NHL Rumours: Update on Dallas Stars Coaching Search

Analysis: Dallas fired Peter Deoer after falling short of the Stanley Cup Final once again. The Stars have made some deep post-season runs. However, there seemed to be some discord in the locker room. DeBoer may have sealed his fate with the questionable decision to pull goalie Jake Oettinger in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.

Stars General Manager Jim Nill was quick to make a change, but are the only vacant head coaching post. The pressure is on Dallas to still perform and finally take the next step. Nill hasn’t been quiet and has made a number of signings and is bringing back some key players like Jamie Benn.

However, the coaching decision seems to be the biggest thing that Nill needs to get right. The right hire could get the Stars over the hump and back into the Final for the first time since the playoff bubble in 2020. However, the wrong hire could set back all of the progress made by the club.

What It Means

Gulutzan being hired would be a return to the head coaching post for the Stars. The Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan native was previously behind the Stars bench from 2011 to 2013. However, Gulutzan missed the playoffs in both seasons before being relived of his duties. He did have another two-season run with the Calgary Flames, but was fired after the 2017-18.

Graham has been successful at the AHL level with the Texas Stars, who made the AHL Western Conference Final before losing to the eventual champion Abbotsford Canucks. Texas has made the Calder Cup Playoffs each of the last four seasons and that success has gotten him on the radar.

It seems that Graham has done a good job at developing younger players and there are a number of younger Stars players that have come up from Austin. That relationship could be beneficial in landing him the head coaching spot with the parent club. Previous relationships aren’t always a guarantee for success. However, it could be a plus going into a high-pressure situation.