Glen Gulutzan takes subtle shot at last year's staff, says stars must toughen up

New Dallas Stars, head coach Glen Gulutzan, and their 2025-26 season outlook are all tied to one clear message as the team looks to rebound: they must add more physical play and grit without losing the speed and skill that made them contenders.

Dallas relied on skill and speed to stay near the top of the standings, but when the game slowed down in the playoffs, their lack of edge showed.

Now, new HC Gulutzan is asking for a subtle shift, not a full overhaul.

In a recent interview, he explained the kind of improvement he expects.
Hear Gulutzan's full comments here.

The Dallas Stars need a one percent boost in physical play from every skater to close the gap in 2025-26

Gulutzan emphasized it's not about turning Dallas into a reckless, bruising team.

'That one percent upgrade is from every guy to be a little more in people's ear, a little more physical, finishing more checks. You do that with 18 skaters, that's your getting an 18-degree pop,' he said.

'Now that doesn't mean we're gonna be running around body checking and Tom Wilson-ing and being that kind of physical, but we do need to be more physical on guys and in puck battles. And that creates camaraderie.'

I think adding that small level of grit, even if it's just one hit or puck battle per shift, can help the Stars keep their speed-first identity while being harder to play against.

According to last year's league data, the Stars finished last in team hits despite being among the most-hit teams in the league.
See the full NHL hits report here.

For a team aiming to make another deep run, that small change could make a big difference in how they handle playoff hockey.