, you know, a veteran guy in Nazzy and and obviously the real veteran guy. I’m already bugging him in research. So those guys help you, right? So um they they really help you in in in trying to get, you know, some energy and creativity throughout the year. I’m going to let those guys do their thing. Um certainly I can help and get some input because we’re all kind of still everyone’s still growing. you’re always growing as a coach or or as a player, you know, you you want to keep pushing it. We may bring in another guy um but it has to be the right fit. That guy for me probably has um uh a skill set that we need uh in in a certain area whether it be skills or that or it’s a guy that that’s uh really connected has has you know has a lot of games in the league um that can come in and help you especially relate to the players and NHL guys that you know have uh you know that are that are in the trenches right somebody with NHL experience so as a player. So we we’re going to look at that. We haven’t got there yet. We’re just meeting with this staff here today just to kind of get our assignments before we head out for summer. Gully, if if the season started today with the addition of Ratic Foxa, which I I’m I’m guessing you’re probably pleased with that move and adding that guy in the middle of the ice there, you know, down the middle of the ice, you’d have Hints, you’d have Duchaine, you’d have Wyatt Johnston, Ratic, and then you’ve also got Sam Steel. Now,
yes.
If you look at the Duchine with the with the move of Marchman gone, you’ve got Duchain and Tyler over there. Would you look at one of those guys like would it be a Sam Steel that could play the left wing or are you still waiting to see if something else happens here?
Yeah, like right now, you know, I’m I’m penciling it in obviously, Luddy. You know, I’m penciling it in. You know, it might be it, you know, it might be Sam that goes over there. I’d like Radic, you know, obviously I know he’s he’s a great penalty killer. He’s a big body. You know, you like to have those big bodies up the middle um to play down low. So, you know, I’m going to start him there. I love that of the team. I love that we’re kind of, you know, built through the middle. Um uh you know, D and built through the middle because uh I I’ll tell you guys a story. I’ll get I won’t get off track, but I was walking down that ramp. You know that ramp, Luddy, in uh in LA where you go down into the into the to the ramp in LA and um I ran into Daryl Sutter in in about 200 about 14. Uh he he was coaching. I was in Vancouver at the time and he’d just gotten I think Carter back from injury and uh and he had another center out. It could have been Richards. Both of them were out for a little bit. And we were walking down the ramp and he goes, “Gully, uh” I said, “Well, it’s good you got those players back.” and he goes to me, “Yeah, golly, you know this league, it’s all about D and centers, right? You and I can play the wings.” So, um, so, um,
I am glad that, you know, Sam Steel, the reason I say that is, you know, he’s played center, um, but you can always take a centerman and put him on the wing. So I am thinking about that Luddy exactly that there’s there’s probably going to be a movement to the wing for maybe Sam and and u what I love about that player and I got to watch him remember he’s a western league player in Reginaina and then he was uh um he was in Minnesota for a bit and he he he was around and and I thought he really flourished in Minnesota and here is he’s kind of like that utility knife and every coach likes the utility knife. um some guy that can go flip-flop from center, right, and left and he’s got hockey IQ and he’s competitive. So, I really I I think that’s maybe a way what I’m looking at right now, but it’s it’s in pencil. Glenn, last year a big message with with Pete Dbor and the whole staff was you can’t just go right back to the Western Conference final. As much as this team just wanted to be right back there trying to beat Edmonton in two more wins, you have to start over again. You got to start at camp and build it all through there. I like I believe you call it be where my boots are is something that you talked about a lot. I’d love to hear you elaborate on that and maybe how that kind of mentality can help a team that is in that situation where they’re going to have to go through the ups and downs and can’t just start over where they were at the end of the season. Yeah. No, you got to put the work in. You got to put the work in. That’s why I’m trying to change the focus a little bit here uh in into that onederee focus and let’s put it there because we live the exact same thing in Edmonton just with with what I went through. We lost in game seven to one a year ago. And when the season started, it was even in the coaches. Uh we were walking out there and we go, can you imagine we went from game seven Stanley Cup final, first exhibition game. It’s like you didn’t want to be there. So that has to get out because you you can get stale. You can get stale. You don’t want to lose that edge. So we’ve got to kind of change the focus for me a little bit. and and um you know, obviously a coaching change changes the focus a little bit of the players, but we can’t just go back there. We got to build to get back there. It’s a great point that it’s it’s a real it’s a real thing. I know in Edmonton last year, they just wanted to play game seven over again.
Yeah.
Glenn, you had an interesting quote that I heard you say and uh I can’t remember if it was to the guys on the hard line over at the ticket yesterday or if it was to Razer on the Victory Plus, but you said you said this. I thought this was just a fantastic line. Execution of the system, not the system itself, and we need to get better at the things that require no talent. Can you just go into a little bit of detail about what you’re talking about there?
Yeah, just, you know, two Stanley Cup finals, obviously, we lose. Uh, we lost to Las Vegas in Edmonton, they won the Stanley Cup. So, you know, and then we lost to Colorado and they won the Stanley Cup. So, we’ve kind of we kind of went through that gamut and each of those teams played a different system. Each each of them played a different way and uh so it’s not the system that wins. So, it’s kind of self-explanatory that portion of it. But what I thought one is like the stuff that we’re talking the one degree stuff here, the stuff that requires no talent. It it it does become hand-tohand combat. I used to say the guys too and I said this with Razer. It’s like everything your dad told you when you were growing up. Hey, finish that check. Get to the net. Shoot the puck. Make sure you’re coming back hard. Hey, hey, you got to win that battle. You got to get that puck out. All that becomes the playoffs the farther you go. And that doesn’t require any talent, right? That doesn’t require talent. It requires um a mindset. A mindset and and a dedication to the to the craft of um getting really good at the stuff that requires no talent. that that’s what it means to me. The stuff the stuff that you uh because all the X’s and O’s kind of go out the window when you get down to the end. Hey Gully, I I these guys can wear you out. I’m I know you got to get going. Um I just want to say I’m I’m so pleased to have you back here. I think the first goound was well I I’m not supposed to say shit show, but I’m gonna say it was a shit show first time around. and you know with even for Newi too I mean that the whole situation was so but I but I do think that you know things happen for a reason and you’ve got some skins on the wall now right and so yeah it’s going to be a better better situation for you and and for the group. So congrats on the on the whole gig.
