Dallas Stars New Ownership

We all know that Tom Hicks is a broke ass, and needs to unload the Texas Rangers, but a rumor that he needs to sell the Stars too has been floating around. This rumor has become a little more substantial now that ownership groups are starting to surface. One of these groups is led by Mike Modano, Brett Hull, and the “Great One” Wayne Gretzky. However, there is no guarantee that these 3 Hall of Famers / Future Hall of Famers will get the team, because there are others. Also if the sale of the Stars goes anything like the Texas Rangers don’t hold your breath because it may take a while to please all of Tom Hicks creditors.

Here are some quotes from the Dallas Observer Blog Post: Wayne Gretzky Interested in Buying Your Dallas Stars

“It’s nothing formal, as if they’re about to sign on the dotted line,” says one source. “But it’s gone past kicking the tires. This could happen.”

It is not clear who else is involved in the group’s bid and it’s too early in the process to have developed an ownership structure. It is certain, however, that the Gretzky group would keep the Stars in Dallas.

The proceedings won’t begin in earnest until Hicks’ sale of the Texas Rangers is completed. Incoming Rangers’ owner Chuck Greenberg said last week he expects the deal to be finalized the week of April 19.

Dallas Stars Name New General Manager

Why Hull and Jackson are Out
The Dallas Stars have decided to go in a different direction in their front offices. Brett Hull and Les Jackson served as co-general managers for the 2008-2009 NHL season. One of the main reasons that Hull and Jackson will be reassigned to different roles is the Sean Avery signing that will still hurt the Dallas Stars salary cap in the years to come. Sean Avery ruined team chemistry and made public comments about previous girlfriends that earned him a suspension from the NHL and a release from the Dallas Stars. He returned to the New York Rangers and the Stars are left to pay for a portion of his oversized contract.

New Dallas Stars General Manager, Joe Nieuwendyk
The Dallas Stars new General Manager will be Joe Nieuwendyk, who like Brett Hull was a member of the 1999 Dallas Stars Stanley Cup championship team. Joe was the awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, which goes to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nieuwendyk was traded from the Stars to the New Jersey Devils in the 2001-2002 season. Read more

The Dallas Stars Part Ways With Sean Avery

Sean Avery

Hand picked by Brett Hull, Sean Avery came to the Dallas Stars for the 2008/2009 NHL season under a contract with $15.5 million in incentives over four years. His arrival to Dallas, however, came under scrutiny by fans and players alike. For the 28 year old Canadian born forward, the Dallas Stars would be his fourth team in seven years in the NHL. For the Dallas Stars, his 23 games would prove to be an expensive miscalculation that unsettled the locker room and caused an embarrassing situation for the entire NHL.

Sean Avery likes controversy. Almost as if he sponsored it, DMagazine played up Sean Avery as the most hated player in the NHL in its November 2008 issue. In a league where enforcers and instigators are part of the game, however Avery took the role beyond the limits. Known for on-ice commentary that crossed personal lines, Sean Avery was closely watched by officials and NHL management alike. After a 2007 incident in which he purposely screened New Jersey goal tender Martin Brodier, the league actually created a rule which sought to prevent the incident from happening again. It is known as The Avery Rule. So why would a skilled and fairly clean cut team such as the Dallas Stars take the risk?

After losing to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 season Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Stars were on the prowl for chemistry changers. Bret Hull, a previous teammate and roommate of the feisty Avery, convinced owner Tom Hicks that Sean Avery possessed the character and drive needed by the team.

Dallas Stars fans appreciate players who bring excitement to the game. Whether it be a Brendon Morrow, who balances the role of leader and tough guy, or a Steve Ott, who combines goal scoring and a shake it up style of play, the crowd always comes alive when the glass shakes or the gloves are dropped. As a two-time leader in penalty minutes in the NHL, Sean Avery’s arrival gave rise to one question, “Doesn’t the team already have the role of instigator covered?” After quickly crossing the 400 penalty minute line in November of a lack luster season, it became evident the Dallas Stars probably need a few more pucks in the net and a fewer minutes in the penalty box.

Whether it be his “no show” appearances at a Dallas Stars Fall fundraiser lunch or his penalty minute collection in the first half of the season, rumors in Big D were that Avery was even less of a hit in the locker room than he was for the fans at The American Airlines Center. So on December 2, when Sean Avery decided to solicit a group of reporters in Calgary, Alberta to make derogatory comments about Flames defensemen Dion Phaneauf’s girlfriend, both the NHL and The Dallas Stars organization said enough. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman immediately handed down a 6 game suspension which ended on December 13th, 2008. Midday on December 14th, The Dallas Stars announced that they would be ending their relationship with Sean Avery.
The question at hand is not whether Sean Avery would go or not; the question is what to do with him? If the team decided to try and break their contract based on a conduct clause, they might face legal ramifications down the line that would further distract both players and management. A second option would be to hope his contract is bought out–but who wants a behavior problem at this point in the season. Another option is to send him to the minors to let him mix it up with young players fresh out of the Canadian Western Junior Leagues. The upside is that for every game he missed in the minor leagues, the Dallas Stars would not have to pay him and perhaps he would go away.
The bottom line is that Tom Hicks and The Dallas Stars showed professionalism and class on multiple fronts as they dealt with Sean Avery. First, they took care of the problem quickly. Second, they chose not to disrespect Sean Avery, which would do nothing but add fuel to a fire. They made neutral to favorable statements in the press and wished him personal and professional success as he transitioned to his next role in professional hockey.

What I don’t think Sean Avery realizes is what he has done. There are fans who feel that off-ice commentary should not warrant being suspended or kicked off of a team. After all, when compared with the deeds of proverbial losers such as Todd Bertuzzi and Eddie Shore, Sean Avery’s mere words do not even belong in the same ball park.

What Sean Avery doesn’t realize is that he did not just piss off some suits, a referee, fans, or another player. His actions have put friend and NHL great Brett Hull on the hot seat. It has caused fans to question Brett Hull’s capabilities as a general manager. I would think that the two people active in NHL management that would be on the “respect at whatever cost” list would be Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull. They were both great players and have great potential in management. In many respects, they made the luxury of playing in the NHL a possibility through their accomplishments. Having disrespected 50% of that list is the negative statistic that Sean Avery should really think about!