DALLAS (AP) — Glen Gulutzan believes the Dallas Stars have twice made the right decision regarding his coaching career: first, by not retaining him as their head coach 12 years ago, and now, by bringing him back in the same role. The Stars reintroduced Gulutzan as their coach on Wednesday, with both he and the franchise in much different places than they were back then.
One of Jim Nill’s first decisions after becoming general manager in 2013 was to make a coaching change, following a couple of weeks of discussions with Gulutzan about the players he had managed for two seasons in his first NHL job. “There was a little bit of a relationship formed. Now our last meeting was, ‘Hey, I’m not going to renew you, and hand in your keys,’” Gulutzan recalled on Wednesday, sitting next to Nill, who remains the Dallas GM. “At the end of the day, Jim was right. This is a league where you’ve got to get some wounds on you, some scars. … You’ve got to gain experience.”
Gulutzan’s Coaching Odyssey
Gulutzan, who turns 54 next month, has accumulated a wealth of experience since his initial stint with the Stars. He has coached with three different teams in Canada, most recently serving as an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers for seven seasons. During this time, the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Final twice, including a victory over Dallas for the Western Conference title. Prior to this, Gulutzan spent two seasons as the head coach of the Calgary Flames and had a stint as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks.
“I’m kind of piecing it together a little bit, so 12 years ago Jim actually sent me on a reconnaissance mission, and that was up through Western Canada,” Gulutzan said with a smile. “He didn’t tell me until about a week ago that he was bringing me back.”
Stars’ Transformation and Gulutzan’s Return
When Gulutzan first joined the Stars in 2011, the franchise was navigating bankruptcy and an ownership change, essentially being run by the league. His two seasons concluded a franchise-record streak of five consecutive missed playoffs. However, under Lindy Ruff, the Stars soon returned to the postseason, marking a significant turnaround.
The current Stars are coming off three consecutive seasons that ended in the Western Conference final, with six playoff appearances in seven years, including a Stanley Cup Final appearance during the COVID-impacted 2020 playoffs. When Nill decided to part ways with Pete DeBoer after the latest playoff loss, he interviewed numerous coaches at all levels. His search ultimately led him back to Gulutzan.
“Speaking with people he worked with, he worked for, all I ever heard about is he’ll go through the wall for you. He’s organized, he’s professional, he cares about people,” Nill said. “His resume and experience over the years have prepared him for this opportunity. … It’s one thing to have success, but you’ve got to go through tough times. Everybody does. And it’s those tough times when you find out who you are, and that’s what Glen has done.”
Navigating Challenges and Building Experience
Gulutzan’s journey has been marked by opportunities to work with esteemed coaches like John Tortorella, Ken Hitchcock, Dave Tippett, and Kris Knoblauch. His record with the Stars from 2011-13 was 64-57-9, and he later achieved an 82-68-14 record as head coach of the Flames from 2016-18. Joining the Oilers’ staff, he was part of 79 playoff games over the past five years.
The only player still with the Stars from Gulutzan’s first tenure is captain Jamie Benn, who recently signed a contract to return for a 17th season. Nill met with Gulutzan shortly after Edmonton’s season ended with a Game 6 loss to Florida in the Stanley Cup Final.
“I was so impressed for a guy that was devastated after you lose, how he conducted himself, how we spoke about situations,” Nill said. “The job resume when you’re a head coach in the NHL is X’s and O’s. It’s strategies, it’s game plans. We all know that, but ultimately in the end, character matters.”
Looking Forward
Returning to the Stars’ home arena was a surreal experience for Gulutzan, who was a first-time NHL head coach in his early 40s. Just six weeks ago, he was in the opposing locker room following Edmonton’s loss in Game 1 of the West Final. “I was on the other side cursing the team out when they beat us in Game 1, and now I’m sitting here,” he said. “But for me, it still feels like home. So it’s an easy adjustment.”
Gulutzan’s return marks a new chapter for the Dallas Stars, as they aim to build on their recent successes and strive for another Stanley Cup title. With his extensive experience and deep understanding of the league, Gulutzan is poised to lead the team through the challenges ahead.