Hey Ly, I appreciate that because uh you you were around when it was all going on so you know and uh had the boys there in uh in Austin and we had good runs there. It’s it’s it’s a different if it’s a different time. I do have a few skins on the wall now, buddy. For sure. Got booted around a bit. In that vein, I’m going to jump in real quick here because uh Gully, I missed you. We crossed paths when you were in Dallas, but I came to Cedar Park two years after you. It was your second year. It was the lockout shorten year of 1213. And Willie Dejardens and Doug Listister were our coaches. I know you coached with Willie first in Dallas and then later on you guys flipped roles in Vancouver and I just had to ask because uh we won the Calder Cup in 14 with Willie and Doug and they were phenomenal and then you had a chance to work with them and I I just think it shows how much you guys are all professionals that it can’t be easy to go from being the boss of a guy to then reporting to him and yet I’m sure that was all beneficial for every party.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. You got to check your ego at the door here. And and um you know, you know, Willie, he’s such a good man. He was a great He was a real good man. Easy to work with, easy to work for. Um you can’t survive in you can’t survive in this league when you’re were guy like me trying to work your way up. If you’re you’re all worried about your ego, you got to check that. And I think that even helps you coaching when when you don’t have a big ego, you’re willing to work with the players and uh and put your foot down when you need to. I think that all helps. But so working with Willie, I I enjoyed it. Loved it.
Hey, golly.
Oh yeah. You leaving? Oh boy. What’s up? Holy. How you been?
Good. How are you?
Look, look at what we’re doing. We’re going on the boat.
Oh, yeah. Fourth of July, huh? Coming up, huh?
Yeah. Congrats on the congrats on the hire.
Thank you very much. What are you up to?
Uh, just working now, but uh
Are you?
Yeah. Yeah, just working now. But um
Okay, that’s it. He’s got I know. We’ll see him when we get home. Hey, Ly. We’ll see you, man. Good to see you.
Okay. All right. Good seeing you, Glenn. Thank you so much. Uh we we will do this again and we will when we’re all actually in Dallas. We’ll invite you into our studio. We can sit and chat for a little longer. But again, congratulations. Uh we’re really very appreciative that you took the time to talk to us today. And we’re really looking forward to the season. I I know you need some decompression. In fact, we all do. But September, we should be pretty excited. So, thanks again.
Yeah, we’ll wrap it up. I’ll Yeah, thanks, guys. I’ll disappear for a while. Yeah, thanks.
All right, there it goes. Glenn Gullson, the new head coach of the Dallas Stars, a Tyler Lewig cameo appearance as well. How about that? So, we’ve we’ve had both twins on the show. I’m sure CJ is probably a little jealous now.
He’s they’re they’re Trevor and CJ and those guys are all in a vehicle right now driving from Minneapolis. They just landed at like 10 o’clock this morning. So,
oh, eat your heart out, boys. Hilarious.
The clown the clown act is about to arrive at 3 pm.
Good. Just we’re getting off the grid for three days, so that’s good news.
It is indeed. All right, up next, let’s talk about what we just heard here on the DLS Stars podcast. Thankfully, Glen Goulison doesn’t have to hear us do ad reads, but let’s do one now. Just like your favorite team needs a home ice advantage, your home needs a home floor advantage. And Empire Today can help you get it. Empire Today has flooring experts, dedicated flooring professionals who focus on flooring every single day. We’ve all been to those box stores where you go in overwhelmed by all the options. Someone’s helping you out that was doing something completely different the day before and it throws you off and you end up doing it all on yourself anyway. But Empire Today, they are flooring only. They floor they expert experts in flooring and can help you find exactly what you need. And they’re amazing uh flooring pick online designer online is amazing for seeing what the floor will look like in your home and any space with the furniture that you already have. Schedule a free inhome estimate today because some things are just better at home. DLS listeners can receive a $350 discount when using promo code DLS. You heard it right. That is a $350 discount with code DLS. Restrictions apply. Visit Empire TodayDLS for full detail.
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You you end up looking at two different things and you don’t know what you’re reading off of.
Let’s Can you give me a bing bong?
Bing bong.
Ken Murphy photography with a Joe Newandike and a 99 Cup year. Great show. Love that Gully is back in North Texas. Look, so looking forward to this fall. Happy 4th. Thank you, Ken. And
happy 4th of July. We’re all excited about it, too. Okay, let’s talk about what we just heard. Luds, you obviously know Glenn. Your sons played for him. I think Trevor had more games in Texas if I’m not mistaken, but still that relationship that that’s personal. I met him I think once or twice when the lockout was going on because there was no NHL games. So Brendan Dylan, Cody Eeken, Antoine Rousel all got sent down to the Texas Stars and some of the the Dallas guys with nothing else to do were kind of watching our games, but you know, this is a totally different circumstance. So what were your first impressions of what Gully’s answers was, not just in the interview just now, but also over the last 24 hours?
