Usually I reply to all the comments individually. This time, I failed you all but I read each and every one and I just want to let ya'll know that I'm super pumped to see people engaged like this. I've always loved the back alley discussions at hfboards, DBD, and yes - even Reddit! So huge thanks to the PS gang. (Don't worry, that won't stick.)
I stopped posting regularly on DBD because life got busy but still read daily and always appreciated your articles and writing style so I’m really enjoying your new site. I think there’s enough of us nerds out here to get this place popping with good hearted Stars/hockey conversations like DBD/other places. (I’m new to substack as well but it’s easy to use and a lot smoother than some other platforms or even sbnation was.)
I have to say that of all the Dallas sports teams, the Stars front office is the most interesting to watch from an outsider’s’ perspective. Some personal info: I have a masters degree in conflict management, but never used it to make a living ( you don’t want to know). The point is, when I read about some of the things that have taken place since Gags took over, I wonder just how much leeway Nill actually has to shape the roster. It’s not so much what is said or done, but what isn’t. Until this last season I think his hands have been tied on some personnel issues, especially as it related to defensive personnel and deployment. IMO, if Jim Nill had free rein all this time, the Stars would play even more differently than they do today.
I think looking at the coaches that were brought in and under each set of circumstances shows you where he wants to be.
Ruff - New coach that came in with the new gm. High match factor
Hitch - Had the feel of upper management saying your experiment has failed. Low match factor
Monty - The reset after Hitch wasn't as successful as desired. High match factor
Bowness - IHC in the time of need, overachieved and you had to keep him. Normally medium since he was on your new staff, but Bowness was a leftover from Hitch. Low match factor
PDB - Clean slate for a new hire. Decently high match factor.
Nill to me is much more Ruff than Hitch, based off the free hand he appeared to have on certain HC decisions.
I have never wavered in my appreciation for Jim Nill’s Integrity . A few years back , however , I was calling for Mr. Nill’s removal as GM . Currently , I couldn’t be more pleased by the extension of his new contract . Go figure
This term makes sense. Nill will be here through the heart of the PDB contract. If things go south at the end, both of them can go together and you can get a GM who won't have to eat leftovers for too long. If things go right, Nill can chose the heir and things will continue. A solid move by Gags.
Nill has always confused me too. The way he started with Seguin trade I was hoping for more big swings like that or at least more non conventional trades and low risk high reward attempts at fringe/undervalued players. We seem to overpay and overvalue old declining players and that won’t change. But it could be worse so that’s how I view his tenure, not amazing but not hurting the franchise either. At least he’s not as bad as the list of GMs you gave as an example, so I accept that silver lining and hope for the best.
Do the Stars overvalue tenure and history, yes. Is this something that differs from the NHL, I feel like no. The NHL has been slowly changing, and Covid turned the lights on to show who actually looked like their profile picture and who was off in the corner drunk making out with a lamp.
All of the sudden, the top youth talent got paid a fair shake vs peanuts. The league fully started to embrace analytics, and the game escaped the clutch & grab and free crosscheck zone infront of the goalie for a speedier and higher skilled game. Covid also turned off the ability to kick cans down the road with cap space, but also shows that teams like AZ even with all that cap space aren't planning on ever utilizing it.
Through all of this, Nill always seemed to know where the exit was. I think some of this was through his style, but also because he got burned trying to keep the benguin going. The team was never as bad as the one that got Ruff fired, but never as good as the bubble run. This past year was probably a pretty fair shake of the team. They have some real talent, but certain bad habits caught up with them (lack of goaltending depth, over reliance on past prime talent, reluctance to go all in, not letting kids have more leash).
Nill is a stable and above average GM. However to lift the cup I think you need to be: 1) lucky, 2) an exceptional GM, 3) a little wild/adventurous, 4) a combo of the prior. He's probably exactly what Gags wants, but until he gets hungry or pushed, he's going to need luck to get to the top.