He’s a seasoned coach. You know, I I I think when when Gully, you know, had his opportunity here, he, you know, was fresh and younger obviously and um eyes wide open kind of thing. And I think now that just like anybody else, I mean, they go sometimes, you know, coaches, they go from team to team, you know, and this is one of those leagues where they kind of get recycled, but but I I always think that there is something good to all that because they get to they learn about different players, they learn about different systems and and you know, they they approach the game differently and and and I just think he’s probably going to be a more measured kind of a coach, more calm behind that bench and trust trust the leadership guys probably more so than he may have in the first go around. So, but but there’s no question that that he has a plan and like I said, the one of the things I like the most and you know, I’ve said it a few times now, is when he’s got a couple different ways to go about it. You’ve got and that that just goes to what playoff is about is about adjustments. I mean, the regular season is supposed to be about adjustments, too, but you know, and you can’t give you got to be careful, I think, in the in the first 82 because you don’t want to give everything away. you know, if you’re playing, you know, I wanted to ask him about Edmonton. I there, trust me, I wanted to ask him his opinion of how the whole nurse chop on the foot and then the Bard chop on the foot and and I I didn’t think that’s fair right now, you know, to do that. But again, like with him, you know, I would think he’d be chomping at the bit to play Edmonton, you know, because I’m I’m guessing, and I’m not talking the playoffs, you know, I just think that first preseason or not they probably won’t play preseason, the first regular season game, there will be some things that I would think that we should keep pay attention to. But but he’s going to try to he’s going to throw in things there that he knows he can get under the skin of a couple guys, you know, especially the two big guys. How how because they’re there no player is perfect. there there’s something that that Glenn Gullixson knows about what what’s it what’s the kryptonite for Conor McDavid is is there one you know who knows there’s something so those are the kind of the things I I’m looking forward to see what he does from game to game through the first 20 then in the next 30 and then as you come down the stretch getting ready for the playoffs where this team goes from from being a more detailed team starting from their end and he and he even mentioned something he’s going to change something in the D zone. Well,
you lit up when that happened.
Yeah, Stevie Wonder could have saw that there needed to be something changed in the Dzone at times. So, so I’m I’m anxious to see that and I don’t think there’s just going to be one little switch unless it just continues to work, you know, against every opponent. So, those are the things I’m looking forward to.
Yeah, LS, you brought up Edmonton. I’m I’m really curious if like I loved his answer. The reason I asked about that kind of be where your boots are thing is because I know that I can’t remember the exact messaging that the Stars had, but it was a big topic in the fall to not just try to go into the season thinking we’re going to get right back to the Western Conference final and be able to get another shot. They did, but that you can’t approach it that way. And I loved his answer talking about it because it can’t be understated that he’s coming off of the same thing twice in a row. He’s coming off of I mean he’s coming off of a worse loss realistically because he’s coming off of Stanley Cup final defeats uh when they believe their team was capable of winning the whole thing. I can’t there’s no way that doesn’t help, right? Because it’s imagine if they they hired a coach that came from let’s say the Anaheim Ducks. You can’t come into a team that has this desperation, this anger, this learning, this all the stuff that comes from losing and and getting so close and just think the coach is going to just adapt that and become that. He already has that fire. He’s got that fire personally to win and get over that hump. Now he comes into a team that is trying to do the same thing. I got to imagine that gives them an edge and uh that keeps them at least on the same page from day one.
You know, listening to some of the things that he’s saying, I’m guessing, sorry, I’m guessing that, you know, he understands that after you have a good there’s only one team that can really come back this this next season and say this is how we’re going to play the same way because there’s only one team that won. So, you have to come back and you have to do something different. Like, you know how this year when when we had some guys that got off to slow starts, right? And so, we’re talking about players that think that, man, they had a good season last year, they can come in here and they’re just going to pick up right where they left off. It doesn’t work like that. And I think it’s the same thing from a coach’s standpoint. You know, you look and you go, yeah, you know, that Dallas team, we we yeah, we beat them in the in the conference final, so they’re not just perfect. They’re not ready to go. There’s something that needs to be tweaked, needs to be fixed. And so, you know, he’s going to do he’ll I I mean, I would be doing the same thing. You’re going to spend a lot of your summer watching the games that Dallas has played last year and and going over, yeah, we got to change this and he already knows a couple things obviously from them as an opponent, but there’s other things you take a bigger a bigger dive into, you know, and and even like the little holes and should this guy play on this line? If I added this guy to this line, is Robo the right guy to play, you know, with with hints and and rant it? Do they need somebody with a little bit more bite that can do some dirty work on the left hand side and create a little bit more space and draw more attention to all those kind of things?
And to that point, Luds, I I of the things I’ve listened to before he came on our show, nobody asked him about who’s going to fill that top six leftwing role. And I really applaud you that you were able to get kind of a a pretty decent answer of he’s considering Sam Steel there. I I don’t mind that. But
but a lot of coaches could have just punted and said, “Well, you know, we’re looking at everything. We’ll see.” It kind of makes sense.
Well, he I mean, he kind of left that open because again, you don’t I mean, I don’t and again, I don’t know uh Steel’s history. I mean, has he ever played on the wing? He’s it’s all to me it’s always easier for a sentiment to go to the wall versus the other way around because they’re used to being you know responsible here and there and when you get on the wall you pretty much you have a certain thing that you’re supposed to do right in the dev dzone and offensive zone you go to the front of the net and you dig pucks out. So I but but I think what what that does is by having him on there now all of a sudden you’ve got a you’ve got that line should they do that now you got three centerman too on that line former center you know Tyler played in the middle so I think there’s a lot of things there and I think steel
you know and again like I said I think there needs to be a little bite on every line and I think steel adds that a little chaos and that’s what steel brings to that. So but the only reason that makes sense to me is that the other four guys are all centermen you know I just think that’s a natural let them play where they play. Up next, boy. We’re going to let Ly cook because he missed our Fourth of July or not our Fourth of July, our our free agency July 1st show. And so we’re going to let him wax poetically about some of the big stories that he couldn’t get to talk about on Tuesday. Next here on the DLS Stars podcast. Well, since my kid has got that bag of ice, he’s loading up the cooler right now. I can see it. And there’s Bud Light in there. And there’s there’s about four other things in there, too. So, might as well talk about a little bit of Bud Light. What’s up, Stars fans? Well, you just saw the or heard the interview with that new guy, Gully. So, we’ll see how he shakes out. I I guarantee he likes a little bit light. I promise. I know he does. Enjoying the game should be easy, so don’t overthink. And if things go sideways, he’s going to be drinking a lot more than he should, especially in the market. Uh, what to wear done. Toss on that Stars jersey. Get that number 25. I saw Gully’s got his new jersey with 25 on it. Go grab that one. Uh, don’t know what to serve your friends? That’s easy. Just pick up some pizza from your favorite go-to place. We get it from the bowling alley here. As a matter of fact, they got great pizza. And grab some Bud Light to stock the fridge. See, just that easy. Just like Bud Light, which is always brewed with four simple ingredients for a clean, crisp taste. Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Do it responsibly. All motors do. Annheiser Bush. Bud Light beer. St. Louis, Missouri.
All right, lads. Let’s talk about game time now because you know what’s happening? Soccer. Lots of soccer. your favorite FIFA Club World Cup knockout games. The quarterfinals are going on as we speak and the Gold Cup Conac USA Mexico final on Sunday. So whether you’re watching the Club World Cup or the Gold Cup, you need to go there in person if it’s coming to a city near you or if you’re going to even make a pilgrimage to see them where they’re being played around the United States. You need game time to do that. Game time will get you a special 10% off exclusive zone deals with these matchups. Plus, of course, you can see exactly what you’re going to get. Tickets faster and easier. Even the hard to get ones. Last minute deals. You can save up to 60% for buying last minute tickets for sports as well as concerts, comedy, and theater. You always see where it’s going to be because of the seat locations and the all-in pricing. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets using Game Time Pick. Just download the app, create an account, and use the code DLLS for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem the code DLS for $20 off. Hey Sam, download Game Time today. What time is it?
Game time.
Man, he’s got the enthusiasm back. That’s good. I like it. All right, buddy.
Weekend.
We could keep going on the topics around Gully because there’s a lot there, but I think we have to save a few things for the rest of the summer. So, what I’d like to do is offer you an opportunity to platform this because you didn’t really get a chance to share your opinions on the big story lines around day one of free agency, which was on Tuesday. And we won’t tease you too much about why, but let’s talk about first and foremost.
What do you I didn’t agree to that.
Florida Panthers, they were able to keep everybody together that they wanted, right? We talked about Brad Marshott, Sam Bennett, Aaron Eckblad. To a lesser extent, they they did reup Thomas Nosk, but the fact that they thought that one of those big three was going to be a casualty of their salary cap and they all resigned. And I remember seeing I think it was yesterday, Bill Zto, the Florida head uh general manager saying, “Everybody was talking about we didn’t have enough space.” He goes, “I don’t know what they were talking about. We definitely had space.” So, what’s your thought on the two-time defend defending Stanley Cup champion sticking together for a rather long period of time now? Well, there there’s space. You just got to be willing to pay people into eternity, you know? I mean, as they’re going up the gates, they’re bringing their bags with them. So, I guess the checks goes up there, too. But, you know what? I think when you when you look look across the the coast there, so to speak, and they understand that with the team that they have in this era, there is a good opportunity to win that third one. And and so they’re what they’re doing is they’re they’re kind of selling out. You know, they’re saying, “Listen, we’re we’re going to find a way. We believe that the band that we got here, it has all the right instruments to it.” And and we believe that especially in in Marian, they they know he’s not playing four years from now. And if he is, he ain’t going to be anywhere near what he is. And who knows, maybe he will be. But the bottom line is what they saw in him is they saw something like a spark plug. They saw something that that, you know, you can be you can either be cancer or you can be infectious. And I think he’s an an infectious kind of player. And I think he he took to that that community and they said, “We’re going to make it work. Even if we’re going to give you a six-year deal or seven, whatever they want, we’re going to make them numbers work. And we’re going to have to bite the bullet at some point. But if we can go out and win another final and and at least be there and win another one for the fan base, you’re basically saying we’re leaving everything on the table. We respect the fans that have come here and we’re doing everything we can. So I mean to me I think if you’re a player, you absolutely love it. you love it that they’re giving you another opportunity to be part and that might be since the the new NHL, whatever you want to call it, that you can actually call a team a dynasty in the salary cap error and all that. I don’t know if it’s two, I think, but if you can get to three,
you got to get to three.
You got to get to three. I mean, I don’t know who said that, but there’s a couple other teams that are at two. So, if you can get to three, then you’re the dynasty. And and maybe Zitto’s going, you know what? I don’t care how long I got to pay these guys. I got robbed from my general manager of the year award. I’m gonna take another run at it next year. Sorry, Jim.