Usually I reply to all the comments individually. This time, I failed you all but I read each and every one and I just want to let ya'll know that I'm super pumped to see people engaged like this. I've always loved the back alley discussions at hfboards, DBD, and yes - even Reddit! So huge thanks to the PS gang. (Don't worry, that won't stick.)
I stopped posting regularly on DBD because life got busy but still read daily and always appreciated your articles and writing style so I’m really enjoying your new site. I think there’s enough of us nerds out here to get this place popping with good hearted Stars/hockey conversations like DBD/other places. (I’m new to substack as well but it’s easy to use and a lot smoother than some other platforms or even sbnation was.)
I have to say that of all the Dallas sports teams, the Stars front office is the most interesting to watch from an outsider’s’ perspective. Some personal info: I have a masters degree in conflict management, but never used it to make a living ( you don’t want to know). The point is, when I read about some of the things that have taken place since Gags took over, I wonder just how much leeway Nill actually has to shape the roster. It’s not so much what is said or done, but what isn’t. Until this last season I think his hands have been tied on some personnel issues, especially as it related to defensive personnel and deployment. IMO, if Jim Nill had free rein all this time, the Stars would play even more differently than they do today.
I think looking at the coaches that were brought in and under each set of circumstances shows you where he wants to be.
Ruff - New coach that came in with the new gm. High match factor
Hitch - Had the feel of upper management saying your experiment has failed. Low match factor
Monty - The reset after Hitch wasn't as successful as desired. High match factor
Bowness - IHC in the time of need, overachieved and you had to keep him. Normally medium since he was on your new staff, but Bowness was a leftover from Hitch. Low match factor
PDB - Clean slate for a new hire. Decently high match factor.
Nill to me is much more Ruff than Hitch, based off the free hand he appeared to have on certain HC decisions.
I have never wavered in my appreciation for Jim Nill’s Integrity . A few years back , however , I was calling for Mr. Nill’s removal as GM . Currently , I couldn’t be more pleased by the extension of his new contract . Go figure
This term makes sense. Nill will be here through the heart of the PDB contract. If things go south at the end, both of them can go together and you can get a GM who won't have to eat leftovers for too long. If things go right, Nill can chose the heir and things will continue. A solid move by Gags.
Nill has always confused me too. The way he started with Seguin trade I was hoping for more big swings like that or at least more non conventional trades and low risk high reward attempts at fringe/undervalued players. We seem to overpay and overvalue old declining players and that won’t change. But it could be worse so that’s how I view his tenure, not amazing but not hurting the franchise either. At least he’s not as bad as the list of GMs you gave as an example, so I accept that silver lining and hope for the best.
Do the Stars overvalue tenure and history, yes. Is this something that differs from the NHL, I feel like no. The NHL has been slowly changing, and Covid turned the lights on to show who actually looked like their profile picture and who was off in the corner drunk making out with a lamp.
All of the sudden, the top youth talent got paid a fair shake vs peanuts. The league fully started to embrace analytics, and the game escaped the clutch & grab and free crosscheck zone infront of the goalie for a speedier and higher skilled game. Covid also turned off the ability to kick cans down the road with cap space, but also shows that teams like AZ even with all that cap space aren't planning on ever utilizing it.
Through all of this, Nill always seemed to know where the exit was. I think some of this was through his style, but also because he got burned trying to keep the benguin going. The team was never as bad as the one that got Ruff fired, but never as good as the bubble run. This past year was probably a pretty fair shake of the team. They have some real talent, but certain bad habits caught up with them (lack of goaltending depth, over reliance on past prime talent, reluctance to go all in, not letting kids have more leash).
Nill is a stable and above average GM. However to lift the cup I think you need to be: 1) lucky, 2) an exceptional GM, 3) a little wild/adventurous, 4) a combo of the prior. He's probably exactly what Gags wants, but until he gets hungry or pushed, he's going to need luck to get to the top.