Sam, I’m looking at this grouping of Florida Panthers and they are over the cap right now, which they’re allowed to. They’ve got to clear out almost three million in space. They have 13 forwards on their roster with Mackie Samoskevich, their RFA 22-year-old, not yet ressigned. That could be a problem. 7D. They did sign Jeff Petri to an a minimum deal with a couple performance bonuses and then of course they picked up Denil Teras off as their backup goalie at just over a million because they’ve got to have somebody behind Sergey Babroski. So there still is some minor surgery needed to get this team under the cap unless somebody goes on LTIR which again will at least for one more season be the law of the land.
Take take advantage of it. Right Sam? I was gonna say and I know one guy that could definitely use some time off and that’s their number 19 who seems to be dealing with broken everything all the time and playing through it. So, uh I just think it’s crazy that that they were able to do what they did. I mean, I don’t know anybody that would have said this Florida Panthers team is going to find a way to get Ecklad, Marshon, and Bennett all back. Eblad obviously had to take a little bit of a discount. I mean, I think he was going to get some big numbers if he was on the market. Um, I know he was interested in in other cities, but just to look at that team, Lud said it perfectly. They can go into this year and play the exact same way. They can putter along a little bit. They’re going to have their their slow start again, probably like they did last year where it took them until basically Christmas or January to really start rolling. That’s fine. They don’t care. Finish third, finish top wild card. They do not care. They will play anybody. Uh, they home ice advantage doesn’t seem to matter. They go into tough buildings in the playoffs and win no matter what. It’s gonna be really hard. It’s to knock them off. And I just am interested to see how their year goes because last year it was exactly like what I just said. It took a lot of time and then they were the best team in hockey and it didn’t really matter. They weren’t racking up points every night. But every time they played, it just beat the crap out of whoever they played against. And then in the playoffs, they didn’t miss a beat. And outside of going down 20 to uh to Toronto, it it they looked like the best team again. So, it’s crazy to think that they are just going to roll it back here. Like you said, they’ll have to do something. Um, but I expect them to be the beast of the East again. And as if Cory Perry has anything to say about it, it’s going to be Kings and uh and Panthers in the Fan Final,
you know. Wouldn’t wouldn’t you think that that organization once you get past maybe like the 40 game mark and say they’re moving along pretty well, they’re in second place or something like that. Now, for the next 30, 20, 25 games, there’s going to be one of those four top guys that gets hurt every week. And you know what? And not and just you’re just going to miss three games. You know, you got to you got a little back spasm here. We’re going to we’re going to give you a little rat. I mean, I think that that’s where that team has shown that and everybody knows that. I mean, you don’t have to finish first overall in the league. You just got to get in. You just get to the dance. Would you like to have Oh, ice. Sure. But but that team proved that it doesn’t matter. And you know, so I could see them saying, you know what, Brad, you’re gonna we’re gonna give you like eight days off. Your your back is sore. We’re giving you that off. And and Barov, you know, Burky, you’re going to just, you know, two games here, maybe three or something like that. And that way they can they find a way to keep those guys fresh when they get to the last, you know, five, six, seven games of the regular season again. Oh, and can the Stars do that? Can the Stars take some of that from I mean, the Stars have essentially run out of gas now three years in a row. Can Can they maybe take some of that resting people a little bit here and there?
The big question is, can you convince the players that need that to do that? Right. It was almost serendipitous to have Aaron Ecklad serve a 20ame suspension for performance-enhancing violations because he went into the playoffs fresher than he would have if he had had to grind those last 20 games going in. Uh the Matthew Kachchuck thing you mentioned was interesting because I don’t know. I feel like a lot of people misread what he said after the Stanley Cup was awarded. He said, you know, I’ve been, you know, I tore this muscle off the bone and he’s dealing with it. I understood that to be at the Four Nations. And it wasn’t that he did that and was playing through that in the playoffs. It was he did that and that’s why he was trying to limp through and shouldn’t have been on the bench for that final
for the US against Canada. But but then you’re sitting there going like he was in recovery and rehabbing and then starting and as you said he didn’t feel good in the first round but got better and better as the playoffs went on. It wasn’t as if he had the injury and then he played through that in April, May and June. And I always thought that that sounded like some of the the people and the pundits sort of misconstrued that as oh like like for example Roe Hence fractured his foot and was playing through that in real time. It’s not as though Rope fractured his foot in February and then rehabbed his way back to being able to play. But still, like you said, Kachchuck does seem to pick up a pile of injuries. So, there’s always that.
But, you know what? You know what they’re going to do with Kachchuck? And he he even made the comment like he wasn’t going to have surgery right at the end of there. He goes, “I’m not going to miss all these celebrations.” They already know. Well, they already I mean, the Bible The reason I believe that he can say that is they already know it’s going to be a long time once he gets whatever he’s got to get fixed. That’s a good point. It could be four or five months. What’s the difference if it’s another three weeks? So, he goes and he has a good time, enjoys it, and as long as he’s ready, like I said, if that these players today, if he can be ready with 10 games to go in the regular season or or maybe, you know, again, maybe he’s not ready because, you know, I recap things. So, he’s not ready till it starts. So, you know, and he’ll still be an effective player should he not even play 82 games. He he’s his 83 is game one for him. So, I’m sure that that had a lot to go into. we can get this guy this money. We can get this guy money, you know. So, we’ll see. He’s not feeling the pain right now. I’ll tell you that for sure.
The other big storyline on the day actually before it was supposed to be the day of, but it happened in the evening. Mitch Martner, the signing trade to Vegas, and now he’s a Golden Knight, eight years, 12 million per. What do you think Marner’s going to feel and experience getting away from the melting pot, that boiling over of the Toronto Maple Leafs and being able to be in Vegas for now the next eight years?
Well, I think the first thing is he’s getting away from some criticism. He seems like the whipping guy even though he gets 100 points every year, you know, I I mean it, you know, his his big knock obviously is what happens in the playoffs, but I I just think that he’s not under a magnifying glass. I mean, once he once he got there, I think there’s fans that just are waiting to jump on top of him. And I don’t know why because he’s, you know, he’s one of the top four on that team, obviously, maybe the top two or three, but I think there’s going to be a freshness to his game. I believe that look at the numbers that Jack Eel and him, if they play together, that they’re going to put up on the board. You know what I mean? And and again, I I just you look at the way he’s the playmaker guy and obviously he’s good at the other end of the rink. And I I just commend Vegas. It seems like every year they find a way to make something work and something fit. Um, you know, and and they’re and they’re willing to give up a couple, you know, a couple guys that they probably really like and they’re, you know, they got to give up a defenseman, they got to give up a a top six forward that they really like and but but they look at it and they weigh it and they go, “Well, you know what? This guy can bring this to us.” I mean, so we got to sit here and we got to talk about it. So, every year they seem to find something. So, good on them. But I I think Mner Marner’s going to be a freer player. I think he’s going to we’re going to see more of the young Mitch Marner when he came into the league his four four or five years where everything was just kind of carefree. Now he you could see it. He’d get back to the bench and he’d be screaming and his stick was be you know he was a frustrated guy mainly because of the press and the people you know that everything that they’re reading. It’s a hard hard way to play.
Well, we are going to talk about a whole bunch of NHL news and notes here in just a moment here on the DLS Stars podcast. So, don’t go anywhere. Let’s start with the Balln knower bonus. It’s back here at DLS and we have a new challenge for you. You can win a gift card to the All City merch store if you make your pick correctly. Here’s how it works. First, pick the winner. Well, who do you think’s going to win the MLB All-Star game, which is coming up in about 12 days, July 15th? Then, you browse our store and make a purchase of at least $25 or more. If your pick wins, you’ll win a gift card for the same amount as your original order. Here’s the important thing. You must click on our link. It’s in the chat. It’s in the show YouTube description to bet and get your gift card. So, who do you think will win the Major League Baseball All-Star game, which is on July 15th at Truis Park in Atlanta. For all the ball knowowers out there, make your pick, place an order, and if you pick correctly, you’re going to get a gift card from us for the same amount as your order. That is the balln knower bonus. And that leads us right into our DLLS diehard sale which is $36 make your move sale for the NBA and NHL draft season and now free agency. It’s good through at least tomorrow. Could be extended. We don’t know yet, but at least through tomorrow. Don’t wait to make sure it’s extended. If you’ve been thinking about being a DLS dieard, do it now. And not only will you get a free DLS t-shirt for signing up for your first year of being a diehard, you will also get 20% off other merchandise. So, become a diehard, then buy the merch that you’ve been looking for at a discount and do the Balln knower and you can get even further gift cards. I think that’s a really good hack. You can get the Otter shirt, the Finnish Mafia if you’re a Stars fan, the Wyatt 16bit, the Mo finisher shirt, the captain, the Moose. All of those are available. Great looking shirts. And of course, all of the writing that Sam has, that Shawn does for the Stars that we have from Clarence for the Cowboys, and of course Tim for the Mavs, and Jeff for the Rangers. All right, guys. NHL news and notes time and there’s a lot going on and I want to start in Vancouver Luds because when I saw that Brock Besser who I thought would be other than maybe some injury issues one of the top free agent forward uh targets out there seven years 7.25 circles back and stays with the Canucks. Did that surprise you as much as it did me? Well, it did because I thought Billy Garren was going after him in Minnesota and so I’m guessing the dollars wasn’t where he wanted it to be, but um and it seemed like he wanted out, you know, for for a couple years he kind of you’d see those comments quite a bit, but but again, he apparently loves Vancouver and I guess when you got close, I know he was looking somewhere around a nine when it first started and I apparently the market wasn’t around nine and and so uh and whatever Minnesota was throwing at him wasn’t in the neighborhood. So, um, you know, as long as he stays healthy and, um, you know, he can put the puck in the net. Sam, I think it’s a steal because if to Led’s point, yes, he had the injuries, but a healthy Brock Besser is one of the better players in the league, and if he is healthy, he’s way above I mean, that’s close to what Jason Robertson’s making now, and everybody says that’s under market value.
Yeah, he’s he was an elite player for for a little bit. And then obviously I think the big one there is can that drama that was going on there be finally pushed behind them and can they focus on hockey there. Uh I know that was a big thing. Those guys were not having fun coming to the rank every day throughout a lot of this season. So I think he’s got a chance to go out there and score a lot of goals for that team and do so at a very nice cap hit. The next bit of news involves the San Jose Sharks. They’ve been busy and they signed John Clingberg, our old buddy, one year at 4 million. Then they turned around and signed Dimmitri Orlov, the 33-year-old defenseman, two years at 6.5 million each year. And before that, on July 1st, they traded for Alex Nadelkovich from Pittsburgh for a 2028 third. And with Alexander Gyorgi UFA, it looks like they might be looking at Nadulkovic and then young Yaruslav Ascarov who’s the 23-year-old Russian goalie as their new tandem. Interesting moves from the Sharks spending some money on the back end because they have it.
Well, I I think they’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, too. You know, I mean, you’re seeing what Anaheim and Beaker’s doing over there and LA, what they’re doing. And so I I think that in that market, you know, they they’ve got to stay somehow competitive. And I think they’ve been they’ve been that team at the bottom or near the bottom for long enough now. And I think they’ve got they feel they can start taking some steps. And you know, I could see where Orlav and and Clinger could be a good they’re I believe Orv’s a lefty. So maybe that might be a good little pair for him. You know, I think Clinger’s just clinging is just trying to get a little extra money here before he hangs him up. So he’s willing to go wherever it is. I don’t think it’s I don’t think it’s about chasing a Stanley Cup for him right now. It doesn’t seem like it to me.
Hey Sam, it’s interesting because they just claimed Nick Ley who’s 34 seems to if he’s healthy can still move at the speed of the NHL level. They have all these guys and they spent a bunch of money and they still have 22.9 million in cap space after giving a big raise, you know, for extension for William Ecklan which doesn’t kick in for another year and and bringing in Tyler to Foley for 6 million over his run. They do have Logan Couture who’s essentially retired but can they can use for LTIR but they don’t need to right now with all this that they’ve brought in. And they have, look at their defense. Orlov, Ley, Clingberg, Mario Ferraro, Timothy Lilligrren, Vincent Dearnne. Sort of a mix of old. They have Yan Ruda, although he’s a UFA. I don’t know if they’ll resign him. They’re just a weird team right now as terms of where are they at in their rebuilding process.
Yeah, and that’s that’s exactly it. I think the the thing you see with a lot of teams when they rebuild is they’re they’re all the young talent, right? They we know they have the celerini, the Smith, this the skill, they can score some goals, but the beginning they bring in a guy like Tfully and maybe one other one. So you have some vets around to kind of teach these guys the ways, especially in their first one or two years. Then as LS was just saying, they want to take that that next step. That next step requires more not only depth and and veterans, but more guys that can help you win some games. You know, they’re not trying to win a Stanley Cup here, but they’re trying to win more than whatever they won last year, which I’m assuming was like 20 games. So the the way they kind of do that is by bringing in a bunch of these guys that can still play. We know as Led said, these are older guys. They’re not going to be at the top of their game, but they can provide a little more stability. So instead of giving up five or six goals a night, they give up three or four and have a chance to win. So that’s kind of what I see as that transition there. They got a chance to to be a team that can compete. And that I think that’s their goal all season. Let’s go into every game, let’s compete. Let’s not get CBrini and Will Smith absolutely destroyed while we’re losing six to one. Let’s compete in the game. We might not win every one of them, but let’s compete and play a little bit better hockey each day and get those CBrini Smiths and those Ekling guys to that next step where they can start to run this team.
Sam, you’re kind of in the neighborhood. Couldn’t you just run over there and uh that’s about nine hours north.
Yeah. Well, that’s all right. Hop on.
He can chip it off the wall and out.
All right. You know what I can do? So
big budget here. Jump on a plane. Speak. We all know that that can lead to disaster.
Probably end up back in Winnipeg if he tried to get that
be in Denver. Speaking of defenseman, did you guys see that Brent Burns signed a one-year deal with Colorado, a million dollar base, and up to three million in performance bonuses. And when I saw him still available yesterday, Luds, I just started wondering, guy stays in great shape, doesn’t miss games. Would Brett Burns have been fun in Dallas? It
it would have been. and he’s got a place here in the Hill Country until he’s got all his critters there. So, I I you know what that that guy is going to he’s going to knock on the door of 1600 games possibly at some point. So, um you know, he could you could be talking about him as a Hall of Famer someday. You know, I don’t know. I I think he’s got an award or two. I don’t Does he has the one or Norris? I don’t know if he’s won a Norris.
I thought he I thought he won 2016 17.
Yeah. So, I don’t you know I it’ll be a good conversation. I don’t know if he’s a first ballader, but he, you know, it’ be nice. And but I’ll tell you what, he he’s he has it’s going to be an ad to that to that team back there, right? I mean, he’s not going to be in he’s probably not going to be in their top four, but but I would say that I mean, when when Brent Burns, even at 40 41 years old, uh, who takes care of himself obviously and he can still skate and shoot the puck. He doesn’t he doesn’t put up the same kind of numbers, but but I but I think you always have to be aware of that guy. You know, he’s not car but
Yeah. But he can now, right? I mean, nobody put nobody puts up big numbers in Carolina. So, I’m interested to see if he can jump from that 20 30 40 range and jump back up to the 60s for for him playing on a team that’s a little more fast-paced and has a lot a lot of skill to move the puck up to.
And make no mistake, I don’t want to get rid of Alex Petravic. I think he played his way into a role. I think he deserves it. But I think Brent Burns, even at 40, would have been an interesting piece alongside Leon Bishell in your third pairing.
For sure. For sure. Sure. It would have been a great It had been a great addition, I think. Yeah, it would have been fun for sure. But hey,
what about speaking of Colorado, the they let Jonathan Drew go. He signs as a free agent with the Islanders. Two years at 4 million AAV. To me, he was one that disappeared in the playoffs. And part of the reason why, along with, of course, Mico Ransin and Jake’s play, why the Avalanche were out in the first round.
Helter Skelter. I you don’t know what you’re getting with him. I I think it’s one or the other. And I think there’s times, like you said, he disappears. And, you know, I think he’s he’s lived on his skill for a long time and then that kind of went away. And I I think that teams have brought him in at times going, man, if we can just get him to find that skill, he’s going to be a great piece. But unfortunately, it it’s not steady enough.
Yeah.
You know, when wanted to add to 1% and add another hit here and there, not so much.
Yeah. Yeah. if he’s not if he can’t do it with his old buddy uh McKinnon at the level that they thought, he’s probably not the guy that many thought he was at the NHL level. So, it be interesting to see how he adjusts.
What do you guys think about the big free agent left available up front, Nick Eers, because he’s taking his time. I I obviously other than Mner, Eers and Granlin were probably the top two forwards available and Eers is younger. I think he look I male Granland’s a great player. I think right right now Eers is available. Oh, what happened?
He is a Carolina Hurricane.
No kidding. I was
That was That was a spot they were talking and that would be a perfect spot for him.
8.5 AAV.
Wow. 6 years 8.5. Luds. The Winnipeg Jets have 19 million in cap space right now. You’re telling me that they couldn’t keep Nick Eers or is it
Do you think it’s more that he wanted something else? I’m thinking he wanted a change of scenery.
Yeah. You know, I’m thinking that and and you know what, like Winnipeg pro he probably wants to play a freer game may and I I don’t want to say that Carolina’s a freer team, but but they’re kind of play straight ahead for you know what I mean. It’s not you don’t have to think and you don’t have to these guys I think there’s more structure to to what Winnipeg does obviously. I think there there’s a ton of structure in the way that they play and you know the way that they back check the way they come into certain areas of the ice and and Carolina is just and maybe that maybe that’s kind of game he wants to play. He’s a great skater. You know my my thing the only thing I’ve ever said about him is he just seems to get hurt every year and not necessarily for long periods. So you don’t know if he’s going to be available at times you need him.
So let’s just think about this because we only have a couple minutes left but Carolina has has the space to fit him there. Well, Sam, what was the AEV on that?
8.5.
So, they still will have after signing Nick Eers, 10 million in cap space. That’s with 15 forwards on their roster. But think about their top end guys. Sebastian AO, Andre Fetchnikov, Seth Jarvis, now Eers. Then you have Taylor Hall, Kakani, of course, our boy Logan Stanovven whose extension doesn’t kick in for another year. They’re in pretty good shape. having Eers on that roster is just going to make them better. Yeah, I’m curious to see uh how they take that next step because they’re in a very similar boat to Dallas where they’ve been I think they’ve been second to Dallas over the last five years or so in terms of regular season success and they’ve had the playoff success. They’ve gotten to that conference final, but they’ve never looked like the team that’s going to win the cup, if that makes any sense. Like they’ve always looked like a team that’s going to make it two rounds, three rounds, but never the team that’s going to get all the way to that final and win that cup. So I don’t know what the missing piece is. As Lud said, we know how they play. It’ll be interesting to see if they have that blend of skill because the Rantin one was not a fit, right? So is Zeler’s going to be a fit and be able to play that straightforward game. Um that’s the tough part with Britamore system is you bring in skill and sometimes it could be hard to play your game in that system. But if you could find the right way to do both, that’s a lethal lethal team. When you when you say that they’re taking swings, there’s a couple other teams. LA’s taking a swing and he said taking a swing and you know Majop Mani I think is going to be a good ad in Edmonton. I I really do. I you know they I think they’re they’re going to try to take a couple swings. I’m waiting for this team we’re talking about to take a swing, you know,
but I I think Eer’s speed and his style fits Carolina’s system better than the way that Ranton does. So I don’t think that’ll be as big an issue there. Lastly, guys, as we sign off, because we have a day off tomorrow for the 4th of July. Hope everybody enjoys the US Independence Day. And of course, uh we will be back next week.
We have Curtis McKenzie signing another one-year deal with AHL contract with the Texas Stars. He’s been around his rookie season was my second year in Cedar Park, which was 20134. So, we’re talking about going on into what the third year of his second decade. Now, he left the Stars organization for a little while after he made his NHL debut. Got that horrible injury playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but then, you know, here he is back again. Luds, the value of a I guess now elder statesman as your captain in your AHL team can still put up points, has the physical side. Boy, that has to be such a great development tool for your minor league team.
Yeah, the first guy that comes to mind is Jordy Ben. You know, I mean, Jordy’s kind of in that similar thing. He’s got so many things that when you’re when you you know your responsibility at that level is to to groom and get these player these young kids better and all the things that they have to get through and sometimes they come in thinking they’re better what they are and then they run into these you hit a wall and they they don’t understand why and so I think to have a veteran like that around at that time is invaluable at times.
I saw that news though and I thought it said I thought it was going to say Curtis McKenzie has announced as the AHL Texas Stars head coach. Yeah. Well, that’s just it. With Neil Graham coming to Dallas, they are in the process of searching. I wonder if it’ll be somebody outside of the organization or will Max Fortunis or Travis Morren get a shot. Will they stay in their roles as assistant coaches? Be interesting to see because the Stars development pipeline is a very important part of their whole formula. All right, guys. Let
out of here.
Happy fourth, Sam. Great stuff today. If you didn’t hear our interview with Glenn Gulletton, the new stars head coach at the start of the episode, go back and watch it. It’s great for Elijah Smith, for the big number three there, who’s on his way to the the water right now.
And for Sam, I’m Owen. Have a great weekend. Sam and Luds will be here without me. I’m off for a few days vacation. I’ll be back on the 10th of July, next Thursday. So, I hope you enjoy what can only be a wheels off Nestler Lwig couple of shows early next week. Have a great weekend. Happy 4th, everyone. [Applause] [Music]

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Glen Gulutzan was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Dallas Stars at a press conference on Wednesday at American Airlines Center. Today, Gulutzan makes his first appearance on the DLLS Stars Podcast. Plus, Craig Ludwig missed our July 1st Free Agency show, so today we get Luds’ takes on some of the biggest moves around the NHL from Tuesday. And, of course, we go around the league with some NHL News & Notes.

00:00 – INTRO
5:50 – Gully Joins The Show
25:19 – Reaction to Gully
35:00 – LUDS REACTS TO BIG FREE AGENCY MOVES
48:26 – NHL NEWS & NOTES

#nhl #dallasstars #glengulutzan #stanleycup #stanleycupplayoffs

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